But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The imagery of the "line of confusion" and "plumb line of emptiness" points back to the very beginning of creation, mirroring the state of the earth before God brought order. This suggests Edom's utter ruin will be a reversal of creation itself, returning it to a primordial, unformed void.
But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage describes the utter devastation of Edom, following God's judgment against its arrogance and cruelty toward His people. Isaiah paints a picture of a land so ruined that it will be inhabited only by wild, desolate creatures, not people. This complete ruin is then described using the imagery of builders' tools, but instead of constructing something, they are measuring out destruction and emptiness.
Imagine stepping into a once-thriving city, but instead of people, you find... what? This verse paints a stark picture of total ruin.
Nature's Unwanted Residents
Isaiah uses a powerful image to describe the complete desolation of Edom. He names specific birds and creatures: the 'cormorant' (often translated as pelican or a water-fowl), the 'bittern' (perhaps a porcupine or hedgehog), the 'owl,' and the 'raven.'
What do builders' tools have to do with God's judgment? This verse uses an unexpected metaphor to reveal the thoroughness of divine justice.
The Architect of Ruin
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The second half of the verse shifts from describing the inhabitants to describing the method of destruction. God declares He 'shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness.'
Understand the original words
tohu · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term often translated as 'tohu,' referring to a state of formlessness, wasteland, or utter chaos, frequently associated with the pre-creation state or divine judgment.
bohu · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term often paired with 'tohu,' referring to emptiness, nothingness, or a vacuum, used to describe the result of divine judgment on nations or the earth.
The prophecy against Edom in Isaiah 34 vividly describes its utter desolation, with only wild animals inhabiting the ruins. This imagery underscores God's judgment on those who opposed His people, painting a stark picture of a land reduced to 'confusion and emptiness' – a chaotic, uninhabitable waste.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Ministry Begins
Isaiah prophesies during a time of significant geopolitical shifts in the ancient Near East, including the rise of the Assyrian Empire.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many cities but failing to take Jerusalem. This event would have instilled a deep sense of impending judgment and the need for repentance.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under King Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon begins its ascent, leading to the first wave of Judean exiles, including Daniel. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II conquer Jerusalem, destroy Solomon's Temple, and deport a significant portion of the remaining population. This is a catastrophic event for the people of Judah.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon. This event is often seen as a turning point, leading to the eventual return of the exiles.
Post-Exilic Period— this verse
Edom's Decline and Dispersal
Following the Babylonian exile, the territory of Edom, a long-standing enemy of Judah, becomes increasingly depopulated and eventually occupied by other groups, like the Nabateans. This historical reality provides the backdrop for Isaiah's prophecy of Edom's utter desolation.
This passage uses very similar imagery of desolate birds inhabiting ruined places, emphasizing God's judgment on nations.
Isaiah 13:20-22This prophecy against Babylon also describes a land given over to wild animals and desolation, highlighting the complete destruction that comes from God's judgment.
Jeremiah 4:23This verse parallels Isaiah's description by calling the land 'without form and void' (tohu va'vohu), directly linking the desolation to the state of primordial chaos.
2 Kings 21:13This passage shows God using the 'line of confusion' and 'plummet of emptiness' as a metaphor for righteous judgment and destruction, mirroring the measuring tools used here for devastation.
Revelation 18:2This New Testament passage describes a fallen great city becoming 'a dwelling place for demons, and a haunt for every unclean spirit,' echoing the idea of a place abandoned by humanity and given over to ruinous inhabitants.
clarkeIsaiah 34:11: "But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness."
The cormorant - קאת kaath, the pelican, from the root קיא ki, to vomit, because it is said she swallows shell-fish, and when the heat of her stomach has killed the fish, she vomits the shells, takes out the dead fish, and eats them. The bittern - קפד kippod, the hedge-hog, or porcupine. The owl -…
barnesIsaiah 34:11: "But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness."
But the cormorant - This and the following verses contain a description of the desolations of Edom in language remarkably similar to that employed in the account of the destruction of Babylon Isaiah 13:20-22 ; Isaiah 14:23 . The word here translated 'cormorant' (קאת qâ'ath), occurs in this place a…
The imagery of the "line of confusion" and "plumb line of emptiness" points back to the very beginning of creation, mirroring the state of the earth before God brought order. This suggests Edom's utter ruin will be a reversal of creation itself, returning it to a primordial, unformed void.
This passage describes the utter devastation of Edom, following God's judgment against its arrogance and cruelty toward His people. Isaiah paints a picture of a land so ruined that it will be inhabited only by wild, desolate creatures, not people. This complete ruin is then described using the imagery of builders' tools, but instead of constructing something, they are measuring out destruction and emptiness.
This passage describes the utter devastation of Edom, following God's judgment against its arrogance and cruelty toward His people. Isaiah paints a picture of a land so ruined that it will be inhabited only by wild, desolate creatures, not people. This complete ruin is then described using the imagery of builders' tools, but instead of constructing something, they are measuring out destruction and emptiness.
"But the hawk and the porcupine shall possess it, the owl and the raven shall dwell in it. He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness." — The imagery of the "line of confusion" and "plumb line of emptiness" points back to the very beginning of creation, mirroring the state of the earth before God brought order. This suggests Edom's u…
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Last reviewed October 2026