Isaiah 6:12

KJV

And the LORD have removed men far away, and [there be] a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} have removed {H7368} men {H120} far away {H7368}, and there be a great {H7227} forsaking {H5805} in the midst {H7130} of the land {H776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

until ADONAI drives the people far away, and the land is one vast desolation.

Berean Standard Bible

until the LORD has driven men far away and the land is utterly forsaken.

American Standard Version

and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 6:12 delivers a stark prophetic declaration, revealing the severe consequences of Judah's spiritual recalcitrance and persistent disobedience. Following Isaiah's commission to a people whose hearts would be hardened, this verse answers his poignant question, "How long?" by foretelling a widespread desolation of the land and the forceful removal of its inhabitants, signifying a profound divine judgment for their unresponsiveness to God's warnings and their continued rebellion against His covenant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 6:12 serves as the climactic answer to Isaiah's poignant question, "How long, O Lord?" posed in [Isaiah 6:11](/isaiah/6-11 "Isaiah 6:11 - Isaiah's Question"). This question immediately follows the prophet's awe-inspiring and transformative vision of God's holiness and glory in the temple, described in [Isaiah 6:1-8](/isaiah/6-1-8 "Isaiah 6:1-8 - Isaiah's Vision and Cleansing"). Having been cleansed and commissioned, Isaiah is given a profoundly challenging and perplexing task: to preach to a people whose hearts God would allow to become hardened, whose ears would be dull, and whose eyes blind, thereby preventing them from truly understanding God's message and turning back to Him for healing ([Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - The Commission to a Hardened People")). Verse 12 directly describes the devastating outcome of this spiritual insensitivity and persistent rebellion: a widespread desolation and the forced removal of the population. This severe divine judgment for their unresponsiveness to God's warnings sets a somber tone, laying the groundwork for the subsequent prophecies of judgment and eventual restoration that characterize much of the book of Isaiah.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in Isaiah 6:12 is situated within a period of significant spiritual decline and political instability for the southern kingdom of Judah, spanning the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Despite periods of outward prosperity, the nation was deeply entrenched in idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial religiosity that masked a profound spiritual apathy and covenant unfaithfulness. The northern kingdom of Israel had already faced severe judgment, culminating in their exile by Assyria, and Judah itself was increasingly threatened by the rising power of empires like Assyria and later Babylon. The phrase "removed men far away" directly alludes to the brutal practice of forced deportation and exile, a common punitive measure employed by dominant ancient Near Eastern empires. This strategy aimed to break the national identity and spirit of conquered peoples, preventing future rebellions. This historical reality would find its grim fulfillment in the Babylonian captivity, where the people of Judah were indeed forcibly removed from their land, and Jerusalem and its sacred temple were left in ruins, precisely as prophesied here.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to the book of Isaiah and the broader prophetic corpus. Firstly, it emphatically underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment and Consequences**. It illustrates God's righteous wrath against a rebellious people, demonstrating that prolonged disobedience, despite repeated warnings and divine patience, inevitably leads to severe consequences. The "removal of men far away" is a clear sign of exile and divine discipline, a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament for covenant unfaithfulness, as vividly outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience"). Secondly, the phrase "a great forsaking in the midst of the land" highlights the theme of **Desolation of the Land**. This imagery paints a stark picture of profound emptiness, ruin, and barrenness, where the land, once a symbol of God's blessing, is left uninhabited and desolate. This foreshadows the devastating impact of the Babylonian captivity on Judah, as further elaborated in [Jeremiah 25:11](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Seventy Years of Babylonian Exile"). Thirdly, the verse unequivocally asserts **God's Sovereignty** even in judgment. It is explicitly "the LORD" (Yahweh) who orchestrates this removal and forsaking, demonstrating His absolute authority over nations and their destinies, and His unwavering commitment to His covenant, which encompasses both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, personal name of God, often rendered as "Jehovah" or "the Lord." It signifies the self-existent, eternal, and covenant-keeping God of Israel. Its presence here emphasizes that the impending judgment is not a random occurrence or a mere consequence of human actions, but a deliberate, sovereign act of the God who is faithful to His righteous character and His covenant relationship with His people.
* **removed (Hebrew, _râchaq'_):** Derived from a primitive root meaning "to widen (in any direction)," this verb signifies to recede or to remove, to be far or distant. In this context, it conveys the idea of banishment, scattering, or a forced separation of the people from their homeland. This is a powerful term indicating a divine act of displacement, not merely a natural migration, but a punitive expulsion orchestrated by God.
* **forsaking (Hebrew, _ʻăzûwbâh'_):** This feminine passive participle implies desertion or abandonment, specifically referring to the state of inhabitants. It speaks to the condition of being left desolate, empty, and neglected. When applied to the land, as it is here, it evokes a profound sense of ruin and barrenness, emphasizing the absence of life, activity, and cultivation that would result from the removal of its people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD have removed men far away":** This initial clause directly attributes the impending calamity to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. The action of "removing men far away" clearly points to a forced exile or deportation, a severe form of divine discipline frequently seen in the Old Testament. It signifies a complete severing of the people from their ancestral land, which was central to their identity and their covenant relationship with God. The Hebrew root for "far away" is repeated or implied in both "removed" and "far away," emphasizing the totality and distance of this banishment, indicating a profound and irreversible separation.
* **"and [there be] a great forsaking in the midst of the land.":** This second clause describes the direct and devastating consequence of the first: the land itself will become desolate and abandoned. The phrase "a great forsaking" underscores the vastness and severity of this desolation, implying that the land will be left empty of its inhabitants, its cities ruined, and its fields neglected, leading to a profound sense of emptiness and desolation. "In the midst of the land" emphasizes that this desolation will not be confined to a specific region but will permeate the entire territory, highlighting the comprehensive and inescapable nature of God's judgment upon the whole nation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 6:12 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of impending judgment and desolation. **Hyperbole** is evident in the phrase "a great forsaking," which, while finding literal fulfillment in the Babylonian exile, also serves to amplify the sense of utter devastation and emptiness that will befall the land, leaving little doubt as to the severity of the divine wrath. The implicit **personification** of the land, suffering from being "forsaken," adds a layer of pathos to the prophecy, depicting the land itself as experiencing the consequences of its inhabitants' sin. The entire verse functions as a direct **prophetic declaration**, a solemn and authoritative pronouncement of divine will and future events, delivered with the unmistakable authority of "the LORD." Furthermore, the imagery of removal and desolation carries strong **symbolism**: the physical removal of the people from the land symbolizes the breaking of the covenant relationship due to their unfaithfulness, as the land was a key component of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants, representing blessing and presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 6:12 stands as a stark reminder of God's unwavering justice and the severe consequences of persistent spiritual rebellion. While God is merciful and patient, His impeccable holiness demands that sin be addressed. This verse reveals that divine judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous response to a people who have repeatedly hardened their hearts against His truth and warnings, as explicitly prophesied in [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9-10 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - The Hardening of Hearts and Its Purpose"). The "removal" and "forsaking" signify a profound disruption of the covenant relationship, where the blessings of the land are withdrawn due to disobedience. Yet, even within this severe judgment, the broader context of Isaiah often hints at God's ultimate faithfulness to His promises, suggesting that judgment, while painful, can also serve as a purifying agent, paving the way for a future remnant and ultimate restoration.

* [Deuteronomy 28:64](/deuteronomy/28-64 "Deuteronomy 28:64 - Scattering Among Nations")
* [Jeremiah 25:11](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Seventy Years of Babylonian Exile")
* [Isaiah 6:13](/isaiah/6-13 "Isaiah 6:13 - The Holy Seed/Remnant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 6:12 serves as a timeless and sobering reminder of the gravity of spiritual apathy and rebellion against God. It teaches us that while God's patience is vast and His grace abundant, it is not infinite, and He will act in justice when His people persistently refuse to heed His warnings and turn from sin. For believers today, this verse underscores the critical importance of cultivating a heart that is open and responsive to God's Word and His Spirit, rather than allowing it to become hardened through neglect, deliberate disobedience, or the deceptive allure of worldly comforts. It challenges us to recognize that our choices have profound spiritual consequences, and a persistent refusal to align with God's commands can lead to a sense of spiritual desolation and a feeling of being "far away" from His vibrant presence and blessing. Ultimately, it calls us to appreciate God's impeccable holiness, which necessitates judgment against sin, even as we continually marvel at His boundless mercy and grace that always offers a path to repentance, reconciliation, and restoration for those who humbly seek Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be allowing my heart to become hardened or unresponsive to God's voice and truth?**
* **How does understanding God's justice and the severity of judgment in Isaiah 6:12 deepen my appreciation for His mercy and grace in my own salvation?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more receptive, obedient, and humble spirit towards God's Word and His leading in my daily life?**

### FAQ
**What does "removed men far away" specifically refer to?**

Answer: This phrase specifically refers to the forced deportation and exile of the people of Judah from their homeland. This was a common and brutal practice of ancient Near Eastern empires like Assyria and Babylon, who would conquer nations and then remove their populations to other territories to break their spirit, prevent rebellion, and assimilate them into the conquering empire. In the immediate context of Isaiah's prophecy, it foretells the Babylonian Exile, where the Jewish people were taken captive and removed from Jerusalem and Judah for seventy years, as detailed in [Jeremiah 25:11](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Seventy Years of Exile") and narrated in historical books like [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile").

**Is the judgment described in Isaiah 6:12 permanent?**

Answer: While Isaiah 6:12 describes a severe and comprehensive judgment of removal and desolation, the broader prophetic message of Isaiah, and indeed the overarching biblical narrative, indicates that this judgment is not ultimately permanent for the entire people. Immediately following this verse, [Isaiah 6:13](/isaiah/6-13 "Isaiah 6:13 - The Holy Seed") introduces the crucial concept of a "holy seed" or "remnant" that will survive the judgment and eventually return to the land. This demonstrates God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, even amidst judgment. The exile served as a purifying and disciplinary process, after which a remnant did return to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple, foreshadowing God's ultimate plan of restoration and salvation that culminates in Christ.

**How does this prophecy of judgment reconcile with God's love?**

Answer: This prophecy, though severe, is not contradictory to God's love but rather a profound demonstration of His holy character and righteous love. God's love is not merely sentimental or permissive; it is a love that desires His people's holiness, faithfulness, and flourishing in covenant relationship with Him. When His people persistently rebel, reject His warnings, and violate His covenant, His justice demands a response. The judgment serves as a corrective measure, a severe form of discipline intended to bring His people to repentance, to purify them, and ultimately to restore their relationship with Him. It underscores that God takes sin seriously and that His covenant relationship with Israel involved both blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, as clearly outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses"). Ultimately, even within judgment, God's redemptive purpose is at work, aiming for restoration and a deeper, purer relationship with a repentant remnant.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 6:12, with its grim prophecy of a land forsaken and a people removed, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not merely in the physical exile, but in the profound spiritual desolation of humanity apart from God and the radical reversal brought about by Jesus Christ. The "great forsaking" of the land due to sin foreshadows the spiritual abandonment and separation from God that humanity experiences because of its fallen nature, a condition powerfully described in [Ephesians 2:12](/ephesians/2-12 "Ephesians 2:12 - Separated from Christ and without Hope"). The judgment of removal, while historically fulfilled in the Babylonian exile, points to the deeper reality of humanity's alienation from God's holy presence, a consequence of our rebellion and sin. However, Jesus Christ, the true "holy seed" mentioned in [Isaiah 6:13](/isaiah/6-13 "Isaiah 6:13 - The Holy Seed"), enters this forsaken world. He takes upon Himself the ultimate "forsaking" when He cries out from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' Cry of Dereliction")). In that agonizing moment, He experiences the full weight of humanity's deserved judgment and separation from God, enduring the curse of the covenant so that all who believe in Him might never be "removed far away" from God's presence. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ reverses the curse of desolation, offering a new spiritual "land" or inheritance in the kingdom of God, where believers are brought near to God "by the blood of Christ" ([Ephesians 2:13](/ephesians/2-13 "Ephesians 2:13 - Brought Near by the Blood of Christ")) and are no longer strangers and exiles but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household ([Ephesians 2:19](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints")). He is the true Temple, the dwelling place of God, ensuring that His people are never truly forsaken.

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

Jeremiah 4:29

The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city [shall be] forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

Deuteronomy 28:64

And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, [even] wood and stone.

2 Kings 25:21

And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

Lamentations 5:20

Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [and] forsake us so long time?

Romans 11:1

¶ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.

Romans 11:2

God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

Isaiah 26:15

Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed [it] far [unto] all the ends of the earth.