The big picture
Isaiah 24 opens in verse 1 with “Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 12 with “In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.”, and closes in verse 23 with “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall…” Repeated or prominent terms include earth, LORD, broken, drink, high. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
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Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 23Isaiah 24:1-8
1–8: Behold, the LORD Maketh the Earth Empty, and Maketh It Waste, and…
Isaiah 24:1–8 opens with “Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and…” and reaches “The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 24 develops its own movement around earth, LORD, broken, drink, high, with particular weight carried by earth, inhabitants, ceaseth.

Deep dive
The movement opens with “Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty…” It lands on “The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as earth, inhabitants, ceaseth, fadeth, languisheth, LORD tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 24 develops its own movement around earth, LORD, broken, drink, high,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include earth, inhabitants, ceaseth, fadeth, languisheth. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 6: “Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: earth, inhabitants, ceaseth, fadeth, languisheth, LORD
Verse-by-verse path
- Isaiah 24:1
“Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include maketh, abroad, earth. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 24:2
“And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:3
“The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:4
“The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do…” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, fadeth, haughty. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 24:5
“The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.
- Isaiah 24:6
“Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Isaiah 24:7
“The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.” The line’s distinctive content terms include languisheth, merryhearted, mourneth. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 24:8
“The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ceaseth, endeth, harp. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 24:1-8
King James Version1Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.
2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him.
3The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the LORD hath spoken this word.
4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.
5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.
6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.
7The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh.
8The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth.
Isaiah 24:9-16
9–16: They Shall Not Drink Wine with a Song; Strong Drink Shall Be Bitter to…
Isaiah 24:9–16 opens with “They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.” and reaches “From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 24 develops its own movement around earth, LORD, broken, drink, high, with particular weight carried by drink, LORD, city.

Deep dive
The movement opens with “They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.” By verse 12, the text has turned to “In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.” It lands on “From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker, 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as drink, LORD, city, dealers, dealt, land tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 24 develops its own movement around earth, LORD, broken, drink, high,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include God, Israel, Wherefore. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 12: “In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: drink, LORD, city, dealers, dealt, land
Verse-by-verse path
- Isaiah 24:9
“They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:10
“The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.” The line’s distinctive content terms include broken, city, confusion. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 24:11
“There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.” The line’s distinctive content terms include crying, darkened, gone. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 24:12
“In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, desolation, destruction. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 24:13
“When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:14
“They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD , they shall cry aloud from the sea.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:15
“Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Isaiah 24:16
“From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my…” The line’s distinctive content terms include dealers, dealt, leanness. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 24:9-16
King James Version9They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.
10The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in.
11There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone.
12In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.
13When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.
14They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD , they shall cry aloud from the sea.
15Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.
16From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
Isaiah 24:17-23
17–23: Fear, and the Pit, and the Snare, Are Upon Thee, O Inhabitant of the…
Isaiah 24:17–23 opens with “Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.” and reaches “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 24 develops its own movement around earth, LORD, broken, drink, high, with particular weight carried by earth, high, fall.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.” By verse 20, the text has turned to “The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and…” It lands on “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as earth, high, fall, fear, gathered, LORD tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Isaiah 24 develops its own movement around earth, LORD, broken, drink, high,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Fear, Jerusalem, Zion. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 23: “Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: earth, high, fall, fear, gathered, LORD
Verse-by-verse path
- Isaiah 24:17
“Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.” Naming Fear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Isaiah 24:18
“And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:19
“The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, broken, clean. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Isaiah 24:20
“The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:21
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:22
“And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 24:23
“Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 24:17-23
King James Version17Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth.
18And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake.
19The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly.
20The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again.
21And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.
22And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.
23Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the historical crisis, covenant failure, warning, and promised hope.
- Distinguish the prophet’s immediate audience from later biblical connections.
- Do not turn present-day headlines into confident fulfillment claims without textual evidence.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Isaiah 24?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Isaiah 24 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Isaiah 24 develops its own movement around earth, LORD, broken, drink, high?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?

