Your country [is] desolate, your cities [are] burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and [it is] desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
Your country {H776} is desolate {H8077}, your cities {H5892} are burned {H8313} with fire {H784}: your land {H127}, strangers {H2114} devour {H398} it in your presence, and it is desolate {H8077}, as overthrown {H4114} by strangers {H2114}.
"Your land is desolate, your cities are burned to the ground; foreigners devour your land in your presence; it's as desolate as if overwhelmed by floods.
Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you— a desolation demolished by strangers.
Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.
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Deuteronomy 28:33
The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway: -
Deuteronomy 28:43
The stranger that [is] within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low. -
Lamentations 5:2
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. -
Hosea 7:9
Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth [it] not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. -
Ezekiel 30:12
And I will make the rivers dry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will make the land waste, and all that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have spoken [it]. -
Deuteronomy 28:48
Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. -
Deuteronomy 28:52
And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee.
Context
Isaiah 1:7 introduces a stark and sobering description of the condition of Judah, the southern kingdom, during the time of the prophet Isaiah. This verse is part of Isaiah's opening prophetic oracle, which serves as a divine indictment against God's people for their rebellion and spiritual unfaithfulness. Though the events described might reflect a specific historical invasion (perhaps by the Assyrians), the primary message is symbolic of the spiritual decay and the impending, or already partially realized, consequences of their disobedience to the covenant. The nation, though still existing, is portrayed as utterly devastated, illustrating God's judgment.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "desolate" (שְׁמָמָה - shĕmamah) emphasizes a state of ruin, waste, and barrenness, often implying a sense of horror or astonishment at the extent of the destruction. It's a condition brought about by divine judgment. The term "overthrown" (מַהְפֵּכָה - mahpekhah) is particularly strong, often used to describe a complete reversal or destruction, reminiscent of the divine overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, suggesting that the destruction Judah faces is not accidental but a direct act of divine will or allowance due to their wickedness.
Practical Application
Isaiah 1:7 is a stark reminder that actions have consequences, especially in our relationship with God. While we no longer live under the Old Testament covenant in the same way, the principle remains: persistent rebellion against God's ways can lead to a spiritual desolation in our lives, our families, or even our communities. This verse calls us to examine our own hearts and societies for areas of spiritual unfaithfulness that might invite negative outcomes. It precedes Isaiah's famous call to repentance in Isaiah 1:18, reminding us that even in the midst of judgment, God offers a path to restoration if we turn back to Him.