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Isaiah 34:6

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The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

The sword {H2719} of the LORD {H3068} is filled {H4390} with blood {H1818}, it is made fat {H1878} with fatness {H2459}, and with the blood {H1818} of lambs {H3733} and goats {H6260}, with the fat {H2459} of the kidneys {H3629} of rams {H352}: for the LORD {H3068} hath a sacrifice {H2077} in Bozrah {H1224}, and a great {H1419} slaughter {H2874} in the land {H776} of Idumea {H123}.

There is a sword that belongs to ADONAI. It is filled with blood, gorged with fat, filled with the blood of lambs and goats, gorged with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For ADONAI has a sacrifice in Botzrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood. It drips with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

The sword of Jehovah is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Jehovah hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

Commentary

Isaiah 34:6 presents a stark and graphic depiction of God's impending judgment, using powerful imagery related to sacrifice and slaughter. It specifically targets the nation of Edom (also known as Idumea), symbolizing the ultimate consequence of rebellion against the Lord.

Context

This verse is part of a prophetic oracle in Isaiah 34 that describes the "Day of the LORD's vengeance" against all nations, with particular focus on Edom. Edom, located southeast of Judah, was a long-standing adversary of Israel, often characterized by pride and hostility. Bozrah was one of Edom's chief cities, serving as a prominent target for this divine wrath. The immediate preceding verse, Isaiah 34:5, introduces the "sword of the LORD" prepared for judgment, and verse 6 continues to elaborate on its bloody fulfillment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The primary message is God's righteous and inescapable judgment against wickedness. The "sword of the LORD" is a potent metaphor for His instrument of destruction.
  • Ironic Sacrificial Imagery: The verse uses language typically associated with temple offerings—"filled with blood," "made fat with fatness," "lambs and goats," "kidneys of rams." However, this is a dark irony: the "sacrifice" here is not for atonement or worship, but a massive slaughter of the enemies of God, where the victims are the people of Edom. This emphasizes the thoroughness and severity of the judgment.
  • Edom's Prophesied Destruction: Edom (Idumea) is frequently highlighted in prophetic books as a nation destined for severe judgment due to its pride and antagonism towards God's people. This passage underscores the certainty of their downfall. For another significant prophecy against Edom, consider Obadiah 1:15.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the sword of the LORD" (חֶרֶב יְהוָה - ḥereḇ Yahweh) is a powerful anthropomorphism, portraying God as a warrior executing justice. The vivid description of the sword being "made fat with fatness" (וַתִּדַּשֵּׁן מֵחֵלֶב - watiddaššēn mēḥēleḇ) is particularly striking. In the Old Testament, the fat of sacrificial animals was considered the richest part and was often dedicated to God. Here, this imagery is repurposed to convey the abundance of slain victims, emphasizing the completeness of the divine slaughter, a "great slaughter" that serves as God's "sacrifice" of judgment.

Practical Application

While the imagery is ancient and specific to Edom, Isaiah 34:6 carries profound theological implications for all time:

  • It serves as a stark reminder of God's absolute justice and His intolerance for unrepentant rebellion and wickedness.
  • It illustrates that God is sovereign over all nations and will ultimately hold them accountable for their actions.
  • For believers, this passage underscores the seriousness of sin and the immense grace found in Christ, who became the true sacrifice to avert God's wrath from those who believe (Romans 3:25).
  • It also provides assurance that God will ultimately deal with all injustice and oppression, leading to a future where He will wipe away every tear and make all things new.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

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

  • Isaiah 63:1 (5 votes)

    ¶ Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

  • Jeremiah 49:13 (3 votes)

    For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.

  • Deuteronomy 32:14 (2 votes)

    Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape.

  • Zephaniah 1:7 (2 votes)

    ¶ Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD [is] at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.

  • Isaiah 63:3 (2 votes)

    I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

  • Isaiah 34:5 (2 votes)

    For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

  • Jeremiah 51:40 (2 votes)

    I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.