Isaiah 34

Judgment Against the Nations

1 Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. Parallel theme: Isaiah 1:2, 18:3, 33:13, 41:1, 43:9, 49:1, Deuteronomy 32:1, Jeremiah 22:29, 1 Corinthians 10:26, Revelation 2:7 +5

2 For the indignation of the LORDLord: יְהוָה / אֲדֹנָי (YHWH / Adonai). When 'LORD' appears in small capitals, it represents the Tetragrammaton YHWH (יְהוָה), God's personal covenant name meaning 'I AM.' When 'Lord' appears normally, it's Adonai (אֲדֹנָי), meaning 'my Lord,' emphasizing sovereignty. is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. References Lord: Zephaniah 3:8

3 Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their bloodBlood: דָּם (Dam). The Hebrew dam (דָּם) means blood—representing life itself. 'The life of the flesh is in the blood' (Leviticus 17:11), and blood was required for atonement, foreshadowing Christ's sacrifice.. Blood: Isaiah 34:7. Parallel theme: Ezekiel 39:4, Joel 2:20

4 And all the host of heavenHeaven: שָׁמַיִם (Shamayim). The Hebrew shamayim (שָׁמַיִם) means heaven or sky—God's dwelling place and the realm above earth. 'The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's' (Psalm 115:16), yet 'the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him' (1 Kings 8:27). shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. Parallel theme: Joel 3:15, Matthew 24:29

5 For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgmentJudgment: מִשְׁפָּט (Mishpat). The Hebrew mishpat (מִשְׁפָּט) means judgment or justice—God's righteous decisions and ordinances. God is the Judge of all the earth who 'shall do right' (Genesis 18:25), executing perfect justice.. Word: Jeremiah 46:10. Parallel theme: Isaiah 63:1, Malachi 1:4

6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrificeSacrifice: זֶבַח (Zevach). The Hebrew zevach (זֶבַח) denotes a sacrifice or offering—an animal slaughtered for worship. Old Testament sacrifices foreshadowed Christ, 'the Lamb of God' (John 1:29). in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea. References Lord: Jeremiah 49:13. Parallel theme: Isaiah 63:1

7 And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness. Parallel theme: Numbers 23:22, Psalms 68:30, Jeremiah 50:27

8 For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion. References Lord: Isaiah 61:2, Psalms 94:1, Jeremiah 46:10. Parallel theme: Isaiah 35:4, 63:4, Deuteronomy 32:35, Revelation 18:20, 19:2 +3

9 And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 29:23, Psalms 11:6

10 It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever. Parallel theme: Isaiah 1:31, 13:20, 66:24, Ezekiel 29:11, Revelation 18:18, 19:3

11 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. Parallel theme: Isaiah 14:23, 2 Kings 21:13, Lamentations 2:8, Zephaniah 2:14, Revelation 18:2

12 They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.

13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. Parallel theme: Psalms 44:19, Jeremiah 9:11, 10:22, Malachi 1:3

14 The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.

15 There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 14:13

16 Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spiritSpirit: רוּחַ (Ruach). The Hebrew ruach (רוּחַ) means spirit, wind, or breath—invisible but powerful. It describes both the Holy Spirit and the human spirit. God's Spirit gives life and empowers His people. it hath gathered them. References Lord: Psalms 33:6, Amos 3:7, Malachi 3:16. Parallel theme: Isaiah 30:8, Joshua 1:8, Psalms 33:9, Proverbs 23:12, Matthew 5:18, Luke 21:33, John 10:35 +5

17 And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein. Parallel theme: Isaiah 34:10, Acts 17:26