They shall all of them be left to the birds of prey of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth. And the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights the complete, year-round desecration that awaits those who oppose God, emphasizing that their demise won't be quick but a prolonged feast for scavengers. It paints a grim picture of utter abandonment, where even the wild creatures will find sustenance in the fallen throughout every season.
They shall all of them be left to the birds of prey of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth. And the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a vivid prophecy of judgment and devastation, this verse reveals the gruesome fate of a proud nation's army. The imagery shifts from symbolic branches being cut to the stark reality of unburied corpses left to the scavengers. This serves as the grim conclusion to God's judgment on those who oppose Him and His people, emphasizing the complete and utter ruin that awaits them.
Imagine an army, vast and terrifying, poised for invasion. Then, suddenly, silence. Not a victory, but a gruesome spectacle left for the scavengers. This verse paints a stark picture of divine judgment.
Isaiah 18:6 describes the utter ruin of an enemy force. The imagery of birds and beasts feasting on corpses isn't just gore for shock value; it's a powerful declaration of God's decisive action.
A Total Defeat
When the text says the bodies "shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth," it means no one will collect or bury them. This was considered the ultimate disgrace in ancient cultures. It signified complete abandonment and the absence of any hope or restoration for the fallen.
Sustenance for Scavengers
The graphic detail continues: "And the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them." This isn't just about a quick cleanup. It implies the destruction is so complete and the bodies so numerous that they provide food and sustenance for the wild creatures for an entire year, through both the warm summer and the cold winter. It emphasizes the totality and the enduring shame of this enemy's defeat.
What happens when mighty armies, symbols of human power and arrogance, are utterly dismantled? This verse offers a chilling answer, revealing a final state of degradation.
The scattering of the "branches" (representing the enemy's leadership and military might) in the preceding verses leads to this devastating scene. The unburied bodies are a stark symbol of their fallen pride.
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From Invaders to Scavenger Food
These fallen soldiers, once instruments of terror and conquest, become mere sustenance for the lowest creatures. The prophecy strips away any semblance of honor or dignity, reducing them to carrion. It’s a profound reversal: those who sought to dominate and destroy are themselves consumed and degraded.
God's Ultimate Authority
This imagery serves as a potent reminder that human power and military might are ultimately insignificant when set against the sovereign will of God. No army, no matter how formidable, can stand against Him. Their ultimate fate, according to this passage, is to be left exposed, a testament to God's power to humble the proud.
Isaiah 18's imagery of birds and beasts feasting on the fallen likely refers to the devastating destruction of an invading army, offering a powerful message of divine deliverance and judgment to a fearful Judah facing imperial threats.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Dominance
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a major world power, known for its military might and expansionist policies, often exacting heavy tribute from conquered nations.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Sennacherib's Campaign Against Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria campaigned against Judah, capturing many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event caused significant fear and upheaval among the Judeans.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Army's Devastation
According to the biblical account, a sudden divine intervention led to the decimation of the Assyrian army outside Jerusalem, preventing its conquest.
Late 7th century BC
Continued Assyrian and Babylonian Tensions
Following Sennacherib's campaign, the region remained a scene of conflict, with the declining Assyrian Empire facing growing pressure from the rising Babylonian power.
This passage describes a similar scene of divine judgment where vast armies are left as food for birds and beasts, mirroring the imagery of Isaiah 18:6.
Jeremiah 7:33Jeremiah also uses the grim image of the dead being left for birds and beasts to consume, emphasizing the totality of God's judgment on the unfaithful.
1 Samuel 17:46In the battle between David and Goliath, David declares that the fallen Philistines will be given as food to birds and wild animals, highlighting this imagery as a sign of complete defeat and divine judgment.
2 Samuel 21:10This account describes the bodies of Saul's sons being left exposed to birds and wild animals for an extended period, illustrating the consequence of significant sin and God's judgment.
wesleyIsaiah 18:6: "They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them."
18:6 Thy - The branches being cut down and thrown upon the ground, with the unripe grapes upon them. Left - They shall lie upon the earth, so that either birds or beasts may shelter themselves with them, or feed on them, both summer and winter.
barnesIsaiah 18:6: "They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them."
They shall be left together - The figure here is dropped, and the literal narration is resumed. The sense is, that the army shall be slain and left unburied. Perhaps the "branches and twigs" in the previous verse denoted military leaders, and the captains of the armies, which are now represented…
This verse highlights the complete, year-round desecration that awaits those who oppose God, emphasizing that their demise won't be quick but a prolonged feast for scavengers. It paints a grim picture of utter abandonment, where even the wild creatures will find sustenance in the fallen throughout every season.
After a vivid prophecy of judgment and devastation, this verse reveals the gruesome fate of a proud nation's army. The imagery shifts from symbolic branches being cut to the stark reality of unburied corpses left to the scavengers. This serves as the grim conclusion to God's judgment on those who oppose Him and His people, emphasizing the complete and utter ruin that awaits them.
After a vivid prophecy of judgment and devastation, this verse reveals the gruesome fate of a proud nation's army. The imagery shifts from symbolic branches being cut to the stark reality of unburied corpses left to the scavengers. This serves as the grim conclusion to God's judgment on those who oppose Him and His people, emphasizing the complete and utter ruin that awaits them.
"They shall all of them be left to the birds of prey of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth. And the birds of prey will summer on them, and all the beasts of the earth will winter on them." — This verse highlights the complete, year-round desecration that awaits those who oppose God, emphasizing that their demise won't be quick but a prolonged feast for scavengers. It paints a grim pictur…
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Last reviewed October 2026