Isaiah 32:9-20

Against the Carefree Women

9 Women [who are] at ease, rise up; hear my voice! Carefree daughters, listen [to] my word!
10 {In a year} you will tremble, carefree ones, for [the] vintage will come to an end; [the] harvest will not come.
11 Tremble, [you who are] at ease; tremble, carefree ones; strip, and strip yourself, and gird yourself on [your] loins,
12 mourning over breasts, over fields of delight, over [the] fruitful vine,
13 over the soil of my people. It goes up [in] thorns [and] briers, indeed over all of [the] houses of joy [in the] jubilant city.
14 For [the] palace will be forsaken, [the] {crowded city} deserted; [the] hill and [the] watchtower will become a cave forever, [the] joy of wild asses, a pasture {for} flocks.
15 Until a spirit is poured out on us from on high, and [the] wilderness becomes [a] fruitful field, and [the] fruitful field is reckoned as the forest.
16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will live in the fruitful field.
17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the work of righteousness, quietness and security forever.
18 And my people will dwell in a settlement of peace and in a dwelling place of security and in undisturbed resting places.
19 And it hails when {the forest comes down}, and the city will become low in humiliation.
20 Happy [are] you who sow by all waters, who let the foot of the ox and the donkey go free.

Isaiah 32:9-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 32

This chapter contains a prophecy of the Messiah; for, however applicable it may be to Hezekiah, as a type of Christ, it only has its full accomplishment in him, and in his times; who is described as a righteous King, and as having just princes ruling under him, Isa 32:1 and as a very great blessing, protection, and comfort to his subjects, Isa 32:2 when follows a prediction of great light and knowledge that should be in his days, Isa 32:3,4 and of the vileness, hypocrisy, and covetousness of the Jews in his times, Isa 32:5-8 and of the destruction of their country, because of their sins, of which they seemed greatly insensible, and were unconcerned about it, and are therefore called upon to lament it, Isa 32:9-14 which should continue until there would be a very great effusion of the Spirit, as should make the world, comparable to a wilderness, fruitful in grace and good works; the consequence of which is great prosperity, peace, and safety, to the saints, Isa 32:15-18 and destruction to their enemies, particularly the city of Rome, Isa 32:19 and the chapter is concluded with the happiness of the Gospel ministration, and the success of it, Isa 32:20.

Footnotes 9

  • [a]. Literally "[In] days upon a year"
  • [b]. Although the carefree and at ease addressees in this verse are feminine plural ("you women"), the commands are masculine singular in form
  • [c]. Hebrew "thorn"
  • [d]. Hebrew "brier"
  • [e]. Literally "crowd of [the] city"
  • [f]. The Hebrew text has "for the benefit of" following "become"
  • [g]. Literally "of"
  • [h]. Or "And"
  • [i]. Literally "the coming down of the forest"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.