Isaiah 24:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest people of the earth languish.

NIV: The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth.

NASB: The earth dries up and crumbles away, the mainland dries out and crumbles away, the exalted of the people of the earth dwindle.

CSB: The earth mourns and withers; the world wastes away and withers; the exalted people of the earth waste away.

NLT: The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away.

KJV: The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

NKJV: The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish.

The Lord's judgment has come to the earth, as predicted here by Isaiah. This oracle is likely about the end times: the very last days of history before the Messiah comes to rule and reign over the earth. Isaiah has described all class and caste systems made invalid. Every human being will be scattered. They will be running for their lives from whatever catastrophes God uses to twist the surface of the earth and lay it to waste (Isaiah 24:1–3).

Now Isaiah describes the earth in the aftermath of those events. The world is grieving and wasting away. Everything is dried up and dying. Nobody is protected by their privilege or status. Even the world's most important people deteriorate as they wait for what will come next. No one will be shielded by their perceived position in the world.

Isaiah 24:1–13 describes the Lord's judgment of all humanity during the end times. This destruction comes in response to human sinfulness. God will bring a calamity on earth that will tear the people from their homes. All will suffer equally. Everything will wither, and the few survivors will be scorched. Music, wine, and joy will end: what's left of civilization will be like the olives missed by workers at harvest.

Isaiah describes terrible judgment the Lord will bring on the earth during the final days. The Lord will twist the surface of the earth, scattering the people. All will suffer equally regardless of status, and the earth will be fully emptied. Everything will wither and languish. The Lord will do this because of human sinfulness against Him. Few will survive, and there will be no wine, music, or gladness. The only exception to this will be the singing of those who praise the Lord. Massive earthquakes will destroy the earth, and the Lord will lock up all who stood against Him before beginning His reign as king.

Chapter 24 follows the oracles of Isaiah against the nations in chapters 13–23. However, this prophecy is against the entire earth. Here, we find the description of the judgment of the Lord on all humanity during the last days. God will destroy the world in response to human sinfulness. He will ruin the face of the earth, causing people to scatter. Few will survive. Wine, music, and gladness will disappear. Earthquakes will destroy the earth. The Lord will gather the powers from heaven and earth and lock them up together before beginning His reign on earth.

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 4/28/2024 4:39:03 PM