Isaiah 34:8

8 For it is the day of the LORD ’s revenge, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel.

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 drenched with blood and covered with fat— with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of rams prepared for sacrifice. Yes, the LORD will offer a sacrifice in the city of Bozrah. He will make a mighty slaughter in Edom.

7 Even men as strong as wild oxen will die— the young men alongside the veterans. The land will be soaked with blood and the soil enriched with fat.

8 For it is the day of the LORD ’s revenge, the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel.

9 The streams of Edom will be filled with burning pitch, and the ground will be covered with fire.

10 This judgment on Edom will never end; the smoke of its burning will rise forever. The land will lie deserted from generation to generation. No one will live there anymore.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew to Zion.