Isaiah 24:11

11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone;

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 do not drink wine with a song; strong drink is bitter to them that drink it.
10 The city of solitude is broken down; every house is shut up, so that none entereth in.
11 There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone;
12 desolation remaineth in the city, and the gate is smitten, -- a ruin.
13 For so will it be in the midst of the land among the peoples, as the shaking of an olive-tree, as the grape-gleanings when the vintage is done.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or 'because of the wine.'
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.