Isaiah34
English Standard Version
1Draw , O , to , and give , O ! Let the , and all that it; the , and that from it.
2For the Lord is the , and their ; he has devoted them to , has given them for .
3Their shall be , and the of their shall ; the shall with their .
4 the of shall , and the like a . their shall , as from the , like from the .
5For my has drunk its in the ; , it for judgment , the I have devoted to .
6The Lord has a ; it is with ; it is with , with the of and , with the of the of . the Lord has a in , a in the of .
7 shall with them, and with the . Their shall drink its of , and their shall be with .
8For the Lord has a of , a of for the of .
9And the of Edom shall be into , and her into ; her shall become .
10 and it shall be ; its shall . From to it shall lie ; shall it and .
11But the and the shall it, the and the shall in it. He shall the of it, and the of .
12Its —there is no there to it a , and its shall be .
13 shall its , and in its . It shall be the of , an for .
14And shall with ; the wild shall to his ; , the and for herself a .
15 the and and and gathers her in her ; , the are , each with her .
16 and the of the Lord: of shall be ; shall be her . For the of the Lord has , and his has them.
17He has the for them; his has it out to them with the ; they shall it ; from to they shall in it.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 34.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's vengeance against the enemies of his church. (1-8). Their desolation. (9-17).
vv1-8
Here is a prophecy of the wars of the Lord, all which are both righteous and successful. All nations are concerned. And as they have all had the benefit of his patience, so all must expect to feel his resentment. The description of bloodshed suggests tremendous ideas of the Divine judgments. Idumea here denotes the nations at enmity with the church; also the kingdom of antichrist. Our thoughts cannot reach the horrors of that awful season, to those found opposing the church of Christ. There is a time fixed in the Divine counsels for the deliverance of the church, and the destruction of her enemies. We must patiently wait till then, and judge nothing before the time. Through Christ, mercy is exercised to every believer, consistently with justice, and his name is glorified.
vv9-17
Those who aim to ruin the church, can never do that, but will ruin themselves. What dismal changes sin can make! It turns a fruitful land into barrenness, a crowded city into a wilderness. Let us compare all we discover in the book of the Lord, with the dealings of providence around us, that we may be more diligent in seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness. What the mouth of the Lord has commanded, his Spirit will perform. And let us observe how the evidences of the truth continually increase, as one prophecy after another is fulfilled, until these awful scenes bring in more happy days. As Israel was a figure of the Christian church, so the Edomites, their bitter enemies, represent the enemies of the kingdom of Christ. God's Jerusalem may be laid in ruins for a time, but the enemies of the church shall be desolate for ever.
Key Words
קָרַב: to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
גּוֹי: a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
קָשַׁב: to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
לְאֹם: a community
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מְלֹא: fulness (literally or figuratively)
תֵּבֵל: the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; specifically, a particular land, as Babylonia, Palestine
כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
צֶאֱצָא: issue, i.e. produce, children
Cross References
Isaiah 34The rolling up of the heavens like a scroll closely echoes this cosmic judgment imagery.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
A solemn call to the earth and all creation to hear the words of God's judgment.
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The sword of God bathed or made drunk with blood parallels Deuteronomy's song of judgment.
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The day of the Lord's vengeance, where His sword is filled with a sacrifice of slaughter.
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The Lord's sacrificial feast of slaughter where birds and beasts consume the mighty.
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The unquenchable smoke going up forever is echoed in Revelation's description of final doom.
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The dissolution of the heavenly hosts aligns with Joel's prophetic signs in the heavens.
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Jesus uses the same falling stars and shaken heavens imagery to describe the end times.
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The dissolution of the cosmic host matches Peter's description of the elements melting.
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Isaiah's later vision of the Lord returning in blood-stained garments from Bozrah in Edom.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Zephaniah's declaration that the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and invited His guests.
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Pitch and brimstone imagery directly mirrors the historic overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah.
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The universal summons of the nations to hear God's specific judgment on Edom.
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The physical heavens wearing out like a garment and being folded away.
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Identifies the strength and wild nature of the 'unicorn' (reem) mentioned in judgment.
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Malachi records the literal historical fulfillment of Edom's heritage being laid waste.
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The desolate ruins becoming a dwelling place for unclean birds and wild beasts.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The disgrace of bodies cast out of their graves without an honorable burial.
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The pairing of blood and the fat of the mighty in sacrificial contexts.
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The cursed land turned to brimstone and salt, mimicking the doom of Sodom.
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The historical military subjugation of Edom by Amaziah, taking Selah.
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The historical hostility of Edom rejoicing over the tragic fall of Jerusalem.
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Establishes Bozrah historically as a prominent seat of Edomite power and kingship.
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Exhortation to diligently search and read the scriptures, parallel to 'seek out of the book'.
Supported by Matthew Henry