Isaiah 24:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: No more do they drink wine with singing; strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

NIV: No longer do they drink wine with a song; the beer is bitter to its drinkers.

NASB: They do not drink wine with song; Intoxicating drink is bitter to those who drink it.

CSB: They no longer sing and drink wine; beer is bitter to those who drink it.

NLT: Gone are the joys of wine and song; alcoholic drink turns bitter in the mouth.

KJV: They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.

NKJV: They shall not drink wine with a song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

God's judgment during the end times is being described through a focus on one crop: wine grapes (Isaiah 24:7–8). Those grapes were a staple of agriculture in the Near East in Isaiah's day, along with the wine they produced. The Lord's judgment will leave the entire earth desolate, causing the crops of new wine grapes to fail. Without those grapes, there would be no harvest celebrations with music and the drinking of wine together as a community. Isaiah adds that strong drink will be available, but it will be bitter to those who drink it. The harder alcohol will not bring the joy and gladness that the wine once did. Instead, it will simply amplify the mood of bitterness for the few who remain on the ruined earth.

The fact that such a major resource is gone implies that many other crops, such as food for people and animals, will likely be destroyed as well.

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 4/29/2024 2:16:12 PM