Isaiah 34:5-7

5 My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed.
6 The sword of the LORD is bathed in blood, it is covered with fat— the blood of lambs and goats, fat from the kidneys of rams. For the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.
7 And the wild oxen will fall with them, the bull calves and the great bulls. Their land will be drenched with blood, and the dust will be soaked with fat.

Isaiah 34:5-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 34

This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of all the antichristian nations of the world, and particularly of Rome, signified by Idumea; which is introduced with a call to a general attention to it, it being a very awful and solemn affair, Isa 34:1 utter and universal destruction is declared, as the effect of God's wrath, Isa 34:2 which is expressed by a dreadful scene of blood, to the melting of the mountains with it, and by the dissolution of the heavens, and the hosts of them, Isa 34:3,4 particularly the destruction of Idumea is denounced by the sword of the Lord being on it, and bathed with the blood, both of the common people, and of their princes, signified by various sorts of creatures, Isa 34:5-7 the cause of which is the Lord's vengeance for the controversy of his church and people, injured by Edom or Rome, Isa 34:8 whose desolate and calamitous state is represented as being like that of Sodom, Isa 34:9,10 and should be no more inhabited by men, nor governed by princes, but be the dwelling of wild beasts and unclean birds, Isa 34:11-15 all which is confirmed by the word and Spirit of God, Isa 34:16,17.

Cross References 10

  • 1. Deuteronomy 32:41-42; Jeremiah 47:6; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 21:5; Zechariah 13:7
  • 2. S 2 Samuel 8:13-14; S 2 Chronicles 28:17; Amos 1:11-12
  • 3. S Deuteronomy 13:15; S Joshua 6:17; Isaiah 24:6; Amos 3:14-15; Amos 6:11; Malachi 1:4
  • 4. S Deuteronomy 32:41; S Isaiah 27:1
  • 5. S Leviticus 3:9
  • 6. S Genesis 36:33
  • 7. S Isaiah 30:25; S Jeremiah 25:34; Revelation 19:17
  • 8. S Numbers 23:22
  • 9. S Psalms 68:30
  • 10. S 2 Samuel 1:22
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