Isaiah 34:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.

NIV: The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of desolation.

NASB: But pelican and hedgehog will possess it, And owl and raven will dwell in it; And He will stretch over it the line of desolation And the plumb line of emptiness.

CSB: Eagle owls and herons will possess it, and long-eared owls and ravens will dwell there. The Lord will stretch out a measuring line and a plumb line over her for her destruction and chaos.

NLT: It will be haunted by the desert owl and the screech owl, the great owl and the raven. For God will measure that land carefully; he will measure it for chaos and destruction.

KJV: But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness.

NKJV: But the pelican and the porcupine shall possess it, Also the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. And He shall stretch out over it The line of confusion and the stones of emptiness.

Isaiah 34:5–17 narrows God's intense judgment to the nation of Edom. This kingdom descended from Esau (Genesis 25:23–26; 31:1). Edom frequently opposed and harmed Israel. The Lord's judgment would come exactly when He planned. None of Edom's strengths will save them. The kingdom will be shattered and even the land, itself, will fall into ruin and decay.

The Lord is enraged against the godless nations who have rejected Him. In the end times, He will devoted all the unbelieving peoples of the earth to destruction and slaughter (Revelation 19:15–18). After judging heaven and earth, God will turn His wrath on Edom. They will be destroyed as thoroughly as if they were animals sacrificed on an altar. Even the land and soil will be ruined so no one dares even cross the territory. Only animals will live there. This is all part of the Lord's divine plan and purpose.

This is part of an announcement of the Lord's judgment against the pagan, godless nations of earth (Isaiah 33). This passage focuses specifically on Edom (Genesis 36:1). God's bloody sword of judgment will turn to Edom and utterly destroy it. Even the environment will be spoiled. None will even dare cross the territory, other than the various animals God will allow to reclaim the land., This matches descriptions of Christ's return and millennial rule (Revelation 19:15–18).

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).