Isaiah 24:1

Authorized King James Version

Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
הִנֵּ֧ה
lo!
#2
יְהוָ֛ה
Behold the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#3
בּוֹקֵ֥ק
empty
to pour out, i.e., to empty, figuratively, to depopulate; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine)
#4
הָאָ֖רֶץ
maketh the earth
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#5
וּבֽוֹלְקָ֑הּ
and maketh it waste
to annihilate
#6
וְעִוָּ֣ה
and turneth
to crook, literally or figuratively
#7
פָנֶ֔יהָ
it upside down
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#8
וְהֵפִ֖יץ
and scattereth abroad
to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)
#9
יֹשְׁבֶֽיהָ׃
the inhabitants
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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