Isaiah 32:14
Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נֻטָּ֔שׁ
shall be forsaken
H5203
נֻטָּ֔שׁ
shall be forsaken
Strong's:
H5203
Word #:
3 of 17
properly, to pound, i.e., smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; also, to thrust off, down, out or upon (inclusive
הֲמ֥וֹן
the multitude
H1995
הֲמ֥וֹן
the multitude
Strong's:
H1995
Word #:
4 of 17
a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth
עִ֖יר
of the city
H5892
עִ֖יר
of the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
5 of 17
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
הָיָ֨ה
H1961
הָיָ֨ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
9 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְעַ֤ד
H1157
בְעַ֤ד
Strong's:
H1157
Word #:
10 of 17
in up to or over against; generally at, beside, among, behind, for, etc
עַד
for
H5704
עַד
for
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
12 of 17
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
עוֹלָ֔ם
ever
H5769
עוֹלָ֔ם
ever
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
13 of 17
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
מְשׂ֥וֹשׂ
a joy
H4885
מְשׂ֥וֹשׂ
a joy
Strong's:
H4885
Word #:
14 of 17
delight, concretely (the cause or object) or abstractly (the feeling)
Cross References
Isaiah 25:2For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.Isaiah 24:12In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.Isaiah 24:10The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.Isaiah 27:10Yet the defenced city shall be desolate, and the habitation forsaken, and left like a wilderness: there shall the calf feed, and there shall he lie down, and consume the branches thereof.
Historical Context
After 586 BC, Jerusalem's palaces, Temple, walls were destroyed or burned. Population was killed or exiled. Archaeological evidence shows abandonment layers—destruction debris, squatter occupation, minimal rebuilding. Though Jerusalem was eventually restored (Ezra-Nehemiah), the prophecy conveys the totality of judgment. Jesus later prophesied similar destruction (AD 70): 'There shall not be left here one stone upon another' (Matthew 24:2).
Questions for Reflection
- How does seeing great cities or institutions fall into ruin demonstrate the fragility of human achievement apart from God?
- What 'palaces' (achievements, securities, structures) in your life might be less permanent than they appear?
- How should awareness that all earthly things can become 'dens for wild asses' affect priorities and investments?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Because the palaces shall be forsaken (כִּי־אַרְמוֹן נֻטָּשׁ, ki-armon nutash)—the אַרְמוֹן (armon, palace, citadel) will be נָטַשׁ (natash, forsaken, abandoned). The multitude of the city shall be left (הֲמוֹן עִיר עֻזָּב, hamon ir uzav)—the הָמוֹן (hamon, multitude, throng) of the עִיר (ir, city) will be עָזַב (azav, left, abandoned). The forts and towers shall be for dens for ever (עֹפֶל וָבַחַן הָיָה בְעַד מְעָרוֹת עַד־עוֹלָם, ofel vabachan hayah ve'ad me'arot ad-olam)—fortifications become מְעָרוֹת (me'arot, caves, dens) עַד־עוֹלָם (ad-olam, forever). A joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks (מְשׂוֹשׂ פְּרָאִים מִרְעֵה עֲדָרִים, mesos pera'im mir'eh adarim).
Urban centers become wilderness—palaces abandoned, populations exiled, fortifications repurposed as animal dens. The phrase עַד־עוֹלָם (ad-olam, forever) uses prophetic hyperbole: seemingly permanent desolation. Wild asses (פְּרָאִים, pera'im) roaming palace ruins depicts complete reversal from human civilization to animal wilderness. Zephaniah 2:13-15 prophesies similarly about Nineveh: 'flocks shall lie down... the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge... desolation shall be in the thresholds.' Jeremiah 9:11 warns Jerusalem will become 'a den of dragons.'