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God’s Judgment on the Earth
Isaiah 24:1–23 is a prophecy of sweeping judgment on the earth. It shows ruin across society, explains the earth’s guilt, includes calls to glorify Yahweh, and ends with Yahweh reigning in glory.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, the earth is emptied, mourns, and shakes because its inhabitants have broken what Yahweh required. Celebration disappears from land and city. Yet voices from far away glorify Yahweh, before the prophecy closes with judgment on exalted powers and Yahweh’s reign in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 24:1–23Main takeaway
Isaiah 24 teaches that guilt brings far-reaching judgment, yet the passage ends by directing attention to Yahweh’s reign and glory.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Judgment reaches everyoneThe passage opens with Yahweh making the earth empty, waste, and scattered. Isaiah lists pairs such as priest and people, servant and master, buyer and seller, to show that no social rank is exempt.
Explanation
The passage opens with Yahweh making the earth empty, waste, and scattered. Isaiah lists pairs such as priest and people, servant and master, buyer and seller, to show that no social rank is exempt. The reason given for this certainty is simple: Yahweh has spoken this word.
02The earth suffers under human guiltThe earth mourns and fades, and even the lofty languish. Isaiah says the earth is polluted under its inhabitants because they have transgressed laws, violated statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.
Explanation
The earth mourns and fades, and even the lofty languish. Isaiah says the earth is polluted under its inhabitants because they have transgressed laws, violated statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse devours the earth. Joy also collapses: vine, tambourine, harp, and drinking songs all fail.
03Desolation and praise appear togetherThe city is broken down, shut up, and desolate. What remains among the peoples is compared to a few olives after shaking or gleanings after harvest.
Explanation
The city is broken down, shut up, and desolate. What remains among the peoples is compared to a few olives after shaking or gleanings after harvest. Yet some lift up their voices for Yahweh’s majesty and call for people in the east and on the sea islands to glorify Yahweh’s name.
04No escape, then Yahweh reignsFear, pit, and snare picture judgment that cannot be escaped. The earth breaks, trembles, and staggers under its disobedience.
Explanation
Fear, pit, and snare picture judgment that cannot be escaped. The earth breaks, trembles, and staggers under its disobedience. Yahweh punishes the high ones and the kings of the earth, gathers them like prisoners, and shuts them up. The passage ends with Yahweh of Armies reigning on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01How does Isaiah show that this judgment is not limited to one class of people?
Use the repeated pairs in Isaiah 24:2 with the opening claim that the earth is emptied and scattered.
02Which details show that normal celebration has stopped?
Look for the fading of wine, music, and joyful singing in the middle of the passage.
03What is the final picture after the punishment of earthly and exalted powers?
Trace the order from punishment and imprisonment to the closing statement about Yahweh’s reign.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 24:1–23
1Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.
2It will be as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the creditor, so with the debtor; as with the taker of interest, so with the giver of interest.
3The earth will be utterly emptied and utterly laid waste; for Yahweh has spoken this word.
4The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.
5The earth also is polluted under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broken the everlasting covenant.
6Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell therein are found guilty. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.
7The new wine mourns. The vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.
8The mirth of tambourines ceases. The sound of those who rejoice ends. The joy of the harp ceases.
9They will not drink wine with a song. Strong drink will be bitter to those who drink it.
10The confused city is broken down. Every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11There is a crying in the streets because of the wine. All joy is darkened. The mirth of the land is gone.
12The city is left in desolation, and the gate is struck with destruction.
13For it will be so within the earth among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.
14These shall lift up their voice. They will shout for the majesty of Yahweh. They cry aloud from the sea.
15Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, even the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea!
16From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs. Glory to the righteous! But I said, “I pine away! I pine away! woe is me!” The treacherous have dealt treacherously. Yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.
17Fear, the pit, and the snare are on you who inhabit the earth.
18It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the middle of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
19The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently.
20The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again.
21It will happen in that day that Yahweh will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.
22They will be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and will be shut up in the prison; and after many days they will be visited.
23Then the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed; for Yahweh of Armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem; and glory will be before his elders.