Isaiah 24:6
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)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just say people are destroyed; it emphasizes they are "scorched" or "burned" by the curse. This isn't just physical death, but a withering effect, like a consuming fire, representing the intense, destructive nature of divine wrath and the utter ruin it brings upon those who bear guilt.
The prophet Isaiah has just described a devastating, worldwide judgment that will empty and ruin the earth, affecting all levels of society. This widespread destruction is presented as a direct consequence of humanity's rebellion: they have broken God's laws and shattered the everlasting covenant. The verse that follows will continue to elaborate on the severity of this curse and its devastating effects on the land and its people.
The verse speaks of a 'curse' that 'devours the earth.' What does this mean beyond just bad luck or a simple punishment?
The prophecy in Isaiah 24:6 describes a pervasive and ruinous judgment. The word for 'curse' here refers to a divine pronouncement of doom, often linked to disobedience to God's covenant laws.
The imagery of being 'scorched' and 'few men left' paints a stark picture. What is the nature of this scorching, and why so few survivors?
The verse uses vivid language to describe the intense and destructive nature of God's judgment, leaving a remnant.
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 prophecy speaks to the devastating consequences of sin and rebellion against God, painting a picture of widespread destruction and a remnant left behind, directly reflecting the experience of Judah during the Babylonian invasions and exile.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many of its inhabitants and scattering of the population.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem, causing widespread devastation in the land.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judean elites and skilled workers to Babylon, including figures like Daniel.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a revolt, more Judeans are deported to Babylon, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel.
586 BC— this verse
This passage describes the curses that will befall Israel if they disobey God's commands, directly paralleling the 'curse' mentioned in Isaiah that devours the earth and its inhabitants.
Deuteronomy 28:22This chapter details specific curses, including pestilence and burning, that align with the imagery of destruction and desolation described in Isaiah 24:6.
Zechariah 5:3Zechariah also speaks of a curse that goes out over the land to destroy evil-doers, echoing the theme of divine judgment falling upon the earth and its inhabitants.
Jeremiah 4:23-28Jeremiah's prophecy vividly depicts the land becoming desolate and empty, with few people left, mirroring Isaiah's vision of a scorched earth and a diminished population due to sin.
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 verse doesn't just say people are destroyed; it emphasizes they are "scorched" or "burned" by the curse. This isn't just physical death, but a withering effect, like a consuming fire, representing the intense, destructive nature of divine wrath and the utter ruin it brings upon those who bear guilt.
The prophet Isaiah has just described a devastating, worldwide judgment that will empty and ruin the earth, affecting all levels of society. This widespread destruction is presented as a direct consequence of humanity's rebellion: they have broken God's laws and shattered the everlasting covenant. The verse that follows will continue to elaborate on the severity of this curse and its devastating effects on the land and its people.
The prophet Isaiah has just described a devastating, worldwide judgment that will empty and ruin the earth, affecting all levels of society. This widespread destruction is presented as a direct consequence of humanity's rebellion: they have broken God's laws and shattered the everlasting covenant. The verse that follows will continue to elaborate on the severity of this curse and its devastating effects on the land and its people.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 24:6 is available in the Sola app.
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to the final, massive deportation of the remaining population to Babylon.
c. 540 BC
Isaiah's Prophecies Circulating
Isaiah's prophecies, including those concerning divine judgment and future restoration, are known and influential among the exiles.
"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 verse doesn't just say people are destroyed; it emphasizes they are "scorched" or "burned" by the curse. This isn't just physical death, but a withering effect, like a consuming fire, representin…
