Isaiah 32:13

Authorized King James Version

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Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:

Original Language Analysis

עַ֚ל H5921
עַ֚ל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 1 of 13
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אַדְמַ֣ת Upon the land H127
אַדְמַ֣ת Upon the land
Strong's: H127
Word #: 2 of 13
soil (from its general redness)
עַמִּ֔י of my people H5971
עַמִּ֔י of my people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 3 of 13
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
ק֥וֹץ thorns H6975
ק֥וֹץ thorns
Strong's: H6975
Word #: 4 of 13
a thorn
שָׁמִ֖יר and briers H8068
שָׁמִ֖יר and briers
Strong's: H8068
Word #: 5 of 13
a thorn; also (from its keenness for scratching) a gem, probably the diamond
תַּֽעֲלֶ֑ה shall come up H5927
תַּֽעֲלֶ֑ה shall come up
Strong's: H5927
Word #: 6 of 13
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
כִּ֚י H3588
כִּ֚י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 7 of 13
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 8 of 13
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל H3605
כָּל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 9 of 13
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
בָּתֵּ֣י yea upon all the houses H1004
בָּתֵּ֣י yea upon all the houses
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 10 of 13
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
מָשׂ֔וֹשׂ of joy H4885
מָשׂ֔וֹשׂ of joy
Strong's: H4885
Word #: 11 of 13
delight, concretely (the cause or object) or abstractly (the feeling)
קִרְיָ֖ה city H7151
קִרְיָ֖ה city
Strong's: H7151
Word #: 12 of 13
a city
עַלִּיזָֽה׃ in the joyous H5947
עַלִּיזָֽה׃ in the joyous
Strong's: H5947
Word #: 13 of 13
exultant

Analysis & Commentary

Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers (עַל אַדְמַת עַמִּי קוֹץ שָׁמִיר תַּעֲלֶה, al admat ami qots shamir ta'aleh)—on the אֲדָמָה (adamah, ground, land) of my people, קוֹץ (qots, thorns) and שָׁמִיר (shamir, briers) will עָלָה (alah, come up, spring up). Yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city (כִּי עַל־כָּל־בָּתֵּי מָשׂוֹשׂ קִרְיָה עַלִּיזָה, ki al-kol-batey masos qiryah alizah)—on all houses of מָשׂוֹשׂ (masos, joy, gladness) in the עַלִּיזָה (alizah, joyous, exultant) city.

Thorns and briers evoke Genesis 3:18—curse-consequences of sin. Productive land reverting to wilderness signals divine judgment. Cultivated ground becoming thorn-infested wasteland shows covenant curses enacted (Deuteronomy 29:23, Hosea 10:8). The contrast heightens: 'houses of joy' become desolate. The 'joyous city' (Jerusalem) will be silenced. Lamentations 5:15 mourns: 'The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is turned into mourning.' Jeremiah 7:34 warned: 'Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah... the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness.'

Historical Context

After Babylonian destruction (586 BC), Jerusalem lay in ruins for decades. Nehemiah (445 BC) found walls broken, gates burned (Nehemiah 1:3). Agricultural land abandoned during exile reverted to wilderness. Houses stood empty or rubble-filled. What was a joyous city of pilgrimage festivals became desolate. The thorns and briers weren't metaphorical—literal vegetation reclaimed abandoned sites.

Questions for Reflection

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