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Isaiah 34

1

Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it.

2

For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.

3

Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.

4

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

5

For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

6

The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the Lord hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

7

And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

1
8

For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion.

9

And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.

10

It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

11

But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

12

They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.

13

And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls.

14

The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.

15

There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate.

16

Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

17

And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein.

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Isaiah 34

In sharp contrast to the promise of deliverance for Zion, Isaiah announces judgment against the nations, particularly Edom, employing the imagery of divine wrath as a sword coming down from heaven in justice. The oracle describes comprehensive devastation affecting all creation: mountains will be drenched in blood, the heavens will be rolled up, and the earth will be laid bare under divine judgment. The prophecy employs vivid and violent imagery—the sword of the Lord will drip with blood and be drawn against Edom—establishing that divine justice sometimes manifests in terrible judgment against those who persistently resist God's purposes. The passage includes cryptic references to Bozrah and to the land of Edom becoming a place of thorns and nettles, establishing that judgment results in complete desolation and abandonment. The vision of divine judgment encompasses all the host of heaven falling and the skies rolling up like a scroll, imagery that suggests cosmic upheaval accompanying the judgment. The oracle establishes that Edom, representing the enemies of God's people, will be judged without mercy and that nothing of its former glory and power will remain. Isaiah 34 demonstrates that divine justice operates against all who persistently oppose God's purposes and that the judgment is comprehensive and irreversible. The chapter establishes the theological conviction that God's wrath against those who oppose Him and reject His justice is just and necessary.

Isaiah 34:13

The reference to thorns springing up in palaces and nettles and thistles in fortified cities indicates that the structures of human civilization will be reclaimed by wilderness. This verse emphasizes that the judgment results in the literal overgrowth of human structures by wild vegetation. The specific reference to palaces and fortified cities indicates that even the most impressive human achievements will succumb to the encroachment of nature. The verse establishes that the judgment involves not merely destruction but the restoration of the land to its natural, uncultivated state.

Isaiah 34:14

The reference to wild animals and demons inhabiting the desolate land, with jackals and owls crying to one another in the ruins, indicates that the land will become a place of desolation and supernatural darkness. This verse presents the desolate land as inhabited by creatures of chaos and wildness, suggesting that the judgment results in the triumph of chaos over order. The reference to demons suggests that the desolate land becomes a place where forces opposed to God are free to operate without restraint. The verse emphasizes that the judgment results in the complete reversal of civilization and the triumph of wilderness.

Isaiah 34:15

The reference to the owl making a nest, laying eggs, hatching and gathering her young, indicates that wild creatures will establish permanent habitation in the ruins of human civilization. This verse emphasizes that the judgment results in the permanent loss of human habitation and the establishment of an alternative order based on wild creatures. The specific reference to the owl—typically a creature of darkness and danger—emphasizes that the land becomes a place of danger and darkness. The verse establishes that the restoration of the land to wilderness is not temporary but involves the establishment of a new order.

Isaiah 34:16

The reference to seeking in the book of the Lord to see what will fulfill these prophecies establishes that the prophecies spoken will be verifiable by consulting scripture. This verse appeals to the authority of God's written word and suggests that the prophecies will be fulfilled according to what has been announced. The reference to the mouth of God having ordered these things to be established indicates that the prophecies rest on divine authority and cannot fail. The verse establishes that the judgment described has been definitively pronounced and will inevitably be fulfilled.

Isaiah 34:17

The final reference to God's Spirit gathering and apportioning the land establishes that the judgment and transformation serve God's ultimate purposes and will result in the restoration of order according to divine design. This verse emphasizes that even the desolate land remains under divine governance and will ultimately be apportioned according to God's purposes. The reference to God's Spirit suggests that the restoration involves divine presence and renewal, even in the context of desolation. The verse concludes the judgment oracle by indicating that even destruction ultimately serves God's purposes in establishing divine order.

Isaiah 34:3

The reference to slain being cast out, their stench rising, and mountains flowing with blood indicates that the judgment will produce massive casualties and environmental devastation. This verse presents the consequences of judgment in graphic, visceral terms that emphasize the totality and horror of what will occur. The environmental imagery—mountains flowing with blood, stench rising—suggests that the judgment affects the physical world as profoundly as human civilization. The verse establishes that the judgment is not merely a military defeat but a cataclysmic event that fundamentally transforms the landscape.

Isaiah 34:4

The reference to the heavens rolling up like a scroll and all their host withering like a leaf indicates that the judgment extends to the heavens themselves, suggesting a cosmic reversal of the created order. This verse uses imagery of the heavens being transformed to convey the totality and finality of the judgment. The withering of the heavenly hosts—likely the stars and celestial bodies—suggests that the order of creation itself will be undone. The verse emphasizes that the judgment is not merely historical or military but cosmic and eschatological in scope.

Isaiah 34:5

The reference to God's sword drunk in heaven and coming down upon Edom indicates that the judgment manifests through divine weapons and the pouring out of wrath upon the land. This verse presents judgment as the result of divine action rather than human military capability, emphasizing God's direct involvement in the destruction. The imagery of a sword drunk in heaven suggests that the fullness of divine judgment has been accumulated and will now be poured out. The verse establishes that the judgment against Edom exemplifies the broader pattern of divine judgment against all nations.

Isaiah 34:6

The reference to a great slaughter in the land of Edom, with blood flowing to saturation and dust becoming fat with blood, indicates that the judgment will manifest in massive bloodshed. This verse uses extremely graphic imagery to convey the severity and totality of the judgment. The saturation of the land with blood and the transformation of dust into fat emphasize that the destruction will be complete and overwhelming. The verse establishes that the judgment will leave no doubt about its reality or totality.

Isaiah 34:7

The reference to wild oxen and bulls being brought low, with the land soaked with blood, indicates that even the animal world will participate in the destruction. This verse suggests that the judgment affects all levels of creation, from human populations to the beasts of the field. The specific reference to wild oxen and bulls suggests that these powerful animals will be slaughtered along with human populations. The verse emphasizes that the judgment is not merely human but natural and cosmic in scope.

Isaiah 34:8

The connection of the judgment to God's day of vengeance and year of recompense establishes that the judgment serves God's ultimate purposes of justice and retribution. This verse provides theological meaning to the physical devastation described in the preceding verses, indicating that the judgment is not arbitrary but a response to covenant violation and injustice. The reference to a year of recompense suggests that the judgment will be comprehensive and complete, addressing all violations and restoring justice. The verse indicates that the judgment serves God's ultimate purposes in establishing divine justice.

Isaiah 34:9

The reference to streams turning to pitch and dust becoming brimstone, with the land becoming burning pitch, indicates that the judgment will involve the transformation of the physical environment into a hostile, uninhabitable landscape. This verse uses geological and chemical imagery to suggest that the judgment will fundamentally alter the physical character of the land. The transformation of water into pitch and the creation of a burning landscape emphasize that the environment itself will become an expression of divine judgment. The verse suggests that the judgment will be so total that the land will become uninhabitable and hostile to all life.

Isaiah 34:10

The reference to smoke rising continually, with the land lying desolate from generation to generation, indicates that the effects of judgment will be permanent and long-lasting. This verse emphasizes that the destruction is not temporary but enduring, suggesting that the land will remain desolate for an indefinite period. The reference to smoke rising continually evokes the imagery of Sodom and Gomorrah, suggesting that the judgment will be as total and irreversible as those biblical examples of divine judgment. The verse establishes that the judgment against Edom exemplifies the permanence and finality of divine judgment.

Isaiah 34:11

The reference to owls, ravens, and other unclean birds inhabiting the desolate land indicates that the land will be abandoned by human civilization and become a habitat for wild creatures. This verse establishes that the restoration of the land to wildness involves the loss of human cultivation and habitation. The specific reference to unclean birds suggests that the land will become hostile and unsuitable for the pursuit of normal human life. The verse emphasizes that the judgment results in the complete abandonment of human civilization.

Isaiah 34:12

The reference to noblemen and nobles calling out a kingdom that will be destroyed, with all princely ranks coming to naught, indicates that the judgment will extend to all levels of leadership and authority. This verse emphasizes that no one will escape the judgment, from the highest ranks of nobility to the common people. The establishment of a kingdom that will be destroyed suggests that even attempts to maintain order and governance will fail in the face of judgment. The verse establishes that the judgment is total and affects all segments of society.

Isaiah 34:1

The call to nations and peoples to listen and attend indicates that what follows is a pronouncement intended for universal witness and comprehension. This verse establishes the cosmic scale of the judgment, indicating that it affects not only Edom or a single nation but has universal implications. The formal call to attention establishes the solemnity and importance of what follows. The verse sets the context for understanding the judgment against Edom as an example of God's cosmic judgment against all nations who oppose His purposes.

Isaiah 34:2

The reference to God's anger against all nations and His wrath against all their hosts establishes that the judgment is not limited to Edom but extends to all nations that stand in opposition to God's purposes. This verse universalizes the judgment, suggesting that God's wrath is not arbitrary or localized but directed against all who violate divine law. The specific reference to hosts indicates that the judgment will affect military forces as well as civilian populations. The verse establishes that the judgment described in this chapter exemplifies the broader pattern of divine judgment against all nations.