Isaiah 6:11
New International Version
Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged,

New Living Translation
Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?” And he replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland;

English Standard Version
Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste,

Berean Standard Bible
Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged,

King James Bible
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,

New King James Version
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate,

New American Standard Bible
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate,

NASB 1995
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate,

NASB 1977
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people, And the land is utterly desolate,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He said, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, Houses are without people, And the land is devastated to desolation,

Amplified Bible
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered, “Until cities are devastated and without inhabitant, And houses are without people And the land is utterly desolate,

Christian Standard Bible
Then I said, “Until when, Lord? ” And he replied: Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I said, “Until when, Lord?” And He replied: Until cities lie in ruins without inhabitants, houses are without people, the land is ruined and desolate,

American Standard Version
Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste,

Contemporary English Version
Then I asked the LORD, "How long will this last?" The LORD answered: Until their towns are destroyed and their houses are deserted, until their fields are empty,

English Revised Version
Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until cities be waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land become utterly waste,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I asked, "How long, O Lord?" And he replied, "Until the cities lie in ruins with no one living in them, the houses have no people, and the land is completely desolate.

Good News Translation
I asked, "How long will it be like this, Lord?" He answered, "Until the cities are ruined and empty--until the houses are uninhabited--until the land itself is a desolate wasteland.

International Standard Version
Then I asked, "For how long, LORD?" He replied: "Until cities lie waste, without inhabitants, and houses without people; and the land becomes utterly desolate.

Majority Standard Bible
Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged,

NET Bible
I replied, "How long, sovereign master?" He said, "Until cities are in ruins and unpopulated, and houses are uninhabited, and the land is ruined and devastated,

New Heart English Bible
Then I said, "LORD, how long?" He answered, "Until cities are waste without inhabitant, and houses without man, and the land becomes utterly waste,

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities shall be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate;

World English Bible
Then I said, “Lord, how long?” He answered, “Until cities are waste without inhabitant, houses without man, the land becomes utterly waste,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I say, “Until when, O Lord?” And He says, “Surely until cities have been ruined without inhabitant, "" And houses without man, "" And the ground is ruined—a desolation,

Young's Literal Translation
And I say, 'Till when, O Lord?' And He saith, 'Surely till cities have been wasted without inhabitant, And houses without man, And the ground be wasted -- a desolation,

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying, How long, O Lord? And he will say, Till when the cities were laid waste from not being inhabited, and the houses from not a man, and the land shall be laid waste with desolation.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said: How long, O Lord? And he said: Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land shall be left desolate.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I said, “For how long, O Lord?” And he said, “Until the cities are desolate, without an inhabitant, and the houses are without a man, and the land will be left behind, deserted.”

New American Bible
“How long, O Lord?” I asked. And he replied: Until the cities are desolate, without inhabitants, Houses, without people, and the land is a desolate waste.

New Revised Standard Version
Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said: “Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then I said, How long, O LORD? And he said, Until the cities lie waste without inhabitants and the houses without men and the land be utterly desolate

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I said: “Until when, LORD JEHOVAH?” And he said: “Until cities will be wasted that are without an inhabitant and houses that are without men, and the land will be destroyed and will be desolate
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said I: 'Lord, how long?' And He answered: 'Until cities be waste without inhabitant, And houses without man, And the land become utterly waste,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said, How long, O Lord? And he said, Until cities be deserted by reason of their not being inhabited, and the houses by reason of there being no men, and the land shall be left desolate.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Isaiah's Commission
10Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged, 12until the LORD has driven men far away and the land is utterly forsaken.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 4:27
For this is what the LORD says: “The whole land will be desolate, but I will not finish its destruction.

Jeremiah 25:11
And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

Jeremiah 12:4
How long will the land mourn and the grass of every field be withered? Because of the evil of its residents, the animals and birds have been swept away, for the people have said, “He cannot see what our end will be.”

Ezekiel 12:22-23
“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’? / Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’ But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.

Ezekiel 33:28-29
I will make the land a desolate waste, and the pride of her strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will become desolate, so that no one will pass through. / Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I have made the land a desolate waste because of all the abominations they have committed.’

2 Kings 25:11
Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population.

Leviticus 26:33
But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.

Deuteronomy 28:64
Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known.

2 Chronicles 36:21
So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.

Micah 3:12
Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

Matthew 23:38
Look, your house is left to you desolate.

Luke 21:24
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Romans 11:25
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

Revelation 11:2
But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.

Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.


Treasury of Scripture

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,

Lord

Psalm 74:10
O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Psalm 90:13
Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

Psalm 94:3
LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

until the

Isaiah 1:7
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 3:26
And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Isaiah 24:1-12
Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof…

utterly desolate.

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Cities Deserted Desolate Desolation Devastated Fields Ground Houses Inhabitant Lie Ravaged Ruined Surely Towns Unpeopled Utter Utterly Waste Wasted
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Cities Deserted Desolate Desolation Devastated Fields Ground Houses Inhabitant Lie Ravaged Ruined Surely Towns Unpeopled Utter Utterly Waste Wasted
Isaiah 6
1. Isaiah, in a vision of the Lord in his glory
5. Being terrified, has apprehensions removed
8. He offers himself, and is sent to show the obstinacy of the people
13. A remnant shall be saved














Then I asked
The phrase "Then I asked" indicates a moment of inquiry and reflection by the prophet Isaiah. In the Hebrew text, the verb used here is "אָמַר" (amar), which means to say or speak. This suggests a direct and personal communication with God, highlighting the intimate relationship between the prophet and the Divine. Isaiah's question reflects a deep concern for the fate of his people and the duration of their impending judgment.

For how long, Lord?
reveals Isaiah's earnest desire to understand the extent of the judgment that has been pronounced. The Hebrew word for "how long" is "עַד־מָתַי" (ad-matay), which conveys a sense of duration and longing for resolution. This question is not just about time but also about hope and restoration. Isaiah's use of "Lord" (אֲדֹנָי, Adonai) acknowledges God's sovereignty and authority over the situation, recognizing that only God knows the appointed times and seasons.

And He replied
signifies God's direct response to Isaiah's question. The Hebrew verb "אָמַר" (amar) is used again, emphasizing the clarity and authority of God's answer. This response is not just informative but also carries a weight of divine decree, underscoring the seriousness of the message.

Until the cities lie in ruins without inhabitant
paints a vivid picture of complete desolation. The Hebrew word for "ruins" is "שָׁמָה" (shamah), which implies a state of utter devastation. This phrase indicates the totality of the judgment, where once-thriving cities become empty and lifeless. The absence of inhabitants highlights the severity of the consequences of the people's disobedience and the fulfillment of God's righteous judgment.

until the houses are left unoccupied
further emphasizes the theme of abandonment and desolation. The Hebrew word "בָּתִּים" (batim) refers to houses or dwellings, and their being "left unoccupied" suggests a complete evacuation or exile. This imagery serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the resulting loss of community and security.

and the land is desolate and ravaged
completes the picture of devastation. The Hebrew word for "desolate" is "שְׁמָמָה" (shemamah), which conveys a sense of barrenness and emptiness. "Ravaged" (שָׁמֵם, shamem) implies destruction and ruin. This phrase underscores the totality of the judgment, affecting not just the people and their homes but the very land itself. It serves as a sobering reminder of the impact of sin and the need for repentance and restoration.

(11) Lord, how long?--The prophet asks the question which is ever on the lips of those who are brought face to face with the problems of the world, with the great mystery of evil, sin permitted to work out fresh evil as its punishment, and yet remaining evil. How long shall all this last? So a later prophet, towards the close of the seventy years of exile, cried once again, "How long?" (Daniel 8:13). So the cry, "How long, O Lord, dost thou not judge?" came from the souls beneath the altar (Revelation 6:10).

Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant.--The words answer the immediate question of the prophet within its horizon. They suggest an answer to all analogous questions. Stroke after stroke must come, judgment after judgment, till the sin has been adequately punished; but the darkness of the prospect, terrible as it is, does not exclude the glimmer of an eternal hope for the far-off future.

Verse 11. - Then said I, Lord, how long? Either, "How long am I to continue this preaching?" or, "How long is this blindness and callousness of the people to continue?" Isaiah assumes that he has not heard as yet God's final purpose; that there is some merciful intention kept in reserve, which is to take effect after the close of the period of judgment. The cities... the houses; rather, cities... houses. An entire desolation of the whole land, and extermination of its inhabitants, is not prophesied, and never took place. Nebuchadnezzar "left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen" (2 Kings 25:12; Jeremiah 39:10). Even when the great mass of these persons went into Egypt and perished there (Jeremiah 44:11-27), a certain number escaped and returned to Palestine (Jeremiah 44:14, 28). The land; rather, the ground, the soil.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then I asked,
וָאֹמַ֕ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“How long,
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

O Lord?”
אֲדֹנָ֑י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

And He replied,
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Until
עַ֣ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

cities
עָרִ֜ים (‘ā·rîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 5892: Excitement

lie in ruins
שָׁא֨וּ (šā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7582: To make a din or crash, crash into ruins

without
מֵאֵ֣ין (mê·’ên)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

an inhabitant,
יוֹשֵׁ֗ב (yō·wō·šêḇ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

until the houses
וּבָתִּים֙ (ū·ḇāt·tîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

are left unoccupied,
מֵאֵ֣ין (mê·’ên)
Preposition-m | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

and the land
וְהָאֲדָמָ֖ה (wə·hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

is desolate
תִּשָּׁאֶ֥ה (tiš·šā·’eh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7582: To make a din or crash, crash into ruins

and ravaged,
שְׁמָמָֽה׃ (šə·mā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8077: Devastation, astonishment


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 6:11 Then I said Lord how long? He (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 6:10
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