Isaiah 24:12

In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

In the city {H5892} is left {H7604} desolation {H8047}, and the gate {H8179} is smitten {H3807} with destruction {H7591}.

In the city, only desolation, its gates are battered beyond repair.

The city is left in ruins; its gate is reduced to rubble.

In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.

Isaiah 24:12 is a stark depiction of profound devastation, illustrating the consequences of divine judgment upon the earth. This verse is part of a larger prophetic section in Isaiah often referred to as a "mini-apocalypse" (Isaiah 24-27) due to its global scope and imagery of cosmic upheaval.

Context

Chapter 24 of Isaiah describes a worldwide judgment where the Lord lays waste to the earth because its inhabitants have transgressed laws, violated statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant (see Isaiah 24:5). The entire chapter paints a picture of mourning, silence, and the cessation of all joy and revelry. The desolation described in verse 12 is a direct result of this pervasive judgment, impacting not just a single nation but the very fabric of human civilization.

Key Themes

  • Universal Judgment: The verse emphasizes the widespread nature of the calamity, affecting human centers of power and life. It speaks to a time when God's righteous judgment impacts all.
  • Total Devastation: "Desolation" and "destruction" highlight the completeness of the ruin. Cities, once vibrant symbols of human achievement and security, are rendered empty and vulnerable.
  • Loss of Security: The "gate" of a city was its primary point of defense, commerce, and governance. Its being "smitten with destruction" signifies the utter collapse of protection and order, leaving the city defenseless and its inhabitants exposed. This echoes similar prophecies of broken defenses in other judgments, such as Nahum 3:13.
  • Consequences of Sin: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader context of Isaiah 24 makes it clear that this devastation is a direct result of humanity's rebellion against God's laws and covenant.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "desolation" is shammah (שַׁמָּה), conveying a sense of emptiness, waste, and horror. "Smitten" comes from nakah (נָכָה), meaning to strike, hit, or utterly destroy, implying a forceful and decisive blow. "Destruction" is shaver (שֶׁבֶר), which refers to a breaking, shattering, or ruin. These terms collectively paint a vivid picture of utter ruin and brokenness, underscoring the severity of the judgment.

Practical Application

Isaiah 24:12 serves as a sobering reminder of God's ultimate sovereignty and justice. It underscores the fragility of human systems and structures when divorced from divine favor. For believers, it highlights the importance of placing trust not in worldly security or fleeting achievements, but in the enduring refuge found in God. It also points to the ultimate outcome for those who reject God's ways, emphasizing the need for repentance and reliance on His grace, as described in passages about God's steadfast love, such as Lamentations 3:22-23.

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.

  • Micah 1:9

    For her wound [is] incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, [even] to Jerusalem.

  • Lamentations 2:9

    Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes [are] among the Gentiles: the law [is] no [more]; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 9:11

    And I will make Jerusalem heaps, [and] a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

  • Lamentations 5:18

    Because of the mountain of Zion, which is desolate, the foxes walk upon it.

  • Micah 1:12

    For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.

  • Lamentations 1:4

    The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she [is] in bitterness.

  • Lamentations 1:1

    ¶ How doth the city sit solitary, [that was] full of people! [how] is she become as a widow! she [that was] great among the nations, [and] princess among the provinces, [how] is she become tributary!

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