Isaiah 34:9

¶ And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.

And the streams {H5158} thereof shall be turned {H2015} into pitch {H2203}, and the dust {H6083} thereof into brimstone {H1614}, and the land {H776} thereof shall become burning {H1197} pitch {H2203}.

Its streams will be changed to tar, its dust to sulfur, its land burning tar

Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch.

And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.

Commentary

Isaiah 34:9 delivers a potent and terrifying prophecy of divine judgment, employing vivid imagery to describe utter desolation.

Context

Isaiah chapter 34 is a prophetic oracle primarily focused on God's judgment against all nations, though it singles out Edom (Esau's descendants) as a prime example of those who oppose God and His people, Israel. This chapter serves as a stark contrast to the subsequent chapter 35, which promises restoration and blessing for God's faithful. The language here is hyper-descriptive, painting a picture of total destruction and uninhabitable land, reflecting the severity of God's wrath against rebellion and unrighteousness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The verse powerfully illustrates the irreversible and comprehensive nature of God's judgment. The transformation of streams into pitch and dust into brimstone signifies a complete alteration of the natural order, rendering the land uninhabitable and utterly consumed by divine wrath.
  • Fiery Desolation: The imagery of "pitch" and "brimstone" immediately brings to mind the catastrophic judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, emphasizing a destruction that is total, fiery, and a clear act of God's retribution for sin. This is not mere natural disaster but a divine intervention.
  • Irreversibility: The transformation described is permanent. Streams will not flow again, and the land will remain a perpetually burning waste, highlighting the finality of the judgment against those who persist in opposing God.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used for "pitch" (zephet) and "brimstone" (gophrith) are significant. These are the very terms found in the account of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. By employing this specific vocabulary, Isaiah intentionally draws a parallel, underscoring that the judgment against Edom and other hostile nations will be as severe and definitive as that ancient, notorious act of divine wrath. This shared imagery serves as a powerful reminder of God's consistent justice throughout history.

Practical Application

Isaiah 34:9 serves as a solemn warning and a profound reminder of God's absolute holiness and justice. It underscores that God will not perpetually tolerate wickedness and rebellion. For believers, it reinforces the understanding of God's righteous character and the ultimate consequences of sin, prompting a call to repentance and a life aligned with His will. For those who do not know God, it presents a stark picture of the future for those who reject Him, echoing warnings found elsewhere regarding the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 29:23 (4 votes)

    [And that] the whole land thereof [is] brimstone, and salt, [and] burning, [that] it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

  • Psalms 11:6 (3 votes)

    Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.

  • Jude 1:7 (2 votes)

    Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

  • Revelation 19:20 (2 votes)

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Genesis 19:28 (2 votes)

    And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

  • Job 18:15 (2 votes)

    It shall dwell in his tabernacle, because [it is] none of his: brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.

  • Revelation 21:8 (2 votes)

    But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.