Isaiah 34:8

8 For the LORD has a day of ¹vengeance, A year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

Isaiah 34:8 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 34:8

For [it is] the day of the Lord's vengeance
The time which he has appointed to take vengeance on antichrist, his 1260 days, or years; being up, in which he is to reign; these being expired, the time is come for the Lord to avenge the blood of his saints; see ( Revelation 18:20 ) ( 19:2 ) : [and] the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion;
the church of God, which has been for many ages abused and injured by the antichristian powers, for which the Lord will have a controversy with them; he will appear in favour of his people, and plead the cause of Zion, and recompense their enemies for all the injuries they have done them; then they that have led into captivity shall go into captivity, and they that have killed with the sword shall be killed with it, ( Revelation 13:10 ) this will be a time of double recompence; and therefore perhaps the word is used in the plural number; it will be the time of rewarding antichrist as he has rewarded others; and it will be the time of the dead, that they shall be judged, and rewards given to God's servants the prophets, ( Revelation 18:6 ) ( 11:18 ) . The Targum is,

``the year of recompence, to take vengeance of judgment for the injury of Zion.''

Isaiah 34:8 In-Context

6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, It is sated with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah And a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

7 Wild oxen will also fall with them And young bulls with strong ones; Thus their land will be soaked with blood, And their dust become greasy with fat.

8 For the LORD has a day of vengeance, A year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

9 Its streams will be turned into pitch, And its loose earth into brimstone, And its land will become burning pitch.

10 It will not be quenched night or day; Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation it will be desolate; None will pass through it forever and ever.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 13:6; Isaiah 35:4; Isaiah 47:3; Isaiah 61:2; Isaiah 63:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "controversy"