Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 34

Introduction

Overview

Isaiah 34:1, The judgments wherewith God revenges his church; Isaiah 34:11, The desolation of her enemies; Isaiah 34:16, The certainty of the prophecy.

Verse 1

Come: This and the following chapter, as Bp. Lowth observes, form one distinct prophecy; an entire, regular, and beautiful poem, consisting of two parts; the first containing a denunciation of Divine vengeance against the enemies of the people or church of God; the second describing the flourishing state of that church consequent upon those judgments. The event foretold is represented as of the highest importance, and of universal concern; all nations are called upon to attend to the declaration of it; and the wrath of God is denounced against all the nations who had provoked to anger the Defender of the cause of Zion. By a figure frequently occurring in the prophetical writings, the cities and people mentioned here, who were remarkably distinguished as the enemies of the people of God, are put for those enemies in general. Isaiah 18:3, Isaiah 33:13, Isaiah 41:1, Isaiah 43:9, Isaiah 49:1, Judges 5:3, Judges 5:31, Psalms 49:1, Psalms 49:2, Psalms 50:1, Psalms 96:10, Mark 16:15, Mark 16:16, Revelation 2:7

let the: Isaiah 1:2, Deuteronomy 4:26, Deuteronomy 32:1, Jeremiah 22:29, Micah 6:1, Micah 6:2

all that is therein: Heb. the fulness thereof, Psalms 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:26

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:23 - the elder Isaiah 18:6 - General Isaiah 21:11 - me out Isaiah 47:3 - I will take Isaiah 48:12 - Hearken Jeremiah 4:16 - ye Jeremiah 25:21 - Edom Jeremiah 49:7 - Edom Lamentations 4:21 - the cup Ezekiel 25:8 - Seir Ezekiel 25:13 - I will also Ezekiel 32:29 - Edom Ezekiel 35:2 - and prophesy Ezekiel 36:5 - against all Ezekiel 38:17 - whom Hosea 4:1 - Hear Joel 1:2 - Hear Joel 3:9 - Proclaim Joel 3:19 - Edom Amos 1:11 - Edom Obadiah 1:1 - concerning Zechariah 14:12 - the plague wherewith Revelation 11:18 - the nations Revelation 16:14 - to gather Revelation 19:17 - an angel

Verse 2

the indignation: Isaiah 24:1-23, Jeremiah 25:15-29, Joel 3:9-14, Amos 1:1 - Amos 2:16, Zephaniah 3:8, Zechariah 14:3, Zechariah 14:12-16, Romans 1:18, Revelation 6:12-17, Revelation 14:15-20, Revelation 19:15-21, Revelation 20:9, Revelation 20:15

and his: Isaiah 30:27-30, Nahum 1:2-6

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:14 - and the Psalms 46:8 - desolations Psalms 110:6 - fill Isaiah 24:21 - the Lord Isaiah 30:25 - in the day Isaiah 63:3 - and trample Jeremiah 25:32 - evil Jeremiah 25:33 - the slain Jeremiah 48:15 - gone Ezekiel 30:3 - the time Ezekiel 32:4 - General Ezekiel 35:8 - General Ezekiel 39:4 - I will Joel 3:14 - multitudes

Verse 3

slain: Isaiah 14:19, Isaiah 14:20, 2 Kings 9:35-37, Jeremiah 8:1, Jeremiah 8:2, Jeremiah 22:19, Ezekiel 39:4, Ezekiel 39:11, Joel 2:20

and the mountains: Isaiah 34:7, Ezekiel 32:5, Ezekiel 32:6, Revelation 14:20, Revelation 16:3, Revelation 16:4

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 28:26 - General Ezekiel 21:32 - thy blood Ezekiel 30:11 - and fill Revelation 19:13 - clothed

Verse 4

all the: Isaiah 13:10, Isaiah 14:12, Psalms 102:25, Psalms 102:26, Jeremiah 4:23, Jeremiah 4:24, Ezekiel 32:7, Ezekiel 32:8, Joel 2:30, Joel 2:31, Joel 3:15, Matthew 24:29, Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:24, Mark 13:25, Acts 2:19, Acts 2:20, 2 Peter 3:7-12, Revelation 6:13, Revelation 6:14, Revelation 8:12, Revelation 20:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:1 - host Isaiah 24:19 - General Isaiah 51:6 - the heavens Jeremiah 4:28 - the heavens Joel 2:10 - the sun Haggai 2:6 - and I Hebrews 1:11 - shall perish 2 Peter 3:11 - all these 2 Peter 3:12 - the heavens

Verse 5

my sword: Deuteronomy 32:14, Deuteronomy 32:42, Psalms 17:13, Jeremiah 46:10, Jeremiah 47:6, Ezekiel 21:3-5, Ezekiel 21:9-11, Zephaniah 2:12, Revelation 1:16

upon Idumea: Isaiah 63:1, Psalms 137:7, Jeremiah 49:7-22, Ezekiel 25:12-14, Amos 1:11, Amos 1:12, Obadiah 1:1-9, Malachi 1:4

the people: Deuteronomy 27:15-26, Deuteronomy 29:18-21, Matthew 25:41, 1 Corinthians 16:22, Galatians 3:10, 2 Peter 2:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:25 - will bring Numbers 24:18 - General Deuteronomy 20:17 - thou shalt Deuteronomy 32:41 - whet Deuteronomy 33:29 - the sword Psalms 7:12 - he will Isaiah 11:14 - them of the east Isaiah 27:1 - with his Isaiah 34:6 - the Lord hath Isaiah 66:16 - General Ezekiel 31:12 - upon Ezekiel 35:15 - Idumea Joel 2:31 - sun Obadiah 1:9 - every Mark 3:8 - Idumaea Revelation 12:7 - war Revelation 14:20 - and blood

Verse 6

filled: Isaiah 63:3, Jeremiah 49:13, Ezekiel 21:4, Ezekiel 21:5, Ezekiel 21:10

the fat: Deuteronomy 32:14

the Lord hath: Isaiah 34:5, Isaiah 63:1, Jeremiah 50:27, Jeremiah 51:40, Ezekiel 39:17-20, Zephaniah 1:7, Revelation 19:17, Revelation 19:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 36:33 - Bozrah Exodus 29:13 - all the fat Leviticus 26:25 - will bring Deuteronomy 20:17 - thou shalt Deuteronomy 32:41 - whet Deuteronomy 32:42 - make mine Deuteronomy 33:29 - the sword Joshua 6:17 - accursed 1 Samuel 15:33 - hewed 2 Samuel 1:22 - the bow 2 Kings 23:20 - he slew 1 Chronicles 1:44 - Bozrah Isaiah 11:14 - them of the east Isaiah 27:1 - with his Isaiah 29:2 - and it shall Jeremiah 12:12 - the sword Jeremiah 46:10 - the day Jeremiah 46:14 - the sword Ezekiel 21:9 - sharpened Ezekiel 35:15 - Idumea Amos 1:12 - Bozrah Micah 2:12 - Bozrah

Verse 7

unicorns: or, rhinoceroses, Numbers 23:22, Numbers 24:8, Deuteronomy 33:17, Job 39:9, Job 39:10, Psalms 92:10

the bullocks: Psalms 68:30, Jeremiah 46:21, Jeremiah 50:11, Jeremiah 50:27

soaked: or, drunken, Isaiah 34:3

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 1:22 - the bow Psalms 22:12 - strong Psalms 22:21 - horns Ezekiel 32:6 - water Ezekiel 39:18 - of bullocks

Verse 8

Isaiah 26:21, Isaiah 35:4, Isaiah 49:26, Isaiah 59:17, Isaiah 59:18, Isaiah 61:2, Isaiah 63:4, Deuteronomy 32:35, Deuteronomy 32:41-43, Psalms 94:1, Jeremiah 46:10, Micah 6:1, Luke 18:7, Romans 2:5, Romans 2:8, Romans 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, Revelation 6:10, Revelation 6:11, Revelation 18:20, Revelation 19:2

Reciprocal: Isaiah 9:18 - wickedness Isaiah 13:6 - for the day Isaiah 66:6 - a voice of the Lord Jeremiah 25:31 - A noise Jeremiah 51:26 - desolate for ever Jeremiah 51:37 - become Jeremiah 51:56 - the Lord Ezekiel 13:5 - the day Hosea 4:1 - for Joel 3:4 - swiftly Luke 21:22 - the days Acts 2:20 - great

Verse 9

Genesis 19:28, Deuteronomy 29:23, Job 18:15, Psalms 11:6, Luke 17:29, Jude 1:7, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 21:8

Reciprocal: Psalms 107:33 - turneth Isaiah 1:7 - burned Isaiah 1:31 - and they Isaiah 30:27 - burning Isaiah 33:14 - everlasting Jeremiah 49:13 - a desolation Jeremiah 49:17 - Edom Jeremiah 49:33 - a dwelling Zephaniah 2:9 - as Gomorrah Malachi 1:3 - laid Revelation 14:10 - be Revelation 18:9 - the smoke

Verse 10

shall not: Isaiah 1:31, Isaiah 66:24, Jeremiah 7:20, Ezekiel 20:47, Ezekiel 20:48, Mark 9:43-48

the smoke: Revelation 14:10, Revelation 14:11, Revelation 18:18, Revelation 19:3

from: Isaiah 13:20, Ezekiel 29:11, Malachi 1:3, Malachi 1:4

Reciprocal: Joshua 8:20 - the smoke Job 18:15 - brimstone Psalms 107:33 - turneth Isaiah 34:17 - they shall Jeremiah 49:18 - no man Nahum 2:10 - empty Revelation 18:9 - the smoke

Verse 11

cormorant: or, pelican, Isaiah 13:20-22, Isaiah 14:23, Zephaniah 2:14, Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:21-23

stretch: 2 Samuel 8:2, 2 Kings 21:13, Lamentations 2:8, Malachi 1:3, Malachi 1:4

Reciprocal: Leviticus 11:16 - General Job 38:5 - who hath stretched Psalms 102:6 - a pelican Isaiah 13:21 - But Isaiah 32:14 - for Jeremiah 50:39 - General Jeremiah 51:34 - he hath made Amos 7:7 - a wall Zechariah 1:16 - and

Verse 12

call: Isaiah 3:6-8, Ecclesiastes 10:16, Ecclesiastes 10:17

nothing: Isaiah 41:24, 1 Corinthians 8:4, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 12:11

Reciprocal: Judges 10:18 - What man

Verse 13

thorns: Isaiah 32:13, Isaiah 32:14, Hosea 9:6, Zephaniah 2:9

an habitation: Isaiah 13:21, Isaiah 13:22, Isaiah 35:7, Jeremiah 9:11, Jeremiah 10:22, Jeremiah 49:33, Jeremiah 50:39, Jeremiah 50:40, Jeremiah 51:37, Malachi 1:3, Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:20-24

owls: or, ostriches, Heb. daughters of the owl

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 14:9 - The thistle Psalms 44:19 - in the Isaiah 24:10 - city Hosea 10:8 - the thorn

Verse 14

The wild beasts of the desert: Heb. Ziim, Isaiah 13:21, *marg.

the wild beasts of the island: Heb. Ijim, Isaiah 13:22, *marg.

screech owl: or, night-monster

Reciprocal: Psalms 44:19 - in the Malachi 1:3 - the

Verse 16

Seek: Isaiah 30:8, Deuteronomy 31:21, Joshua 1:8, Proverbs 23:12, Daniel 10:21, Amos 3:7, Malachi 3:16, John 5:39, John 10:35, 2 Peter 1:19, Matthew 5:18, Luke 21:33

my mouth: Genesis 6:17, Psalms 33:6, Psalms 33:9

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 28:8 - keep Nehemiah 13:1 - they read Luke 16:29 - have Acts 17:11 - and searched Revelation 5:1 - a book

Verse 17

he hath cast: Joshua 18:8, Psalms 78:55, Acts 13:19, Acts 17:26

they shall: Isaiah 34:10, Isaiah 13:20-22