Isaiah 34:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Its nobles — there is no one there to call it a kingdom, and all its princes shall be nothing.

NIV: Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom, all her princes will vanish away.

NASB: Its nobles—there is no one there Whom they may proclaim king— And all its officials will be nothing.

CSB: No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing.

NLT: It will be called the Land of Nothing, and all its nobles will soon be gone.

KJV: They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.

NKJV: They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, But none shall be there, and all its princes shall be nothing.

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).

Accessed 5/14/2026 9:28:37 AM