John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 56:5

"Unto them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off." — Isaiah 56:5 (ASV)

I will give to them in my house. Here we see that all people, however unworthy, may obtain admission into the kingdom of God. He alludes to Jerusalem and to the temple in which the Lord placed a memorial of his name. No place was given in it to anyone but to the Jews alone, and they would have considered the temple to be polluted if any of the Gentiles had entered into it. For this reason also, a serious insurrection arose against Paul for having brought uncircumcised persons into the temple. The Lord now admits, without distinction, those whom he previously forbade. Indeed, he set aside this distinction when we, who were the children of strangers, were brought by him into the temple—that is, into his Church, which is not confined, as before, within those narrow limits of Judea, but is extended throughout the whole world.

A place and a name. יד (yad) is here used for place, as in many other passages. It might also be supposed to denote “authority” or “power”; for they shall be elevated to such dignity as to be regarded as the children of God.

Better than of sons and of daughters. A question may arise: Does the Lord compare the Jews who were at that time in the Church with the believers whom he shall afterward place in their place, or does he contrast the future condition of the people with their condition at that time?

For it is certain that “the name” of the Gentiles is “better” than that of the Jews, who were “cut off on account of their unbelief”; and we have taken their place, as wild olives ingrafted into a good olive tree, as Paul says (Romans 11:24). The meaning might therefore be that “eunuchs” and “foreigners” shall have “a better name” than children and household members, who were regarded as God’s heritage.

But I prefer to explain it in a different manner: namely, that the dignity of believers shall be higher under Christ than it was under the Law. The patriarchs had a very excellent “name” when they called upon God as their Father and were joined in covenant with him; but the grace of God has been poured out far more abundantly upon us since the coming of Christ, and therefore we have obtained in him a far more excellent name.

A perpetual name. He calls this name “perpetual” because it is written in heaven, where it shall live and flourish throughout all ages. Wicked people wish to have their name made illustrious in this world and work to promote their reputation, so that the remembrance of their name may last forever; but it is fading and of short duration. But this name is far different, for it makes us heirs of the heavenly kingdom, so that in the presence of angels we are regarded as the children of God.

We might also interpret מבנים (mibbanim) to mean “than the name which is derived from children”; for people, by having children, do in some respect perpetuate their own name. He promises that this name shall be far more excellent. But I prefer to follow the former explanation.