Verse

Isaiah 24:8

ESV The mirth of the tambourines is stilled, the noise of the jubilant has ceased, the mirth of the lyre is stilled.
NIV The joyful timbrels are stilled, the noise of the revelers has stopped, the joyful harp is silent.
NASB The joy of tambourines ceases, The noise of revelers stops, The joy of the harp ceases.
CSB The joyful tambourines have ceased. The noise of the jubilant has stopped. The joyful lyre has ceased.
NLT The cheerful sound of tambourines is stilled; the happy cries of celebration are heard no more. The melodious chords of the harp are silent.
KJV The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.
NKJV The mirth of the tambourine ceases, The noise of the jubilant ends, The joy of the harp ceases.

What does Isaiah 24:8 mean?

Because of human sin, the Lord will bring uncompromising judgment to the earth in the last days of history. Whatever specific form this judgment takes, the planet will be left a sterile husk of its former self (Isaiah 24:6).

As an example, Isaiah has said that the harvest of the new wine grapes will fail. The vines will wither and die. For the small percentage of humans left on earth, there will be no more wine to lighten the load of their suffering (Isaiah 24:7). Now Isaiah adds that without the wine, the music making will also be silenced. There will be no reason left to celebrate.

The picture Isaiah paints is deeper than people just not partying like they once did. The annual grape harvest in the ancient Near East was a time of celebration at the end of every summer. When the hard work was done and all the grapes were in, the community would gather to drink wine and sing and celebrate before moving on to the next season. The failure of the grape harvest will bring an end to those happy moments of connection and relief from the work of survival.

Even worse, this level of devastation suggests famine. If grapes are gone, it's likely other crops will be wiped out as well.
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