While "earth" can mean "land," the prophet deliberately uses "earth" here, pointing to a judgment that will impact the entire globe, not just the nation of Israel. This upheaval is so profound that it's likened to cleaning out a dirty dish, signifying a complete reversal and scattering of everything.
Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, 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 creditor, so with the debtor. The earth shall be utterly empty and utterly plundered; for the LORD has spoken this word.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter opens a new section in Isaiah's prophecy, shifting from specific nations to a sweeping vision of universal judgment and eventual restoration. It announces God's radical emptying and overturning of the entire earth due to humanity's deep-seated rebellion. This profound upheaval is not just a historical event but a prelude to a future where God's reign will be fully established.
Imagine a potter's wheel spinning wildly, the clay flying off. That's the imagery here, but instead of clay, it's the very earth and its people.
This verse uses powerful, almost violent imagery to describe God's judgment. The Hebrew words paint a picture of complete devastation:
While some scholars see this as primarily referring to the land of Israel, many point to the language here as being universal, describing a judgment that affects the entire world. It’s a stark reminder that God’s justice can bring about total upheaval.
Who is in control when the world seems to be falling apart? Isaiah points to One whose hand is firmly on the tiller.
The most crucial aspect of this verse is the identification of the actor: 'the LORD.' This isn't a random cosmic event or the result of human chaos alone.
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Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Noun
The personal name of the one true God, the I AM, who is self-existent, eternal, and the covenant-keeping God of Israel.
erets · Hebrew Noun
The physical globe, or more specifically, the land (often of Israel), created by God, which bears the consequences of human sin but remains under God's sovereignty.
baqaq · Hebrew Verb
To cause something to become empty, waste, or devoid of its inhabitants and contents, often as a result of divine judgment.
boqah · Hebrew Noun
A state of barrenness, ruin, or wasteland, often resulting from divine judgment upon a land or people due to rebellion.
This prophecy likely arose during a time of intense geopolitical upheaval in the ancient Near East, particularly the looming threat and eventual devastating reality of Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. The imagery of a 'turned upside down' and 'scattered' earth reflects the profound sense of insecurity and the experience of exile felt by the people of Judah.
c. 730 BC
Assyrian Expansion under Tiglath-Pileser III
The powerful Assyrian Empire, under Tiglath-Pileser III, exerts increasing pressure on the surrounding regions, including Israel and Judah. This expansion leads to deportations and political instability in the Levant.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Destruction of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire, under Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II, conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital Samaria and exiling its population. This event profoundly impacts the consciousness of Judah.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion under Sennacherib
Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, capturing many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. Though Jerusalem is not captured, the land suffers devastation and heavy tribute is imposed.
c. 605 BC - 586 BC
Babylonian Captivity
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers Judah in stages, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC and the deportation of a large portion of the population to Babylon.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, paving the way for the return of Jewish exiles to their homeland and the rebuilding of the Temple.
This passage paints a vivid picture of the earth laid waste, a direct parallel to Isaiah's description of desolation and scattering, emphasizing God's judgment.
Ezekiel 38:19-20This verse describes a violent upheaval of the earth, mirroring Isaiah's 'twist its surface' and highlighting God's powerful, world-altering judgment.
Zephaniah 1:2-3Similar to Isaiah, Zephaniah declares a complete blotting out of all things from the earth, emphasizing the totality of God's judgment and the removal of inhabitants.
Revelation 6:12-14This New Testament passage describes cosmic upheaval and the scattering of people during a time of judgment, echoing the comprehensive destruction and dispersal seen in Isaiah 24:1.
bensonIsaiah 24:1: "Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof."
Isaiah 24:1 . Behold, &c. — According to Vitringa, the third book of Isaiah’s prophecies begins with this chapter, and extends to the thirty-sixth, being divided into three discourses; the first comprehending four chapters, the second six, and the third two. The general subject of the book is the penal judgments denounced by God upon the disobed…
cambridgeIsaiah 24:1: "Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof."
1 . Behold, the Lord maketh … waste ] The construction in Heb. is the fut. instans ,—“is about to empty.” The metaphor of the verse (cf. Nahum 2:10 ) is exceedingly expressive, the words being “those which were used for cleaning a dirty dish” (G. A. Smith). Cf. 2 Kings 21:13 . The language exhibits the fondness for assonance which is a marked pe…
While "earth" can mean "land," the prophet deliberately uses "earth" here, pointing to a judgment that will impact the entire globe, not just the nation of Israel. This upheaval is so profound that it's likened to cleaning out a dirty dish, signifying a complete reversal and scattering of everything.
This chapter opens a new section in Isaiah's prophecy, shifting from specific nations to a sweeping vision of universal judgment and eventual restoration. It announces God's radical emptying and overturning of the entire earth due to humanity's deep-seated rebellion. This profound upheaval is not just a historical event but a prelude to a future where God's reign will be fully established.
This chapter opens a new section in Isaiah's prophecy, shifting from specific nations to a sweeping vision of universal judgment and eventual restoration. It announces God's radical emptying and overturning of the entire earth due to humanity's deep-seated rebellion. This profound upheaval is not just a historical event but a prelude to a future where God's reign will be fully established.
"Behold, the LORD will empty the earth and make it desolate, and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants. And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the slave, so with his master;…" — While "earth" can mean "land," the prophet deliberately uses "earth" here, pointing to a judgment that will impact the entire globe, not just the nation of Israel. This upheaval is so profound that i…
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Last reviewed October 2026
