Isaiah 24:10

The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

The city {H7151} of confusion {H8414} is broken down {H7665}: every house {H1004} is shut up {H5462}, that no man may come in {H935}.

The city of chaos is shattered, every house closed up; no one can enter.

The city of chaos is shattered; every house is closed to entry.

The waste city is broken down; every house is shut up, that no man may come in.

Isaiah 24:10 describes a scene of utter desolation and divine judgment, a powerful image within the prophetic warnings of the prophet Isaiah. This verse is part of a larger section (chapters 24-27) often referred to as "Isaiah's Little Apocalypse," which foretells a global judgment upon the earth due to its sin and rebellion against God.

Context

The "city of confusion" is likely a symbolic representation of any human civilization or stronghold that has rejected God's order and embraced wickedness. While it could allude to specific historical cities like Jerusalem or Babylon, its broader implication points to the world system built apart from God. The surrounding verses in Isaiah 24 detail widespread devastation, famine, and the breaking of the covenant between God and humanity. The judgment described here is comprehensive, affecting all inhabitants of the earth, leading to a state of profound emptiness and silence, where normal life ceases.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse vividly portrays the consequences of humanity's sin and rebellion against God's righteous laws. It underscores God's sovereignty and His ultimate authority to bring about justice and desolation upon the wicked.
  • Desolation and Ruin: The phrase "broken down" signifies complete destruction, while "every house is shut up, that no man may come in" paints a picture of abandonment, void of life, commerce, or social interaction. This imagery powerfully conveys the absence of flourishing life and the consequences of divine wrath.
  • Chaos and Disorder: The very term "city of confusion" speaks to a state of utter disarray and moral decay. When humanity deviates from God's design and seeks to establish its own order, the inevitable result is not freedom but profound chaos and the breakdown of society.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "confusion" in "the city of confusion" is tohu (תֹּ֫הוּ). This is a highly significant term, as it is famously used in Genesis 1:2 to describe the earth as "without form, and void" before God brought order into creation. Its use here suggests a reversal of creation's order, a return to primeval chaos and emptiness as a direct result of sin and divine judgment. The "city" that sought to establish its own order apart from God ultimately descends into the very chaos from which God originally delivered the world.

Practical Application

Isaiah 24:10 serves as a stark warning and a profound reminder for all generations. It illustrates that any society, structure, or individual life built on principles contrary to God's will is ultimately destined for collapse and desolation. It challenges us to reflect on the foundations of our own lives and the direction of our societies. Are we building on the solid rock of Christ's teachings, or on shifting sands that will inevitably lead to confusion and ruin? This verse calls believers to live in alignment with God's truth, recognizing that true peace, order, and lasting security come only from Him. It also points to the ultimate hope that after judgment, God will establish a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells, as hinted at in passages like Revelation 21:1, a stark contrast to the city of confusion.

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.

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

  • Revelation 17:5

    And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

  • Revelation 17:6

    And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

  • Isaiah 34:11

    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.

  • Jeremiah 39:8

    And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

  • Isaiah 27:10

    Yet the defenced city [shall be] desolate, [and] the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.

  • Jeremiah 52:13

    And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great [men], burned he with fire:

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back