Isaiah 24:19

KJV

The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.

KJV (with Strong's)

The earth {H776} is utterly {H7489} broken down {H7489}, the earth {H776} is clean {H6565} dissolved {H6565}, the earth {H776} is moved {H4131} exceedingly {H4131}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The earth cracks and breaks open, the earth crumbles to pieces, the earth trembles and totters.

Berean Standard Bible

The earth is utterly broken apart, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently.

American Standard Version

The earth is utterly broken, the earth is rent asunder, the earth is shaken violently.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 24:19 delivers a stark prophetic vision of universal judgment, portraying the earth undergoing a catastrophic unraveling. The verse graphically depicts the planet as utterly shattered, completely disintegrated, and violently shaken, serving as a climactic statement within Isaiah's "Little Apocalypse" (chapters 24-27). This vivid imagery underscores the totality and severity of divine wrath against human rebellion and sin, leading to a cosmic collapse that affects the very foundations of creation, thereby setting the stage for the ultimate establishment of God's righteous and unshakable kingdom.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 24:19 is deeply embedded within a sweeping prophetic section often referred to as the "Little Apocalypse" (Isaiah 24-27). This segment marks a significant shift in Isaiah's prophecy, moving from specific judgments against individual nations (chapters 13-23) to a universal, eschatological judgment encompassing the entire earth. The preceding verses (Isaiah 24:1-12) establish a scene of widespread desolation, the emptying of the land, and the cessation of all joy, directly attributing this devastation to humanity's pervasive sin and the breaking of the everlasting covenant, as explicitly stated in [Isaiah 24:5](/isaiah/24-5 "Isaiah 24:5 - Breaking the Everlasting Covenant"). Verse 19 intensifies this imagery, transitioning from general desolation to a visceral, almost physical depiction of the earth's structural collapse and dissolution. It serves as a powerful, climactic statement of the earth's profound instability under divine wrath, immediately preceding the chapter's shift towards a remnant's praise and the ultimate reign of the Lord.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** While many of Isaiah's prophecies are rooted in the specific historical and political realities of Judah, Israel, and surrounding nations during the 8th century BCE, Isaiah 24 transcends a particular historical moment to describe a cosmic, eschatological judgment. From an ancient Near Eastern cultural perspective, the earth was often conceived as having stable foundations or pillars. The imagery of the earth being "broken down," "dissolved," and "moved exceedingly" would have evoked profound dread and a sense of utter chaos, directly challenging the fundamental notion of stability and order. This global judgment is not linked to a specific empire or invasion but to universal human sin, particularly the violation of God's moral law and covenant. This violation was understood to carry cosmic implications, impacting not just human society but the very fabric of the created order, reflecting a worldview where divine justice directly manifests in the physical world.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prominent in Isaiah and broader biblical prophecy. Primarily, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Justice**, demonstrating God's absolute control over creation and His unwavering commitment to judging sin on a global scale. The earth's instability is portrayed as a direct manifestation of His righteous wrath against human rebellion. Another crucial theme is **Global Cataclysm and Eschatology**, depicting a universal devastation that affects the very foundations of the world, underscoring the severity of God's wrath against unrighteousness. This imagery resonates with and foreshadows the "Day of the Lord" prophecies found throughout the Old Testament, such as those in [Zephaniah 1](/zephaniah/1 "Zephaniah 1 - The Great Day of the Lord") or [Joel 2](/joel/2 "Joel 2 - The Day of the Lord and Outpouring of the Spirit"), where cosmic disturbances accompany divine judgment. Finally, the verse profoundly underscores the **Consequences of Sin**, emphasizing that widespread defiance against God's laws has severe, far-reaching consequences that extend beyond individuals to impact the entire created order, reflecting the deep spiritual brokenness of humanity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Broken down (Hebrew, _râʻaʻ'_):** This word (H7489), translated as "broken down" and intensified by "utterly," signifies a radical spoiling or a breaking into pieces. It implies a violent shattering or collapse, suggesting that the earth's very structure is being dismantled and rendered useless, reflecting a state of complete ruin and moral corruption.
* **Dissolved (Hebrew, _pârar'_):** This term (H6565), coupled with "clean," means to break up, violate, frustrate, or make void. It conveys a profound sense of disintegration, a loss of cohesion, as if the earth is melting or crumbling into nothingness. The phrase "clean dissolved" underscores the thoroughness of this unraveling, leaving nothing coherent behind.
* **Moved (Hebrew, _môwṭ'_):** This word (H4131), intensified by "exceedingly," means to waver, slip, shake, or fall. It describes extreme instability, a violent tottering or reeling, as if the earth itself is losing its footing and cannot stand firm. The "exceedingly moved" emphasizes the relentless, profound, and uncontrollable shaking that accompanies the earth's collapse.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The earth is utterly broken down,"**: This initial clause vividly depicts the earth's fundamental structure undergoing a violent shattering or collapse. The adverb "utterly" (derived from the Hebrew root `râʻaʻ`, which also means to spoil or render useless) emphasizes the completeness and irreversible nature of this ruin, suggesting a total fragmentation.
* **"the earth is clean dissolved,"**: This second clause intensifies the imagery, moving beyond mere breakage to a state of complete disintegration. "Clean dissolved" (from the Hebrew root `pârar`, meaning to break up or make void) implies a total melting away or a loss of all form and coherence, as if the very elements of the earth are coming apart, leaving no solid ground or stability.
* **"the earth is moved exceedingly."**: The final clause describes the violent instability and profound, uncontrollable shaking that accompanies the earth's collapse. "Moved exceedingly" (from the Hebrew root `môwṭ`, meaning to waver, slip, or shake) conveys a sense of violent tottering, reeling, or slipping, indicating that the world has lost its equilibrium and is undergoing a relentless, catastrophic tremor that leaves nothing stable.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 24:19 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of universal and catastrophic judgment. **Repetition** is prominently used with the phrase "the earth is..." appearing three times, each followed by a different, intensifying verb of destruction. This anaphora not only emphasizes the subject of the judgment (the entire earth) but also builds a cumulative sense of escalating devastation, underscoring the totality and inevitability of the catastrophe. **Hyperbole** is also strikingly evident, as the descriptions of the earth being "utterly broken down," "clean dissolved," and "moved exceedingly" are exaggerated to convey the extreme, unprecedented nature of God's wrath, far beyond any ordinary earthquake or natural disaster. This vivid imagery creates a profound sense of cosmic unraveling and chaos. Furthermore, the verse subtly employs **Personification**, depicting the earth as an entity that can be "broken down," "dissolved," and "moved," giving it an almost sentient quality as it experiences the divine judgment. This makes the destruction more immediate and impactful, as if the very ground beneath humanity's feet is reacting to its sin and God's righteous indignation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 24:19 stands as a stark and profound reminder of God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His unwavering justice. The depicted profound instability and disintegration of the earth are not random chaos but a direct and inevitable consequence of human rebellion and the breaking of God's covenant. This cosmic upheaval serves to highlight the severity of widespread sin and the comprehensive nature of divine judgment, demonstrating that even the physical world groans under the weight of human unrighteousness. The theological implication is clear: God's holiness demands a reckoning that impacts all aspects of existence, ultimately purifying the earth for His righteous reign and establishing a new order where justice prevails.

* [Psalm 46:2-3](/psalm/46-2-3 "Psalm 46:2-3 - God Our Refuge Amidst Earth's Shaking")
* [Haggai 2:6-7](/haggai/2-6-7 "Haggai 2:6-7 - The Shaking of Heaven and Earth Foretold")
* [Revelation 6:12-14](/revelation/6-12-14 "Revelation 6:12-14 - Cosmic Disturbances at the Sixth Seal")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The terrifying imagery of Isaiah 24:19, portraying the earth's complete unraveling, serves as a profound call to introspection and a radical reorientation of our priorities. It reminds us that the stability we often take for granted—the ground beneath our feet, the order of the natural world, and even human institutions—is ultimately dependent on God's sustaining power and His unwavering justice. This passage challenges us to deeply consider the far-reaching consequences of sin, not only on individual lives but on the entire created order. It urges us to live in light of God's ultimate sovereignty and the temporary, transient nature of this present world, fostering a deeper, unwavering reliance on Him rather than on fleeting earthly securities or human constructs. For believers, this vision of impending judgment should not evoke despair but rather a renewed sense of urgency for repentance, righteous living, and a fervent, enduring hope in the promise of a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells—a world that will never be shaken, a kingdom that cannot be moved.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of the earth's dissolution challenge your sense of security and where you place your ultimate hope?**
* **In what ways does this verse underscore the seriousness of human sin and its impact beyond individual lives, affecting the created order itself?**
* **How should the understanding of God's ultimate judgment and His coming righteous reign motivate believers to live differently today, pursuing holiness and justice?**

### FAQ
**What is the "Little Apocalypse" in Isaiah?**

Answer: The "Little Apocalypse" refers to Isaiah chapters 24-27, a distinct and highly significant prophetic section within the book of Isaiah. It is characterized by its sweeping, universal scope of judgment and salvation, moving beyond specific nations to describe a global catastrophe and the ultimate establishment of God's kingdom. It employs highly symbolic and cosmic language to depict the end times, including the shaking of the earth, the judgment of all evil, and the joyous restoration of God's people. This section serves as a crucial theological bridge, connecting the specific judgments against nations to the broader eschatological hope for all creation and the consummation of God's redemptive plan.

**Does this verse predict a literal destruction of the earth?**

Answer: While the language in Isaiah 24:19 is undeniably vivid and physical, depicting the earth as "broken down," "dissolved," and "moved," biblical prophecy often employs **hyperbole** and **symbolism** to convey the immense magnitude of divine judgment. It certainly points to a profound and catastrophic upheaval, whether interpreted as a literal physical disintegration or a symbolic representation of the complete collapse of human systems, order, and stability under God's wrath. Ultimately, the New Testament speaks of a future time when the present heavens and earth will pass away, to be replaced by a new creation (see [2 Peter 3:10-13](/2_peter/3-10-13 "2 Peter 3:10-13 - The Passing of the Old and the New Heavens and Earth")). Therefore, while the immediate fulfillment might encompass symbolic societal collapse, the ultimate fulfillment points to a literal, divinely orchestrated transformation of the cosmos, leading to a renewed creation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 24:19, with its depiction of a groaning, disintegrating earth under divine judgment, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the broader biblical narrative of redemption and new creation. While the verse speaks of the earth being shaken by God's wrath against sin, the New Testament reveals that Jesus Christ is the one through whom all things were created and through whom all things are held together ([Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer of All Things")). The shaking described in Isaiah foreshadows not only the judgment of sin but also the ultimate establishment of an unshakable kingdom through Christ. The author of Hebrews, referencing Old Testament passages about God shaking the earth, declares that God will "once more shake not only the earth but also the heavens," but this shaking serves a redemptive purpose: to remove what can be shaken so that "what cannot be shaken may remain" ([Hebrews 12:26-27](/hebrews/12-26-27 "Hebrews 12:26-27 - The Shaking of All Things for an Unshakable Kingdom")). This unshakable reality is the kingdom of God, inaugurated by Christ's first coming and consummated at His glorious second coming. The judgment depicted in Isaiah 24:19, therefore, points forward to the final judgment where Christ will execute perfect justice, bringing an end to all rebellion and sin, and establishing His eternal reign. Furthermore, the promise of a "new heaven and a new earth" ([Revelation 21:1](/revelation/21-1 "Revelation 21:1 - The New Heaven and New Earth Descend")), where righteousness dwells, is the ultimate divine answer to the earth's brokenness and dissolution described in Isaiah. Christ's redemptive work on the cross and His triumphant resurrection are the means by which humanity is reconciled to God and creation itself is set free from its bondage to decay, culminating in a gloriously restored cosmos that perfectly reflects His glory and eternal dominion ([Romans 8:19-21](/romans/8-19-21 "Romans 8:19-21 - Creation Groans for Redemption and Glorious Liberty")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 34:4

And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling [fig] from the fig tree.

Isaiah 34:10

It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

Deuteronomy 11:6

And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that [was] in their possession, in the midst of all Israel:

Revelation 20:11

¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

Nahum 1:5

The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

Jeremiah 4:23

I beheld the earth, and, lo, [it was] without form, and void; and the heavens, and they [had] no light.

Jeremiah 4:28

For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken [it], I have purposed [it], and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.