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.

But the cormorant {H6893} and the bittern {H7090} shall possess {H3423} it; the owl {H3244} also and the raven {H6158} shall dwell {H7931} in it: and he shall stretch out {H5186} upon it the line {H6957} of confusion {H8414}, and the stones {H68} of emptiness {H922}.

Horned owl and hawk will possess it, screech owl and raven will live there; he will stretch over it the measuring line of confusion and the plumbline of the empty void.

The desert owl and screech owl will possess it, and the great owl and raven will dwell in it. The LORD will stretch out over Edom a measuring line of chaos and a plumb line of destruction.

But the pelican and the porcupine shall possess it; and the owl and the raven shall dwell therein: and he will stretch over it the line of confusion, and the plummet of emptiness.

Commentary on Isaiah 34:11 (KJV)

Isaiah 34:11 vividly portrays the utter desolation that will befall the land, specifically Edom, as a result of divine judgment. This verse is part of a broader prophetic oracle describing God's wrath against all nations that oppose His people and His will, culminating in a dramatic reversal of order and life.

Context

Chapter 34 of Isaiah is a powerful prophecy of judgment, often referred to as "The Day of the LORD's Vengeance." While it speaks broadly of judgment against all nations, it focuses intensely on Edom, Israel's ancient adversary, symbolizing God's enemies. The preceding verses describe a scene of bloodshed and destruction, indicating that the land will be utterly consumed by divine fury. Verse 11 then details the aftermath, showing a land left completely uninhabitable by humans, given over to creatures of ruin and measured out for ultimate emptiness.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Desolation: The verse emphasizes the absolute and irreversible nature of God's judgment. The land, once inhabited, will become a wasteland, possessed only by creatures associated with ruin and abandonment.
  • Reversal of Creation: The imagery of the "line of confusion" and "stones of emptiness" is highly significant. It directly echoes the Hebrew terms tohu and bohu from Genesis 1:2, which describe the earth as "without form, and void" before God's creative work. Here, God is depicted as actively undoing creation, measuring out chaos and nothingness, symbolizing a return to primordial disorder as a consequence of sin.
  • Symbolism of Ruin: The specific birds mentioned—the cormorant, bittern, owl, and raven—are all creatures that thrive in desolate, abandoned, or swampy places. Their presence signifies that the land will be utterly forsaken by humanity and given over to decay and wildness, a stark contrast to a flourishing habitation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrases "the line of confusion" (Hebrew: qav tohu) and "the stones of emptiness" (Hebrew: avne bohu) are central to the verse's meaning. Tohu (confusion/formlessness) and Bohu (emptiness/void) are the same words used in Genesis 1:2 to describe the earth before God brought order and life into it. Here, God is metaphorically using a builder's tools (a measuring line and plumb weights) not to construct or establish, but to measure out destruction and de-creation. It implies a deliberate act of divine judgment that leaves nothing but chaos and void.

Practical Application

Isaiah 34:11 serves as a profound warning and a testament to God's absolute sovereignty and justice. It reminds us that there are severe consequences for rebellion against God and His ways. While the immediate context is a historical prophecy, the underlying principle remains: ultimate rejection of God leads to spiritual and existential desolation. It calls us to consider the seriousness of sin and to seek God's order and life rather than choosing paths that lead to confusion and emptiness. This verse underscores the reality that God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, yet it also implicitly points to the hope found in His redemptive plan for those who turn to Him.

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.

  • 2 Kings 21:13

    And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as [a man] wipeth a dish, wiping [it], and turning [it] upside down.

  • Lamentations 2:8

    The LORD hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from destroying: therefore he made the rampart and the wall to lament; they languished together.

  • Zephaniah 2:14

    And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; [their] voice shall sing in the windows; desolation [shall be] in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 14:23

    I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • 2 Samuel 8:2

    And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And [so] the Moabites became David's servants, [and] brought gifts.

  • Isaiah 24:10

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

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