Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text uses "burned" not to describe consumption by literal fire, but to vividly portray the devastating, withering effect of God's wrath. This "burning" signifies a consuming spiritual and physical desolation that scorches the land and its people, leading to their drastic reduction.
Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is describing a sweeping judgment that will fall upon the entire earth due to widespread sin. This follows his pronouncements against various nations and sets the stage for a lament over the devastation and desolation that sin brings. The passage emphasizes that this curse isn't random; it's a direct consequence of humanity's rebellion and the breaking of God's covenant.
What does it mean for a curse to 'devour' the earth? This isn't just bad luck; it's a powerful picture of widespread destruction and divine judgment.
The Devouring Curse
The verse opens with a stark pronouncement: "Therefore a curse devours the earth." This isn't a minor inconvenience but a comprehensive, consuming force. The Hebrew word for 'devour' implies eating up, consuming, or laying waste. It paints a picture of utter ruin. This curse isn't random; it's directly linked to sin and guilt.
Why a Curse?
The land is 'scorched,' and 'few men are left.' What does this intense imagery reveal about the consequences of guilt and God's judgment?
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The Bitter Harvest of Guilt
The second half of the verse intensifies the imagery: "therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left." This isn't just about physical destruction but a deep sense of being consumed and depleted.
Scorched Earth
The word for 'scorched' or 'burned' (in the original Hebrew) doesn't necessarily mean literal fire. Scholars suggest it can also mean being parched, shriveled up, or consumed by intense heat – like a land dried up and unable to produce. This signifies:
The Remnant
The phrase "few men are left" is crucial. It indicates that the judgment is severe, leading to widespread death and depopulation. However, it also carries a glimmer of hope often found in prophetic literature:
Understand the original words
alah · Hebrew Noun
A formal pronouncement of judgment or doom, often resulting from disobedience to God's covenantal law. It represents the active manifestation of God's holy wrath against sin.
asham · Hebrew Noun
A state of accountability for wrongdoing or a legal liability before God. It denotes the objective reality of having sinned and the subsequent burden of moral failure that requires atonement.
erets · Hebrew Noun
The basic Hebrew term for the world or a specific territory. In prophetic literature, it often refers to the sphere of human activity that has fallen under judgment due to rebellion against the Creator.
This passage speaks to a severe curse befalling the land and its people due to profound disobedience and rebellion against God's covenant, echoing the devastation experienced during the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Ministry Begins
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry during a time of prosperity in Judah but also amidst growing Assyrian dominance in the region.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
Northern kingdoms of Israel and Syria-Ephraim attack Judah, but Isaiah advises King Ahaz to trust in the Lord, not in Assyria, which leads to Judah's survival but increasing reliance on foreign powers.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its people and serving as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event is a major crisis during Isaiah's ministry, with the city ultimately being spared by divine intervention.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under King Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon begins its rise, deporting some of Judah's elite to Babylon, marking the initial stage of the Babylonian exile.
c. 587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport a larger portion of the population, effectively ending the Davidic kingdom.
This passage directly links disobedience and covenant-breaking to curses that bring devastation, desolation, and destruction upon the land and its inhabitants, mirroring Isaiah's theme.
Jeremiah 25:15-17Jeremiah also speaks of a 'cup of wrath' that will cause nations to be 'drunk,' leading to devastation and ruin, reflecting the 'devouring curse' and 'burning' described in Isaiah.
Zechariah 5:3-4This passage describes a flying scroll that brings a curse upon thieves and liars, emphasizing that divine judgment and curses will consume wickedness and its perpetrators, echoing Isaiah's declaration.
Revelation 18:2-8The fall of Babylon in Revelation is depicted as a divine judgment where fire and destruction consume the city and its inhabitants for their sins, illustrating the 'burning' and 'devouring' consequences of guilt on a grand scale.
barnesIsaiah 24:6: "Therefore 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."
Therefore hath the curse devoured - Eaten it up; a figurative expression that is common in the Scriptures, denoting that the desolation is widespread and ruinous. Are burned - (חרוּ chârû). Instead of this reading, Lowth proposes to read: חרבוּ chârebû 'Are destroyed.' The Septuagint reads it, 'Therefore the inhabitants…
cambridgeIsaiah 24:6: "Therefore 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."
6 . hath the (or a ) curse devoured the earth ] Cf. Zechariah 5:3 . are desolate ] Render with R.V., are found guilty . the inhabitants of the earth are burned ] or burn under the curse, which is the expression of the Divine wrath. The verb ( ḥârar ) means “to glow” ( Ezekiel 24:11 ) or “be parched” ( Job 30:30 ), not “be burn…
The text uses "burned" not to describe consumption by literal fire, but to vividly portray the devastating, withering effect of God's wrath. This "burning" signifies a consuming spiritual and physical desolation that scorches the land and its people, leading to their drastic reduction.
The prophet Isaiah is describing a sweeping judgment that will fall upon the entire earth due to widespread sin. This follows his pronouncements against various nations and sets the stage for a lament over the devastation and desolation that sin brings. The passage emphasizes that this curse isn't random; it's a direct consequence of humanity's rebellion and the breaking of God's covenant.
The prophet Isaiah is describing a sweeping judgment that will fall upon the entire earth due to widespread sin. This follows his pronouncements against various nations and sets the stage for a lament over the devastation and desolation that sin brings. The passage emphasizes that this curse isn't random; it's a direct consequence of humanity's rebellion and the breaking of God's covenant.
"Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are left." — The text uses "burned" not to describe consumption by literal fire, but to vividly portray the devastating, withering effect of God's wrath. This "burning" signifies a consuming spiritual and physica…
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Last reviewed October 2026