Isaiah 34:11-17

11 1But the hawk and the porcupine[a] shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. 2He shall stretch the line of 3confusion[b] over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.
12 Its nobles--there is no one there to call it a kingdom, and all its princes shall be nothing.
13 4Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of 5jackals, an abode for ostriches.[c]
14 6And wild animals shall meet with hyenas; the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; indeed, there the night bird[d] settles and finds for herself a resting place.
15 There the owl nests and lays and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow; indeed, there 7the hawks are gathered, each one with her mate.
16 Seek and read from the book of the LORD: Not one of these shall be missing; none shall be without her mate. For the mouth of the LORD has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them.
17 8He has cast the lot for them; his hand has portioned it out to them with the line; they shall possess it forever; from generation to generation they shall dwell in it.

Isaiah 34:11-17 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 34

This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of all the antichristian nations of the world, and particularly of Rome, signified by Idumea; which is introduced with a call to a general attention to it, it being a very awful and solemn affair, Isa 34:1 utter and universal destruction is declared, as the effect of God's wrath, Isa 34:2 which is expressed by a dreadful scene of blood, to the melting of the mountains with it, and by the dissolution of the heavens, and the hosts of them, Isa 34:3,4 particularly the destruction of Idumea is denounced by the sword of the Lord being on it, and bathed with the blood, both of the common people, and of their princes, signified by various sorts of creatures, Isa 34:5-7 the cause of which is the Lord's vengeance for the controversy of his church and people, injured by Edom or Rome, Isa 34:8 whose desolate and calamitous state is represented as being like that of Sodom, Isa 34:9,10 and should be no more inhabited by men, nor governed by princes, but be the dwelling of wild beasts and unclean birds, Isa 34:11-15 all which is confirmed by the word and Spirit of God, Isa 34:16,17.

Cross References 8

  • 1. Isaiah 14:23; Zephaniah 2:14; [Revelation 18:2]
  • 2. 2 Kings 21:13; Lamentations 2:8; See Amos 7:7-9
  • 3. [Isaiah 24:10]
  • 4. See Isaiah 32:13
  • 5. Isaiah 13:22; Psalms 44:19; Malachi 1:3
  • 6. See Isaiah 13:21
  • 7. Deuteronomy 14:13
  • 8. [Psalms 78:55]

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. The identity of the animals rendered hawk and porcupine is uncertain
  • [b]. Hebrew formlessness
  • [c]. Or owls
  • [d]. Identity uncertain
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.