Isaiah 24:17
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Ancient hunting practices inform this imagery. Hunters drove animals toward concealed pits; if the animal avoided the pit, snares waited as backup. Isaiah applies this to divine judgment—there's no escape route, no clever evasion. This counters human confidence in self-preservation. Just as animals couldn't outthink hunters' comprehensive trap systems, humanity cannot evade God's righteous judgment through cleverness or strength. New Testament echoes this: 'How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?' (Hebrews 2:3). Paul warns, 'When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them' (1 Thessalonians 5:3)—the unexpected terror Isaiah describes.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the threefold trap (fear, pit, snare) illustrate the impossibility of escaping God's judgment through human effort?
- What does this verse teach about false securities and the illusion that we can somehow avoid accountability to God?
- How should awareness of coming inescapable judgment motivate urgency in evangelism and personal holiness?
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Analysis & Commentary
Fear, and the pit, and the snare (פַּחַד וָפַחַת וָפָח, pachad vafachat vafach)—This alliterative triplet in Hebrew creates ominous rhythm: terror, trap, and snare await. פַּחַד (pachad) means sudden terror, dread. פַּחַת (pachat) is a pit or pitfall used to trap animals. פָּח (pach) is a snare or trap. Together they depict inescapable judgment—no matter which direction one flees, destruction awaits.
Are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth (עָלֶיךָ יוֹשֵׁב הָאָרֶץ, aleikha yoshev ha'aretz)—The address is universal: every earth-dweller faces this threefold doom. The verb 'are upon' indicates imminent, unavoidable threat. This isn't distant possibility but present reality hanging over humanity. Jeremiah quotes this verse (Jeremiah 48:43-44) in judgment against Moab, showing its proverbial use for describing inescapable divine wrath.