Isaiah 66:16 kjv — For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

King James Version

"For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many."

— Isaiah 66:16, King James Version

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Isaiah 66:16 in Other Translations

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Isaiah 66 — Context

13

As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14

And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

15

For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16

For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

17

They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.

18

For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

19

And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

Isaiah 66:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Isaiah 66:16 say?
Isaiah 66:16 in the King James Version reads: “For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.”
Where is Isaiah 66:16 in the Bible?
Isaiah 66:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 66, verse 16.
Who wrote Isaiah?
Isaiah is traditionally attributed to Isaiah son of Amoz. Many critical scholars propose multiple authors ("Deutero-" and "Trito-Isaiah") for chapters 40–66; conservative scholarship holds to single Isaianic authorship. It was written c. 740–680 BC.
What is the book of Isaiah about?
Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament — a sweeping vision of God's holiness, Judah's sin, coming judgment, and a promised Servant who would bear the iniquity of many. From "Holy, holy, holy" to "by his stripes we are healed," Isaiah speaks the gospel before the gospel.
What are the major themes of Isaiah?
Isaiah explores themes including Holiness, Judgment, Servant of the LORD, Hope, Salvation, Restoration. These themes shape the meaning and context of Isaiah 66:16.
What translation should I read Isaiah 66:16 in?
Isaiah 66:16 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Isaiah 66:16?
Isaiah 66:16 reads (KJV): “For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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