Isaiah 24:11

11 In the streets they cry^[a] for wine. All joy grows dark; earth's rejoicing goes into exile.

Isaiah 24:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 24:11

[There] is a crying for wine in the streets
Not to them that have it, to come and sell it, as Kimchi; but for want of it: there shall be a howling and lamentation in the streets of Rome, during the siege of it, when there will be a famine of bread and of wine, as in ( Revelation 18:8 ) by those who used to drink wine, and make glad their hearts; but now shall be without it. This is put for all desirable things, which their souls lusted after; but now will be departed from them, ( Revelation 18:14 ) : all joy is darkened:
or come to an eventide; the light of joy is turned into the darkness of misery and distress; this will be, when the fifth vial is poured out on the seat of the beast, and his kingdom will be full of darkness; and men will gnaw their tongues for pain, and yet not repent of their sins, but blaspheme the God of heaven, ( Revelation 16:10 Revelation 16:11 ) : the mirth of the land is gone;
not Jerusalem, the joy of the whole earth, as Jarchi; but the mirth and joy of the city of Rome; (See Gill on Isaiah 24:8).

Isaiah 24:11 In-Context

9 They no longer sing and drink wine; beer is bitter to those who drink it.

10 The city of chaos is shattered; every house is closed to entry.

11 In the streets they cry for wine. All joy grows dark; earth's rejoicing goes into exile.

12 Only desolation remains in the city; its gate has collapsed in ruins.

13 For this is how it will be on earth among the nations: like a harvested olive tree, like a gleaning after a grape harvest.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit streets she (the city) cries