Isaiah 34
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This chapter contains two prophecies: the first, delivered during the siege of Jerusalem, predicts to Zedekiah the taking and burning of the city, with his own peaceful death and honorable burial, Jer 34:1-7. The second was delivered when the Chaldeans had for some time broken up the siege. It reproves the Jews for their conduct towards their brethren of the poorer sort, whom they released, by a solemn covenant, from bondage, in the extremity of their danger; but compelled to return to it when they thought that danger over, Jer 34:8-11. For this God threatens them with the sword, pestilence, and famine; and with the return of the Chaldeans, who should take the city, destroy it and the other cities by fire, and make an utter desolation of the whole land of Judea, Jer 34:12-22.
Open source ↗JUDGMENT ON IDUMEA. (Isa. 34:1-17) All creation is summoned to hear God's judgments (Eze 6:3; Deu 32:1; Psa 50:4; Mic 6:1-2), for they set forth His glory, which is the end of creation (Rev 15:3; Rev 4:11). that come forth of it--answering to "all that is therein"; or Hebrew, "all whatever fills it," Margin.
Open source ↗Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people,.... Not the people of the Jews, as some, whose utter destruction, after their rejection of the Messiah, is here thought to be prophesied of; and much less are these people called upon to hear the Gospel preached to them, as Cocceius thinks; for not good, but bad news they are called to hearken to, even the account of their utter ruin: let the earth hear, and all that is therein: not the land of Judea, but all the earth, and the inhabitants of it: the world, and all things that come forth of it; which may either be understood of those that dwell in it, as the Targum interprets it; of the people that are in it, as the Septuagint and the Oriental versions; and so the phrase may denote the original of them, being of the earth, earthly, and to which they must return again; and may be designed to humble men, and hide pride from them; or else the fruits of the earth, trees, and everything that spring out of it, which are called upon to hear the voice of the Lord, when men would not; and so is designed to rebuke the stupidity and sluggishness of men to hearken to what is said to them, even from the Lord, when upon the brink of destruction.
Open source ↗What the prophet here foretells relates to all nations, and to every individual within them, in their relation to the congregation of Jehovah. He therefore commences with the appeal in Isa 34:1-3 : "Come near, ye peoples, to hear; and he nations, attend. Let the earth hear, and that which fills it, the world, and everything that springs from it. For the indignation of Jehovah will fall upon all nations, and burning wrath upon all their host; He has laid the ban upon them, delivered them to the slaughter. And their slain are cast away, and their corpses - their stench will arise, and mountains melt with their blood." The summons does not invite them to look upon the completion of the judgment, but to hear the prophecy of the future judgment; and it is issued to everything on the earth, because it would all have to endure the judgment upon the nations (see at Isa 5:25; Isa 13:10). The expression qetseph layehōvâh implies that Jehovah was ready to execute His wrath (compare yōm layehōvâh in Isa 34:8 and Isa 2:12). The nations that are hostile to Jehovah are slaughtered, the bodies remain unburied, and the streams of blood loosen the firm masses of the mountains, so that they melt away. On the stench of the corpses, compare Eze 39:11. Even if châsam, in this instance, does not mean "to take away the breath with the stench," there is no doubt that Ezekiel had this prophecy of Isaiah in his mind, when prophesying of the destruction of Gog and Magog (Ezek 39).
Open source ↗Here we have a prophecy, as elsewhere we have a history, of the wars of the Lord, which we are sure are all both righteous and successful. This world, as it is his creature, he does good to; but as it is in the interest of Satan, who is called the god of this world, he fights against it. I. Here is the trumpet sounded and the war proclaimed, Isa 34:1. All nations must hear and hearken, not only because what God is about to do is well worthy their remark (as Isa 33:13), but because they are all concerned in it; it is with them that God has a quarrel; it is against them that God is coming forth in wrath. Let them all take notice that the great God is angry with them; his indignation is upon all nations, and therefore let all nations come near to hear. The trumpet is blown in the city (Amo 3:6), and the watchmen on the walls cry, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet, Jer 6:17. Let the earth hear, and the fulness thereof, for it is the Lord's (Psa 24:1) and ought to hearken to its Maker and Master. The world must hear, and all things that come forth of it, the children of men, that are of the earth earthy, come out of it, and must return to it; or the inanimate products of the earth are called to, as more likely to hearken than sinners, whose hearts are hardened against the calls of God. Hear, O you mountains! the Lord's controversy, Mic 6:2. It is so just a controversy that all the world may be safely appealed to concerning the equity of it. II. Here is the manifesto published, setting forth, 1. Whom he makes war against (Isa 34:2): The indignation of the Lord is upon all nations; they are all in confederacy against God and religion, all in the interests of the devil, and therefore he is angry with them all, even with all the nations that forget him. He has long suffered al…
Open source ↗34:1-17 This prophecy of judgment was against the nations at the terrifying day of the Lord (see study note on 2:5-22; see also 63:1-6).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… קָשַׁב (qâshab, H7181) — to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken לְאֹם (lᵉʼôm, H3816) — a community אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מְלֹא (mᵉlôʼ, H4393) — fulness (literally or figuratively) תֵּבֵל (têbêl, H8398) — the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication,… צֶאֱצָא (tseʼĕtsâʼ, H6631) — issue, i.e. produce, children
Open source ↗קֶצֶף (qetseph, H7110) — a splinter (as chipped off); figuratively, rage or strife יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… חֵמָה (chêmâh, H2534) — heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… חָרַם (châram, H2763) — to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction);… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) טֶבַח (ṭebach, H2874) — properly, something slaughtered; hence, a beast (or meat, as butchered); abstractly…
Open source ↗חָלָל (châlâl, H2491) — pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted שָׁלַךְ (shâlak, H7993) — to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively) בְּאֹשׁ (bᵉʼôsh, H889) — a stench עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… פֶּגֶר (peger, H6297) — a carcase (as limp), whether of man or beast; figuratively, an idolatrous image הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) מָסַס (mâçaç, H4549) — to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief) דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice…
Open source ↗צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… מָקַק (mâqaq, H4743) — to melt; figuratively, to flow, dwindle, vanish גָּלַל (gâlal, H1556) — to roll (literally or figuratively) סֵפֶר (çêpher, H5612) — properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book נָבֵל (nâbêl, H5034) — to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally)… עָלֶה (ʻâleh, H5929) — a leaf (as coming up on a tree); collectively, foliage גֶּפֶן (gephen, H1612) — a vine (as twining), especially the grape תְּאֵן (tᵉʼên, H8384) — the fig (tree or fruit)
Open source ↗חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… רָוָה (râvâh, H7301) — to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites) שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… חֵרֶם (chêrem, H2764) — physical (as shutting in) a net (either literally or figuratively); usually a doomed… מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a…
Open source ↗חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… דָּשֵׁן (dâshên, H1878) — to be fat; transitively, to fatten (or regard as fat); specifically to anoint;… חֶלֶב (cheleb, H2459) — fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part כַּר (kar, H3733) — a ram (as full-grown and fat), including a battering-ram (as butting); hence, a meadow… עַתּוּד (ʻattûwd, H6260) — prepared, i.e. full grown; spoken only (in plural) of he-goats, or (figuratively) leaders… כִּלְיָה (kilyâh, H3629) — a kidney (as an essential organ); figuratively, the mind (as the interior self) אַיִל (ʼayil, H352) — properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a… זֶבַח (zebach, H2077) — properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the… בׇּצְרָה (Botsrâh, H1224) — Botsrah, a place in Edom גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent טֶבַח (ṭebach, H2874) — properly, something slaughtered; hence, a beast (or meat, as butchered); abstractly…
Open source ↗רְאֵם (rᵉʼêm, H7214) — a wild bull (from its conspicuousness) יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… פַּר (par, H6499) — a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength, or perhaps as dividing the hoof) אַבִּיר (ʼabbîyr, H47) — {mighty (spoken of God)} אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) רָוָה (râvâh, H7301) — to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites) דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… עָפָר (ʻâphâr, H6083) — dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud דָּשֵׁן (dâshên, H1878) — to be fat; transitively, to fatten (or regard as fat); specifically to anoint;… חֶלֶב (cheleb, H2459) — fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נָקָם (nâqâm, H5359) — revenge שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) שִׁלּוּם (shillûwm, H7966) — a requital, i.e. (secure) retribution, (venal) a fee רִיב (rîyb, H7379) — a contest (personal or legal) צִיּוֹן (Tsîyôwn, H6726) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem
Open source ↗נַחַל (nachal, H5158) — a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a… הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert זֶפֶת (zepheth, H2203) — asphalt (from its tendency to soften in the sun) עָפָר (ʻâphâr, H6083) — dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud גׇּפְרִית (gophrîyth, H1614) — properly, cypress-resin; by analogy, sulphur (as equally inflammable) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) בָּעַר (bâʻar, H1197) — to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be(-come) brutish
Open source ↗כָּבָה (kâbâh, H3518) — to expire or (causatively) to extinguish (fire, light, anger) לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity יוֹמָם (yôwmâm, H3119) — daily עָשָׁן (ʻâshân, H6227) — smoke, literally or figuratively (vapor, dust, anger) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… דּוֹר (dôwr, H1755) — properly, a revolution of time, i.e. an age or generation; also a dwelling חָרַב (chârab, H2717) — to parch (through drought) i.e. (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… נֶצַח (netsach, H5331) — properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at adistance travelled towards; hence…
Open source ↗קָאַת (qâʼath, H6893) — probably the pelican (from vomiting) קִפּוֹד (qippôwd, H7090) — a species of bird, perhaps the bittern (from its contracted form) יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… יַנְשׁוּף (yanshûwph, H3244) — an unclean (acquatic) bird; probably the heron (perhaps from its blowing cry, or because… עֹרֵב (ʻôrêb, H6158) — a raven (from its dusky hue) שָׁכַן (shâkan, H7931) — to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively) נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… קַו (qav, H6957) — a cord (as connecting), especially formeasuring; figuratively, a rule; also a rim, a… תֹּהוּ (tôhûw, H8414) — a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in… אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone בֹּהוּ (bôhûw, H922) — a vacuity, i.e. (superficially) an undistinguishable ruin
Open source ↗קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… חֹר (chôr, H2715) — properly, white or pure (from the cleansing or shining power of fire; hence… מְלוּכָה (mᵉlûwkâh, H4410) — something ruled, i.e. a realm שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) אֶפֶס (ʼepheç, H657) — cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the…
Open source ↗סִיר (çîyr, H5518) — a pot; also a thorn (as springing up rapidly); by implication, a hook עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אַרְמוֹן (ʼarmôwn, H759) — a citadel (from its height) קִמּוֹשׁ (qimmôwsh, H7057) — a prickly plant חוֹחַ (chôwach, H2336) — a thorn; by analogy, a ring forthe nose מִבְצָר (mibtsâr, H4013) — a fortification, castle, or fortified city; figuratively, a defender נָוֶה (nâveh, H5116) — (adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home,… תַּנִּין (tannîyn, H8577) — a marine or land monster, i.e. sea-serpent or jackal חָצִיר (châtsîyr, H2681) — a court or abode בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… יַעֲנָה (yaʻănâh, H3284) — {the ostrich (probably from its answering cry}
Open source ↗צִיִּי (tsîyîy, H6728) — a desert-dweller, i.e. nomad or wild beast פָּגַשׁ (pâgash, H6298) — to come in contact with, whether by accident or violence; figuratively, to concur אִי (ʼîy, H338) — a howler (used only in the plural), i.e. any solitary wild creature שָׂעִיר (sâʻîyr, H8163) — shaggy; as noun, a he-goat; by analogy, a faun קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) לִילִית (lîylîyth, H3917) — a night spectre רָגַע (râgaʻ, H7280) — properly, to toss violently and suddenly (the sea with waves, the skin with boils);… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… מָנוֹחַ (mânôwach, H4494) — quiet, i.e. (concretely) a settled spot, or (figuratively) a home
Open source ↗Cross-references
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All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”
Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.
“Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment.
for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.”
O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!
Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.
You who are far off, hear what I have done; you who are near, acknowledge My might.”
Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.
All you people of the world and dwellers of the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it; when a ram’s horn sounds, you will hear it.
The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from where the sun rises to where it sets.