Isaiah 56 in the early church

[Vulgate: Isaias]

66 passages quote, allude to, or echo Isaiah 56, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 7 · 10 · 11

Isaiah 56:1

This is what the LORD says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for My salvation is coming soon, and My righteousness will be revealed.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:1–2On Saint Athanasius 1.42 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361
Isa 56:1On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins 2.5 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, medium confidence411–412
Isa 56:1Against Two Letters of the Pelagians 4.28 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, medium confidenceca. 420–421

Isaiah 56:2

Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:2On Dice-Players 9 · Anonymousquotation, medium confidence3rd cent. (disputed)
Isa 56:2Demonstration 13.13 · Aphrahatallusion, medium confidence337-345

Isaiah 56:3

Let no foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will utterly exclude me from His people.” And let the eunuch not say, “I am but a dry tree.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:3Miscellanies 3.13.91 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 56:3Miscellanies 3.15.98 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 56:3PG 12:1483 (Ps 61–62 LXX) · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Isa 56:3Commentary on Matthew 15.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Isa 56:3–5Question 17, section 1 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
Isa 56:3Letter 22.21 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Isa 56:3–5Against Jovinianus 1.12 · Jeromeallusion, high confidence393

Isaiah 56:4

For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose what pleases Me and hold fast to My covenant—

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:4Miscellanies 3.15.98 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 56:4–5Demonstration 13.13 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Isa 56:4Oration I Against the Arians 55 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 339–346
Isa 56:4–5Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 3 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 394
Isa 56:4Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.13 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Isa 56:4On Holy Virginity 24 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence401
Isa 56:4The Conferences 22.6 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Isaiah 56:5

I will give them, in My house and within My walls, a memorial and a name better than that of sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:5Miscellanies 3.15.98 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 198–203
Isa 56:5Commentary on Matthew 15.5 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Isa 56:5Oration I Against the Arians 55 · Athanasius of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 339–346
Isa 56:5Letter 22.21 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 370–419
Isa 56:5Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 25 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 394
Isa 56:5Against Faustus the Manichaean 14.13 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 398–400
Isa 56:5On Holy Virginity 24 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence401
Isa 56:5On Holy Virginity 25 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence401
Isa 56:5On Holy Virginity 30 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence401
Isa 56:5City of God 20.22 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidence413–426
Isa 56:5The Conferences 22.6 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Isaiah 56:7

I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:7Dialogue with Trypho 17.3 · Justin Martyrallusion, medium confidenceca. 155–160
Isa 56:7The Instructor 1.10.91 · Clement of Alexandriaquotation, high confidenceca. 190–200
Isa 56:7Against Heresies 4.2.7 · Irenaeus of Lyonsquotation, medium confidenceca. 180–190
Isa 56:7Commentary on John 10.158 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 230–248
Isa 56:7Commentary on John 10.218 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 230–248
Isa 56:7Instructions 2.35 · Commodianallusion, medium confidence3rd century (disputed)
Isa 56:7Commentary on Matthew, Latin Series 89 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 244–249 (Latin translation, 4th–5th century)
Isa 56:7Commentary on Matthew 16.20 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Isa 56:7Commentary on Matthew 16.22 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 246–248
Isa 56:7Demonstration of the Gospel 8.2.115 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 314–324
Isa 56:7Commentary on Matthew 21 · Hilary of Poitiersquotation, high confidenceca. 353–355
Isa 56:7Moral Rules (Moralia) 27 · Basil of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 360-370
Isa 56:7Commentary on Romans 3:26 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 366–384
Isa 56:7Question 44, section 1 · Ambrosiasterquotation, high confidenceca. 370–384
Isa 56:7Question 44, section 2 · Ambrosiasterallusion, high confidenceca. 370–384
Isa 56:7Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 42.11.6 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377
Isa 56:7Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 42.11.17 · Epiphanius of Salamisallusion, medium confidence374-377
Isa 56:7Liber Orsiesii 26 · Orsiesiusquotation, high confidenceca. 380-390
Isa 56:7Homilies on Matthew 67.1 · John Chrysostomquotation, high confidenceca. 390
Isa 56:7Sermon 336.1 · Augustine of Hippoecho, low confidenceca. 391-430
Isa 56:7Against Adimantus, a Disciple of Mani 10 · Augustine of Hippoquotation, high confidenceca. 394
Isa 56:7Letters 32.24 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, medium confidenceca. 394–413

Isaiah 56:10

Israel’s watchmen are blind, they are all oblivious; they are all mute dogs, they cannot bark; they are dreamers lying around, loving to slumber.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:10Demonstration of the Gospel 10.8.83 · Eusebius of Caesareaquotation, high confidenceca. 314–324
Isa 56:10–11Demonstration 7.21 · Aphrahatquotation, high confidence337-345
Isa 56:10Demonstration 14.37 · Aphrahatallusion, high confidence337-345
Isa 56:10Long recension, Ephesians 7 · Anonymousquotation, high confidencelater 4th century (probable)
Isa 56:10Long recension, Antiochians 2 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidencelater 4th century (probable)
Isa 56:10–11On Not Sparing Those Who Sin against God 34 · Lucifer of Cagliariquotation, high confidenceca. 356–361
Isa 56:10Letters 210, 211 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 357–378
Isa 56:10Homilies 10.1 · Basil of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 363-378
Isa 56:10Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 26.13.8 · Epiphanius of Salamisquotation, high confidence374-377
Isa 56:10Apostolic Constitutions 6.18.9 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380
Isa 56:10Letter 149.10 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidenceca. 386–430
Isa 56:10Hexameron (Exameron) 6.17 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Isa 56:10Commentary on Jeremiah 4.3 · Jeromeallusion, high confidenceca. 414-419

Isaiah 56:11

Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Isa 56:11Eleven Tractates 1.11 · Priscillianquotation, high confidenceca. 380–385