Isaías 24
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 24
BACKGROUND STUDY Isaiah 24-27 (often called "the Isaiah Apocalypse") forms a literary unit related to the end-time (i.e. world judgment). This particular genre in Isaiah (which set the literary stage for the development of apocalyptic genre) is a pattern of end-time blessings and judgments interwoven, much like Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27-28. Isaiah 24 speaks of God's universal judgment on the earth, while Isaiah 25 speaks of the entire earth being blessed by a restored Zion (cf. Isa. 2:2-24). This swing of judgment and blessing is characteristic of the prophet. SPECIAL TOPIC: APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE Isaiah 13-23 shows God's judgment on the surrounding nations that affected the people of God. Isaiah 24-27 is an obvious conclusion to this literary unit. This same concluding genre can be seen in Isa. 34 and 35.
Isaías 24:1-6
24:1 "the Lord lays the earth waste" Verses 1 and 3 use a series of strong VERBS to describe YHWH's judgment on the earth (not "land" here because of parallel to "world" [BDB 385, cf. Isa. 14:16-17; 34:1; Jer. 10:12; 51:15], see Special Topic following). lays. . .waste, Isa. 24:1, BDB 132, KB 150, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, cf. Isa. 24:3; Nah. 2:2 devastates, Isa. 24:1, BDB 118, KB 135, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE, cf. Nah. 2:10 distorts (lit. "twists," cf. NRSV), BDB 730, KB 796, Piel PERFECT with waw scatters, Isa. 24:1, BDB 806, KB 918, Hiphil PERFECT with waw completely laid waste, Isa. 24:3, BDB 132, KB 150, Niphal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root denote intensity completely despoiled, Isa. 24:3, BDB 102, KB 117, Niphal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root denotes intensity. YHWH takes back His gifts, given in creation (cf. Isa. 24:5-6). This is a reversal of the purpose of original creation, but a faithful remnant will survive (cf. Isa. 24:6)! Verses 1 and 3 are very similar to God's judgment of the earth (ץרא, BDB 75) in Noah's day (cf. Genesis 6-9; also note the attempts to avoid God's judgment in Isa. 2:10,19,21). Worldwide emptying is exactly the opposite of creation's purpose! SPECIAL TOPIC: REMNANT (three senses) SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH ▣ "distorts its surface" This could either be imagery of God's judgment on the earth in physical terms (lit. "twist," BDB 730, KB 796, Piel PERFECT with waw) or it may be imagery of God emptying earth's inhabitants as someone would clean dirty kitchen pans. ▣ "and scatters its inhabitants" This is very similar to the terminology used in Genesis 10 for the tower of Babel. Here it denotes exile. 24:2 This shows that all social distinctions are removed. Everyone is judged (cf. Isa. 24:4). 24:3 "for the Lord has spoken this word" This shows the certainty of this event because God has said it (BDB 180, KB 210, Piel PERFECT, cf. Isa. 24:3; 25:8; 40:8; 55:10-11). Also note the intended contrast; the spoken word of creation is now the spoken word of judgment. 24:4 Note the description of the earth (both erets [BDB 75] and tebel [BDB 385]) . mourns BDB 5 I, KB 6, Qal PERFECT, cf. Jer. 23:10; for the personification of the earth, also note Isa. 24:7 BDB 5 II means "dry up," which fits the parallelism of Isa. 24:4 and 7 better (cf. NRSV, REB) withers ‒ BDB 615, KB 663, Qal PERFECT (twice) fades ‒ BDB 51, KB 63, Pulal PERFECT, cf. Isa. 16:8; 33:9 polluted, Isa. 24:5 ‒ BDB 337, KB 335, Qal PERFECT Notice the number of PERFECT VERBS in Isa. 24:4 and 5 that denote a settled action, a complete action! All of these VERBS have a sound similarity. The God of creation is acting as sovereign in His creation. It was made to be a stage for Him and mankind to interact, but His creatures have polluted and defiled it by their choices and actions. The planet was created for abundance (i.e. Gen. 1), but now lies judged and unproductive. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND ▣ "the world" This Hebrew term (BDB 385) is often used in conjunction with "earth" (BDB 75, cf. Job 37:12; Ps. 96:13; 98:9; Jer. 10:12; Lam. 4:12, see SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH). Isaiah uses this word more than any other prophet (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 4, p. 273, cf. Isa. 13:11; 24:4; 34:1). SPECIAL TOPIC: WORLD (several terms) ▣ "the exalted of the people of the earth fade away" The RSV translation (with a change of vowels only) implies that this phrase relates to the judgment of heaven and earth (i.e. all creation, cf. v., 21 and footnote in JPSOA), not to the elite (i.e. "height") people of the earth only. The UBS Text Project, p. 56, thinks the MT is not the original text and agrees witht the RSV version. 24:5 "The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants" Nature suffers because of mankind's sin (cf. Isa. 24:20; Gen. 3:17-19; Num. 35:33; Jer. 3:1-2,9; Rom. 8:18-25). they transgressed laws, BDB 716, KB 778, Qal PERFECT they violated statutes, BDB 322, KB 321, Qal PERFECT they broke the everlasting covenant, BDB 830, KB 974, Hiphil PERFECT This does not refer to the Mosaic Law, but either to the natural revelation found in Ps. 19:1-6 and Rom. 1:19, 20; 2:14-15 to Noah's day (cf. Gen. 6:5-7,11-12, possibly specifically to 9:4-6, which is supported by JPSOA footnote) The same phrase "everlasting covenant" appears in Gen. 9:16. This everlasting covenant would relate to the taking of human life (cf. Isa. 26:21). Murder has consequences! Life belongs to God. He wants mankind to be fruitful and fill the earth, not kill each other! SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam and aiōnios) SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP 24:6 "a curse devours the earth" This sounds very similar to the curse of Gen. 3:17-19. Theologically this functions like Rom. 1:18-3:20; all have sinned (i.e. broken a covenant, cf. Isa. 24:5) and need God's salvation! SPECIAL TOPIC: HITTITE (Suzerain) TREATIES NASB, NKJV, JB "are burned" "dwindled" "dwindle" "shall be destroyed" "shall be poor" "grow pale" (from BDB 301 I, cf. Isa. 29:22) "consumes" The MT has "burned" (BDB 359 I, KB 357 or 351 I, Qal PERFECT). Scholars have suggested another possible Arab root, "to reduce" (KB 351 II), which matches the next phrase. This is a good example of the difficulty in ambiguous Hebrew poetry. Context often is an interpreter's only safe guide and even then, other roots and cognates are possible. The MT is not the earliest Hebrew text. ▣ "and few men are left" This is basically the OT idea of a faithful remnant that God will spare a few of the people of the earth. This sounds very similar to Jesus' words in Matt. 7:14. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT, THREE SENSES
Isaías 24:7-23
24:7-14 This is a series images about the normal social activities of an agricultural community which is brought to an end because of the judgment of God. 24:9 "wine. . .strong drink" See SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK. 24:10 "The city of chaos is broken down" There is a play throughout this literary unit on "a city." It is not specifically identified and, therefore, seems to be a symbol of all human society functioning apart from God (similar to the city of Genesis 11). This city can be seen in Isa. 25:2,3,12. An allusion to God's city is found in Isa. 26:1-6 (cf. Heb. 11:10,16). Literally, the term "chaos" (BDB 1062) means "emptiness," "vanity," "formlessness," "confusion," or "unreality" used to describe the earth in Genesis 1:2 ("formless"). It is used often in Isaiah (cf. Isa. 24:10; 29:21; 34:11; 40:17,23; 41:29; 44:9; 45:18,19; 49:4; 59:4), but only one other time in all the Prophets (i.e. Jer. 4:23). God started over with His creation with Noah (Genesis 6-9), now He will do it again! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO CITIES IN ISAIAH 24:12 "the gate is battered to ruins" The VERB (BDB 510, KB 507, Hophal IMPERFECT) denotes that "the unidentified city" is defenseless, her gates are in ruins! Who can stand before YHWH? 24:13 "For thus it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples" This could be interpreted in two ways: it could refer to all of the people of the earth (cf. Isa. 24:1 and Isa. 11:10 ) it could refer to the scattered Jews of the Exile (cf. Isa. 11:11) It is difficult to make a decision on this point, but it seems to me that because of Isa. 24:14,16 and 25:6,7, we are talking about the universal worldview/message (i.e. option #1) so characteristic of Isaiah (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 60:1-3; 66:23)! This universal redemption purpose is very specific in its invitation to both Egypt and Assyria to be a part of God's Kingdom in Isa. 19:18-25. SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over" This was agricultural imagery for harvesting. It denotes the fact that there will be very few people left (cf. Isa. 24:6; Mic. 7:1). Verses 14-16 are a praise unit referring to those who trust YHWH. It is characteristic of this literary unit and this particular kind of genre in Isaiah to promise blessings right in the midst of judgment. 24:14-15 "west. . .east" The term "west" (BDB 410) is literally "sea" and refers to the Mediterranean Ocean. The term "east" (BDB 22) is literally "light" which refers to the rising of the sun. Again, these two terms may be imagery for Egypt to the west and Assyria to the east (cf. Isa. 19:23-25). 24:15 The Jewish Study Bible, p. 830, asserts that some group (Judeans or Gentiles who have trusted YHWH, Isa. 24:15,16a; 25:3) begins to thank God in praise (Isa. 24:14) that the judgment is over, but they suddenly realize it is not (cf. Isa. 24:16b-23). Recognizing the majesty and glory of YHWH is obviously the first sign of a new relationship with Him (cf. Isa. 12:5; 26:10). A few humans (Jew and Gentile), the faithful remnant (cf. Isa. 24:6; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT [three senses]) will be found faithful even amidst judgment (cf. Hab. 2:4). ▣ "in the coastlands of the sea" In the LXX this is "the islands," which is usually a reference within Isaiah to Gentiles (cf. Isa. 41:5; 42:4,10). 24:16a This is another reference to the universal aspect of the inclusion of Gentile believers (cf. Isa. 2:2-4). SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN NASB, NRSV "the Righteous One" NKJV, JPSOA, Peshitta "the righteous" TEV, REB "the righteous nation" "the Upright One" "the godly one" "the Just One" The NASB, NRSV, NJB, and NET translations take this phrase to denote Israel's God. The Peshitta, KJV, and ASV have "the righteous," which is another reference to the believing remnant which will be saved out of Israel and the peoples of the earth. The TEV and REB has "the righteous nation," apparently the ideal Israel. 24:16b There is an obvious break here which is not clearly marked by the traditional verse divisions. From the obvious praise section of Isa. 24:14-16a, Isa. 24:16b begins a funeral dirge relating to the coming judgment of God (note "woe" [twice, lit. "I pine or waste away"] and "woe," the INTERJECTION, BDB 17). Its exact relation to the context is somewhat uncertain. It may be a personal comment of Isaiah himself that his own day did not fit, Isa. 24:14-16a. There have been many different English translations of this phrase. The AB Commentary (p. 353) notes that this phrase is omitted by the Septuagint and the author (Blenkinsop) assumes the Aramaic root for "secret," which follows rabbinical tradition (see footnote in JPSOA) and the Peshitta and Vulgate versions. 24:16c,d "Treacherous. . .traeacherously" (twice) This is a very powerful word play. There are several uses of one word (BDB 93, KB 108), which has a powerful, repetitious emphasis on the faithless, deceitful people. Note the treacherous, BDB 93, KB 108, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE deal treacherously, BDB 93, KB 108, Qal PERFECT NOUN, BDB 93 I (cf. Jer. 12:1) repeat of #1 repeat of #2 24:17 "Terror and pit and snare" This is a sound play on similar words. All of these words (BDB 808, 809, 809) are used of trapping animals (cf. Jer. 48:43,44). 24:18 "the report of disaster" NKJV, Peshitta "the noise of fear" "the sound of terror" "the cry of fear" "the report of terror" "the fear" "the rattle of the scare" The MT has "at the sound of the terror" (BDB 876 CONSTRUCT BDB 808). This is an allusion to the sound of battle (cf. Isa. 29:6; Jer. 4:19,21; Ezek. 1:24) the voice of God (cf. Isa. 30:30-31) a covenant concept (cf. Jer. 3:13,25; 7:23; 11:4,7; 26:13; 38:20) ▣ "will fall into the pit. . .will be caught in the snare" These are allusions to humans being trapped like animals (cf. Isa. 8:15; 28:13). Humans will try to flee God's judgment only to find disaster (cf. Isa. 2:10,19-22). 24:18c "the windows above are opened" This is another allusion to the flood account of Genesis 6-9 (cf. Isa. 7:11; 8:2). The opening of the windows of heaven can be for blessing (i.e. water for agriculture and flocks, cf. 2 Kgs. 7:2,19; Mal. 3:10) judgment (i.e. sending of too much water, cf. Gen. 7:11; 8:2; Isa. 24:18, or no water) SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS SPECIAL TOPIC: WINDOWS OF HEAVEN 24:19 Note the parallelism from the INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and matching VERB. broken asunder, BDB 949, KB 1270, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and Hithpoel PERFECT split through, BDB 830, KB 975, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and Hithpoel PERFECT shaken violently, BDB 556, KB 555, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and Hithpoel PERFECT This same intensified form (i.e. INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and VERB from the same root) continues in Isa. 24:20, BDB 631, KB 681, Qal INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and Qal IMPERFECT. The earth was created by God for a place to meet and fellowship with mankind (i.e. Gen. 3:8). It was created for abundance and life; it has become ruin and will be destroyed by water, Genesis 6-9 by the spoken word, Isa. 24:3 by apocalyptic imagery, Jer. 4:23-28 by fire, 2 Pet. 3:10-11 24:20 Drunkenness (i.e. staggering, BDB 631, KB 681, INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and IMPERFECT VERB of the same root) is often used as a symbol for judgment in the OT (cf. Isa. 19:14; 28:7,8; 29:9). SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK ▣ "And it totters like a shack" This is another cultural allusion to a small booth (BDB 434) which was built in the field during harvest time for someone to live so he could protect the harvest (cf. Isa. 1:8). Isaiah 24:19-20 describes the sin-laden physical creation (cf. Rom. 3:9-18,23; 8:18-22). ▣ "never to rise again" This is a hyperbolic statement to show the intensity of God's judgment on a morally polluted earth. But from other texts, we know He will have mercy on it and restore it! For the use of hyperbolic language in both prophecy and apocalyptic literature see D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic. 24:21 "in that day" See note at Isa. 2:11. This eschatological theme marker is repeated in Isa. 25:9; 26:1,2,12. SPECIAL TOPIC: THAT DAY SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS ▣ "the host of heaven" Many times in the OT this refers to the Babylonian astral deities (cf. Isa. 40:26; 45:12). However, in this context it refers to the OT concept of the angels of the nations (cf. Deut. 32:8 in the LXX and Daniel 10). God will judge both the human beings (i.e. "on earth") who rebel against Him and also the angels (i.e. "on high") who have aided in either the human rebellion or satanic temptation (see G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, p. 179). SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS IN THE BIBLE 24:22 Both the prideful and arrogant kings of the earth (cf. Isa. 10:12; 13:11) and the national rebellious angels (cf. LXX of Deut. 32:8 and Dan. 10:10-13) will be judged and imprisoned. This is very similar to 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude; and Rev. 20:1-3. This seems to be an allusion to Sheol (OT) or Tartarus (NT). Some scholars have asserted that "after many days" refers to the millennium of Rev. 20:1-6. This is typical of millennial scholars who desperately seek some biblical evidence for the time frame mentioned only in Revelation 20. See my new written Commentary on Revelation 20 (Partial Preterist) at www.freebiblecommentary.org. SPECIAL TOPIC: WHERE ARE THE DEAD? ▣ "prisoners" This form (BDB 64) is found only here and it is missing in the DSS, the LXX, and the Aramaic Targums. 24:23 "the moon will be abashed and the sun ashamed" This is apocalyptic language speaking of the cataclysmic events within nature as the Creator approaches. The presence of the Lord Himself will become the light for mankind (cf. Isa. 30:26; 60:19, 20; Rev. 21:23; 22:5). See my new exegetical Commentary on Revelation (2024). ▣ "the Lord of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem" Here again is the universal aspect of all the world flowing unto Jerusalem to know the one true God (cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 24:23; 25:6-7; 27:6, 13). This imagery is focused on YHWH's reign over all the earth in Dan. 2:35,44-45! SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD OF HOSTS SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN ▣ "His glory will be before His elders" The elders (BDB 278) were leaders in Moses' day (i.e. Exod. 3:16,18; 4:29; 12:21, etc.). The term denoted older men of the different tribes. It came to stand for all civil leadership. In Isaiah the elders are irresponsible (cf. Isa. 3:2-3; 9:14-16), but here in the eschaton they will behold YHWH's glory (presumably in worship and adoration, i.e. redeemed elders). SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDER