Isaiah 24:1

¶ Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Behold, the LORD {H3068} maketh the earth {H776} empty {H1238}, and maketh it waste {H1110}, and turneth {H5753} it upside down {H6440}, and scattereth abroad {H6327} the inhabitants {H3427} thereof.

Look! ADONAI is stripping and destroying the land, turning it upside down and scattering its inhabitants

Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants—

Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Isaiah 24:1 opens a significant prophetic section, often referred to as the "Little Apocalypse" of Isaiah (chapters 24-27), which describes a comprehensive, worldwide judgment. This verse immediately sets a tone of impending doom and divine upheaval, emphasizing God's absolute control over the destiny of the earth and its inhabitants.

Context

This verse introduces a powerful prophetic oracle that extends beyond the immediate historical circumstances of Israel and Judah. While Isaiah often prophesied concerning specific nations and their fates, Isaiah 24 shifts to a global, cosmic judgment. It depicts a universal devastation that affects all people and the very fabric of the earth, leading many commentators to see strong eschatological (end-times) implications. It serves as a stark warning of God's righteous wrath against sin on a grand scale, affecting not just a particular nation but the entire world.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Judgment: The phrase "the LORD maketh" underscores that this widespread desolation is not a random catastrophe but a deliberate act of God's judgment. He is the active agent in bringing about this profound change and chaos. This highlights God's ultimate authority over creation and history.
  • Universal Desolation: The imagery of the earth being "empty," "waste," and its inhabitants "scattered abroad" portrays a comprehensive and inescapable judgment. It suggests a reversal of the order and fruitfulness established at creation, leading to barrenness and dispersion.
  • Cosmic Upheaval: "Turneth it upside down" vividly illustrates a complete disruption of the natural and societal order. It signifies a profound shaking and disarray, where all established norms and structures are overthrown by divine power. This imagery resonates with other biblical prophecies of God shaking creation.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used in this verse convey a powerful sense of utter devastation:

  • The term translated "empty" (buqa, בּוּקָה) and "waste" (bulaqa, בּוּלָקָה) are closely related, often used together to emphasize complete desolation and void. They echo the state of the earth before creation in Genesis 1:2 ("without form, and void"), but here they describe a reversal, a return to chaos brought about by judgment.
  • "Turneth it upside down" (from the root ya'aveh, יַעֲוֶה) implies a twisting, distorting, or perverting. It's not just a change, but a complete inversion of what is right or ordered, suggesting a profound disruption of the world's structure and systems.

Practical Application

Isaiah 24:1 serves as a timeless reminder of several truths:

  • God's Justice: It affirms that God is just and will ultimately judge sin on a global scale. This should instill a healthy fear of the Lord and a recognition of His holiness.
  • Urgency of Repentance: The severity of the depicted judgment calls for humanity to turn from its wicked ways and seek the Lord.
  • Hope in God's Sovereignty: While the imagery is stark, the fact that "the LORD maketh" implies that God is in control even amidst chaos. For believers, this offers assurance that God's plan will ultimately prevail, leading to a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells, as promised in passages like Revelation 21:1.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 2:19

    And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

  • Nahum 2:10

    She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

  • Isaiah 24:20

    The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.

  • Isaiah 42:15

    I will make waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools.

  • Isaiah 6:11

    Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

  • Isaiah 6:12

    And the LORD have removed men far away, and [there be] a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

  • Ezekiel 35:14

    Thus saith the Lord GOD; When the whole earth rejoiceth, I will make thee desolate.

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