Isaiah 24:16-23

16 From the 1ends of the earth we hear songs, "2Glory to the Righteous One," But I say, "3Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The 4treacherous deal treacherously, And the treacherous deal very treacherously."
17 5Terror and pit and snare Confront you, O inhabitant of the earth.
18 Then it will be that he who flees the report of disaster will fall into the pit, And he who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the snare; For the 6windows above * are opened, and the 7foundations of the earth shake.
19 8The earth is broken asunder, The earth is 9split through, The earth is shaken violently.
20 The earth 10reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack, For its 11transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, 12never to rise again.
21 So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will 13punish the host of heaven on high, And the 14kings of the earth on earth.
22 They will be gathered together Like 15prisoners in the dungeon, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will 16be punished.
23 Then the 17moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed, For the 18LORD of hosts will reign on 19Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.

Isaiah 24:16-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 24

This chapter contains a prophecy of calamities that should come upon the whole world, and the inhabitants of it, for their sins; of the preservation of a remnant; of the visitation of the kings of the earth; and of the appearance of Christ in his glory and majesty. The miserable condition of the world, and its inhabitants, especially all within the Romish jurisdiction, is set forth by various phrases, Isa 24:1-4 the causes of which are the transgression and mutation of the laws and ordinances of Christ, Isa 24:5 the effects of which are the cursing and burning of the inhabitants, Isa 24:6 cessation of all joy among them, Isa 24:7-9 and the destruction of their chief city, Rome, Isa 24:10-12 then follows a prophecy of a remnant that shall escape, and be brought into a very comfortable condition, and sing for joy, and glorify God in the midst of the earth, and in the uttermost parts of it, Isa 24:13-16 but it is intimated it shall go ill with others for their perfidy and treachery; fear and danger shall attend them everywhere, Isa 24:16-18 yea, in the issue, the world shall be shaken, and moved and removed, and be utterly dissolved, fall and not rise more, Isa 24:19,20 when the kings and great ones of the earth shall be taken prisoners, and punished by the Lord, Isa 24:21,22 and then Christ shall take to himself his great power, and reign with his people gloriously in the New Jerusalem state, Isa 24:23.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 42:10
  • 2. Isaiah 28:5; Isaiah 60:21
  • 3. Leviticus 26:39
  • 4. Isaiah 21:2; Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 3:20; Jeremiah 5:11
  • 5. Jeremiah 48:43; Amos 5:19
  • 6. Genesis 7:11
  • 7. Psalms 18:7; Psalms 46:2; Isaiah 2:19, 21; Isaiah 13:13
  • 8. Isaiah 24:1
  • 9. Numbers 16:31, 32; Deuteronomy 11:6
  • 10. Isaiah 19:14; Isaiah 24:1; Isaiah 28:7
  • 11. Isaiah 1:28; Isaiah 43:27; Isaiah 66:24
  • 12. Daniel 11:19; Amos 8:14
  • 13. Isaiah 10:12; Isaiah 13:11
  • 14. Psalms 76:12
  • 15. Isaiah 10:4; Isaiah 42:22
  • 16. Ezekiel 38:8; Zechariah 9:11, 12
  • 17. Isaiah 13:10
  • 18. Isaiah 60:19, 20; Zechariah 14:6, 7; Revelation 21:23; Revelation 22:5
  • 19. Micah 4:7; Hebrews 12:22

Footnotes 9

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