Isaiah 34:13

And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, [and] a court for owls.

And thorns {H5518} shall come up {H5927} in her palaces {H759}, nettles {H7057} and brambles {H2336} in the fortresses {H4013} thereof: and it shall be an habitation {H5116} of dragons {H8577}, and a court {H2681} for owls {H1323}{H3284}.

Thorns will overgrow its palaces, nettles and thistles its fortresses; it will become a lair for jackals, an enclosure for ostriches.

Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches.

And thorns shall come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in the fortresses thereof; and it shall be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches.

Isaiah 34:13 KJV delivers a powerful prophetic image of utter desolation and divine judgment. This verse is part of a larger oracle in Isaiah chapters 34-35, which describes God's wrath against the nations and His ultimate redemption for Israel. Specifically, chapter 34 focuses on the coming destruction of all nations that oppose God, with Edom often highlighted as a prime example due to its historical animosity towards Israel.

Context

Chapter 34 details the "Day of the Lord's vengeance" (Isaiah 34:8) against all nations, particularly those who have oppressed God's people. It paints a gruesome picture of widespread slaughter and subsequent abandonment. Verse 13 specifically describes the aftermath for once-grand cities and fortresses: they will not merely be destroyed but will become completely uninhabitable by humans, given over to wild nature and creatures of the wilderness. This serves as a stark warning against national pride and wickedness.

Key Themes

  • Utter Desolation and Ruin: The primary theme is the complete and irreversible destruction of proud human structures. Palaces and fortresses, symbols of power and security, are overtaken by wild, thorny vegetation like "thorns," "nettles," and "brambles." This imagery signifies total abandonment and the triumph of nature over human ambition.
  • Divine Judgment: The ruin described is not accidental but a direct consequence of God's righteous judgment against sin and rebellion. It underscores the certainty of God's word and the severe consequences for those who defy Him. This vivid imagery echoes other prophecies of divine judgment and the fall of great cities, such as Babylon's fate described in Revelation.
  • Reversal of Order: What was once a place of human habitation, luxury, and strength becomes a dwelling for wild animals. "Dragons" (Hebrew: tannim, often referring to jackals, wolves, or large serpents) and "owls" (Hebrew: ya'anah, associated with desolate places and night) replacing human inhabitants emphasizes the complete reversal of fortune and the triumph of wilderness over civilization.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used for the plants—choach (thorns), qimosh (nettles), and chardul (brambles)—all convey a sense of wild, aggressive, and undesirable growth, indicating neglect and ruin. The term "dragons" (tannim) is often translated as "jackals" in other contexts, referring to creatures that inhabit ruins and desolate places, further emphasizing the eerie silence and decay. "Owls" (ya'anah) are birds typically found in deserted areas, reinforcing the theme of abandonment.

Practical Application

Isaiah 34:13 serves as a timeless reminder of the impermanence of earthly power, wealth, and human constructs when they are built outside of God's will or in defiance of His righteousness. It teaches us that:

  • No earthly kingdom or fortress, no matter how strong or grand, can withstand the judgment of God. The complete reversal of fortune highlights God's sovereignty over nations and their ultimate destiny.
  • Pride and injustice ultimately lead to desolation. This verse encourages humility and a focus on eternal values rather than temporal ones.
  • God's prophecies are sure to come to pass. The vivid detail of this judgment assures readers of the reliability of God's word.

It calls believers to live righteously, knowing that true security and lasting peace are found only in God, not in human achievements or defenses.

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.

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 10:22

    Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, [and] a den of dragons.

  • Malachi 1:3

    And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

  • Psalms 44:19

    Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

  • Isaiah 32:13

    Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns [and] briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy [in] the joyous city:

  • Isaiah 32:14

    Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

  • Jeremiah 51:37

    And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

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