Isaiah 24:1
New International Version
See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants—

New Living Translation
Look! The LORD is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. He devastates the surface of the earth and scatters the people.

English Standard Version
Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

Berean Standard Bible
Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants—

King James Bible
Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

New King James Version
Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste, Distorts its surface And scatters abroad its inhabitants.

New American Standard Bible
Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, twists its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.

NASB 1995
Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants.

NASB 1977
Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, Yahweh empties the earth to destruction, eviscerates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants.

Amplified Bible
Behold, the LORD lays waste to the earth, devastates it, twists and distorts its face and scatters its inhabitants.

Christian Standard Bible
Look, the LORD is stripping the earth bare and making it desolate. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look, the LORD is stripping the earth bare and making it desolate. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants:

American Standard Version
Behold, Jehovah maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Contemporary English Version
The LORD is going to twist the earth out of shape and turn it into a desert. Everyone will be scattered,

English Revised Version
Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD is going to turn the earth into a desolate wasteland. He will mar the face of the earth and scatter the people living on it.

Good News Translation
The LORD is going to devastate the earth and leave it desolate. He will twist the earth's surface and scatter its people.

International Standard Version
"Watch out! The LORD is about to depopulate the land and devastate it; he will turn it upside down and scatter its inhabitants.

Majority Standard Bible
Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants—

NET Bible
Look, the LORD is ready to devastate the earth and leave it in ruins; he will mar its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

New Heart English Bible
Look, the LORD makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad its inhabitants.

World English Bible
Behold, Yahweh makes the earth empty, makes it waste, turns it upside down, and scatters its inhabitants.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, YHWH is emptying the earth, "" And is making it desolate, "" And has overturned [it on] its face, "" And has scattered its inhabitants.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, Jehovah is emptying the land, And is making it waste, And hath overturned it on its face, And hath scattered its inhabitants.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, Jehovah emptying the earth and making it waste, and subverting its face, and scattering its inhabitants.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
BEHOLD the Lord shall lay waste the earth, and shall strip it, and shall afflict the face thereof, and scatter abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, the Lord will lay waste to the earth, and he will strip it, and he will afflict its surface, and he will scatter its inhabitants.

New American Bible
See! The LORD is about to empty the earth and lay it waste; he will twist its surface, and scatter its inhabitants:

New Revised Standard Version
Now the LORD is about to lay waste the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
BEHOLD, the LORD shall destroy the earth and lay it waste and turn it upside down and scatter its inhabitants.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold LORD JEHOVAH destroys the Earth and breaks it and overturns its surface and scatters its inhabitants
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty and maketh it waste, And turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, the Lord is about to lay waste the world, and will make it desolate, and will lay bare the surface of it, and scatter them that dwell therein.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Judgment on the Earth
1Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants— 2people and priest alike, servant and master, maid and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 4:23-26
I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void; I looked to the heavens, and they had no light. / I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were quaking; all the hills were swaying. / I looked, and no man was left; all the birds of the air had fled. ...

Zephaniah 1:2-3
“I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. / “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

Revelation 6:12-14
And I watched as the Lamb opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black like sackcloth of goat hair, and the whole moon turned blood red, / and the stars of the sky fell to the earth like unripe figs dropping from a tree shaken by a great wind. / The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’

Joel 2:10-11
Before them the earth quakes; the heavens tremble. The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars lose their brightness. / The LORD raises His voice in the presence of His army. Indeed, His camp is very large, for mighty are those who obey His command. For the Day of the LORD is great and very dreadful. Who can endure it?

Nahum 1:5
The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles at His presence—the world and all its dwellers.

Revelation 16:18-20
And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake. / The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. / Then every island fled, and no mountain could be found.

Amos 8:8
Will not the land quake for this, and all its dwellers mourn? All of it will swell like the Nile; it will surge and then subside like the Nile in Egypt.

Haggai 2:6-7
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. / I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Ezekiel 32:7-8
When I extinguish you, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars. I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. / All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you, and I will bring darkness upon your land,’ declares the Lord GOD.

Isaiah 13:9-13
Behold, the Day of the LORD is coming—cruel, with fury and burning anger—to make the earth a desolation and to destroy the sinners within it. / For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. / I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. ...

2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

Jeremiah 25:31-33
The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD. / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.” / Those slain by the LORD on that day will be spread from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung lying on the ground.

Micah 1:3-4
For behold, the LORD comes forth from His dwelling place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. / The mountains will melt beneath Him, and the valleys will split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty, and makes it waste, and turns it upside down, and scatters abroad the inhabitants thereof.

A.

Isaiah 1:7-9
Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers…

Isaiah 5:6
And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

Isaiah 6:11,12
Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, …

turneth it upside down.

Isaiah 29:16
Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

2 Kings 21:13
And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as a man wipeth a dish, wiping it, and turning it upside down.

Psalm 146:9
The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

scattereth

Deuteronomy 4:27
And the LORD shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the LORD shall lead you.

Deuteronomy 28:64
And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

Deuteronomy 32:26
I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

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Abroad Desolate Devastate Directions Distorts Earth Empty Emptying Inhabitants Lays Makes Maketh Making Ruin Scatter Scattereth Scatters Sending Surface Thereof Turneth Turning Turns Twist Unpeopled Upside Waste
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Abroad Desolate Devastate Directions Distorts Earth Empty Emptying Inhabitants Lays Makes Maketh Making Ruin Scatter Scattereth Scatters Sending Surface Thereof Turneth Turning Turns Twist Unpeopled Upside Waste
Isaiah 24
1. The doleful judgments of God upon the land
13. A remnant shall joyfully praise him
16. God in his judgments shall advance his kingdom














Behold
The word "Behold" is a call to attention, urging the reader or listener to focus on what is about to be revealed. In Hebrew, the word is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which serves as an imperative to observe with care. This word is often used in Scripture to introduce a significant revelation or divine action. It is a reminder that what follows is of utmost importance and demands our full attention. In the context of Isaiah, it signals a prophetic announcement that carries weight and urgency.

the LORD
The term "the LORD" refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God in the Hebrew Bible. It emphasizes His sovereignty, faithfulness, and authority over all creation. In the Hebrew text, it is represented by the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, which is considered sacred and ineffable. This name underscores God's eternal presence and His role as the ultimate judge and redeemer. In Isaiah, the use of "the LORD" highlights the divine origin of the prophecy and the certainty of its fulfillment.

lays waste
The phrase "lays waste" comes from the Hebrew verb "בּוֹקֵק" (boqeq), which means to empty or devastate. It conveys a sense of thorough destruction and desolation. This action is not arbitrary but is a response to the sin and rebellion of the people. It reflects the theme of divine judgment that runs throughout the book of Isaiah. The imagery of laying waste serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the seriousness of His justice.

the earth
In this context, "the earth" refers to the land or the world as a whole. The Hebrew word "אֶרֶץ" (eretz) can denote the physical ground, a specific territory, or the entire inhabited world. Here, it suggests a comprehensive scope of judgment, indicating that no part of creation is exempt from God's scrutiny. This global perspective aligns with the prophetic vision of Isaiah, which often extends beyond Israel to encompass all nations and peoples.

and devastates it
The phrase "and devastates it" reinforces the totality of the destruction. The Hebrew verb "שָׁדַד" (shadad) means to ruin or destroy completely. This repetition of the theme of desolation emphasizes the severity of the judgment. It serves as a warning of the inevitable consequences of persistent disobedience and idolatry. The devastation is not merely physical but also spiritual, reflecting the broken relationship between humanity and God.

He will twist its surface
The imagery of twisting the surface suggests a profound upheaval and transformation. The Hebrew verb "עָוָה" (avah) means to bend, twist, or distort. This action implies a reversal of the natural order, symbolizing the chaos and disorder that result from sin. It is a vivid portrayal of the impact of divine judgment, which disrupts the normalcy of life and challenges the complacency of those who have strayed from God's ways.

and scatter its inhabitants
The phrase "and scatter its inhabitants" speaks to the dispersion and displacement of people. The Hebrew verb "פּוּץ" (puts) means to scatter or disperse. This scattering is both a literal and metaphorical consequence of judgment, reflecting the loss of community, identity, and stability. It serves as a poignant reminder of the disintegration that occurs when humanity rejects God's covenant and seeks its own path. Yet, within this scattering, there is also a glimmer of hope for eventual restoration and gathering, as God remains faithful to His promises.

XXIV.

(1) Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty . . .--The chapters from 24 to 27, inclusive, are to be taken as a continuous prophecy of the overthrow of the great world-powers which wore arrayed against Jehovah and His people. Of these Assyria was then the most prominent within the horizon of the prophet's view; but Moab appears in Isaiah 25:10, and the language, with that exception, seems deliberately generalised, as if to paint the general discomfiture in every age (and, above all, in the great age of the future Deliverer) of the enemies of Jehovah and His people. The Hebrew word for "earth" admits (as elsewhere) of the rendering "land"; but here the wider meaning seems to predominate, as in its union with the "world," in Isaiah 24:4.

Verses 1-20. - GOD'S JUDGMENTS ON THE WORLD AT LARGE. From special denunciations of woe upon particular nations - Baby-loll, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Syria of Damascus, Egypt and Ethiopia, Arabia, Judea, Tyre - the prophet passes to denunciations of a broader character, involving the future of the whole world. This section of his work extends from the commencement of Isaiah 24. to the conclusion of Isaiah 27, thus including four chapters. The world at large is the general subject of the entire prophecy; but the "peculiar people" still maintains a marked and prominent place, as spiritually the leading country, and as one in whose fortunes the world at large would be always vitally concerned (see especially Isaiah 24:23; Isaiah 25:6-8; Isaiah 26:1-4; Isaiah 27:6, 9, 13). Verse 1. - Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty. Several critics (Lowth, Ewald, Gesenius, Knobel) prefer to render, "maketh the land empty;" but the broader view, which is maintained by Rosenmüller, Kay, Cheyne, and others, seems preferable. The mention of "the world" in ver. 4, and of "the-kings of the earth" in ver. 21, implies a wider field of survey than the Holy Land. Of course the expression, "maketh empty," is rhetorical, some remarkable, but not complete, depopulation being pointed at (comp. ver. 6). Turneth it upside down (comp. Ezekiel 21:27). Scattereth abroad the inhabitants. The scanty population left is dispersed, and not allowed to collect into masses.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Behold,
הִנֵּ֧ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

lays waste
בּוֹקֵ֥ק (bō·w·qêq)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1238: To pour out, to empty, to depopulate, to spread out

to the earth
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

and leaves it in ruins.
וּבֽוֹלְקָ֑הּ (ū·ḇō·wl·qāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1110: To waste, lay waste

He will twist
וְעִוָּ֣ה (wə·‘iw·wāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5753: To bend, twist

its surface
פָנֶ֔יהָ (p̄ā·ne·hā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

and scatter
וְהֵפִ֖יץ (wə·hê·p̄îṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered

its inhabitants—
יֹשְׁבֶֽיהָ׃ (yō·šə·ḇe·hā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 24:1 Behold Yahweh makes the earth empty makes (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 23:18
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