Isaiah 24:4-14

4 The earth mourned, and floated away, and is made sick; the world floated away, the highness of the people of [the] earth is made sick,

5 and the earth is slain of his dwellers. For they passed (over) [the] laws, changed [the] right, destroyed [the] everlasting bond of peace. (and the earth is defiled by its inhabitants. For they passed over thy laws, changed what was right, and destroyed the covenant.)

6 For this thing, cursing shall devour the earth, and the dwellers thereof shall do sin (and its inhabitants shall do sin); and therefore the lovers thereof shall be (made) mad, and few men shall be left.

7 [The] Vintage mourned, the vine is sick; all men that were glad in heart wailed. (The wine soured, the vine is sick, or diseased; all who were happy in heart wailed.)

8 The joy of tympans ceased, the sound of glad men rested; the sweetness of [the] harp with song was still(ed). (The joy of the drums, or of the tambourines, ceased, the shouts of happy people stopped; the sweetness of the harp was silenced.)

9 They shall not drink wine (with a song); a bitter drink shall be to them that shall drink it.

10 The city of vanity is all-broken (This city of chaos, or of confusion, is a broken city); each house is closed (up), for no man entereth (in).

11 Cry shall be on wine in [the] streets, all gladness is forsaken, the joy of [the] earth is taken away. (A cry for some wine shall be in the streets, all happiness is gone, the joy of the land is taken away.)

12 Desolation is left in the city, and wretchedness shall oppress the gates.

13 For these things shall be in the midst of [the] earth, in the midst of (the) peoples, as if a few fruits of olive trees that be left be shaken off from the olive tree (like when the few fruits that be left on the olive trees be shaken off the trees), and (like the last of the) raisins, when the vintage is ended.

14 These men shall raise [up] their voice, and shall praise, when the Lord shall be glorified; they shall show signs of gladness from the sea (they shall shout with joy from the west).

Isaiah 24:4-14 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.