Breakdown of Isaiah 34:11-14

"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. Its nobles—there is no one there to call it a ki…" — The imagery of the "line of confusion" and "plumb line of emptiness" isn't just about destruction, but about God meticulously measuring out a land for utter ruin. It's as if an architect is using too…

Isaiah 34:11-14 Meaning Explained

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Isaiah 34:11-14

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. Its nobles—there is no one there to call it a kingdom, and all its princes shall be nothing. Thorns shall grow over its strongholds, nettles and thistles in its fortresses. It shall be the haunt of jackals, an abode for ostriches. And wild animals shall meet with hyenas; the wild goat shall cry to his fellow; indeed, there the night bird settles and finds for herself a resting place.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The imagery of the "line of confusion" and "plumb line of emptiness" isn't just about destruction, but about God meticulously measuring out a land for utter ruin. It's as if an architect is using tools to deconstruct, reducing the land to the very chaos, the "without form and void," from which creation itself first emerged.

What Isaiah 34:11-14 means

Isaiah is delivering a powerful judgment against Edom, a nation that consistently opposed God's people. This chapter vividly describes a complete desolation of their land, using imagery that echoes prophecies against other wicked nations like Babylon. The text foretells a future where Edom will be so utterly ruined that only wild, desolate creatures will inhabit its ruins, marked by divine judgment with a "line of confusion."

The Unwanted Inhabitants of Desolation

What kind of creatures would take over a once-thriving land? This verse paints a stark picture of emptiness, populated not by people, but by nature's castoffs.

Isaiah vividly describes the desolation of Edom by naming specific birds and animals that will inhabit the land. These aren't just any creatures; they are often considered unclean in the Law and are known to dwell in ruins and desolate places.

Birds of ill omen: The 'cormorant' (likely a pelican or similar water-bird) and the 'bittern' (possibly a hedgehog or porcupine) are mentioned, alongside the 'owl' and the 'raven'. These are birds that shun populated areas and are associated with decay and emptiness.
A land abandoned by man: The presence of these creatures signifies a complete removal of human life. The land is no longer a home for people but has been surrendered to the wild, a testament to its utter ruin.

Measuring Out Divine Destruction

How does God ensure a land is utterly destroyed? It's not random; it's a precise, deliberate act, like an architect's demolition.

The phrase 'He shall stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness' is a powerful metaphor for God's judgment. It draws on the familiar imagery of builders using tools to measure and construct.

Tools of destruction, not building: Instead of measuring for a new city, these tools are used to mark out complete demolition. The 'line' and 'plumb line' (or 'stones'/'plummet') signify a systematic and thorough destruction.
The measure of chaos: The 'confusion' and 'emptiness' speak to the ultimate outcome – a return to a state of disorder and void, like the primordial chaos before creation. God's judgment will leave nothing intact or functional, reducing the land to utter nothingness.

Understand the original words

Original language

confusionתֹהוּ

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.

emptinessבֹהוּ

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.

noblesחֹרֵיהָ

choriym · Hebrew Noun

Refers to an elite class of people, leaders, or those of high social or political rank within a nation or society.

princesשָׂרֶיהָ

sarim · Hebrew Noun

In a political or military context, these are leaders, rulers, or heads of tribes/clans who hold authority over a people.

Historical context

Written: Likely mid-to-late 8th century BC, during the reign of Hezekiah.
Author: Isaiah, traditionally understood as the prophet of that name who served in the Kingdom of Judah.
Location: Written from Judah, prophesying concerning Edom.
Genre: Prophetic poetry, featuring vivid imagery and metaphors of desolation to convey judgment.

Historical background

The prophecy against Edom echoes the severe judgments already executed or about to be executed upon Israel and Judah by empires like Assyria and Babylon. The imagery of desolate creatures and the measuring line emphasizes that Edom's destruction will be absolute and divinely orchestrated, just as other nations have experienced.

c. 840 BC
Omri and Ahab rule Israel
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, a powerful neighboring state, exerts significant influence. The text later references Israel's destruction, suggesting a comparison or consequence related to this power.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian conquest of Israel
The Assyrian Empire destroys the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people. This event serves as a backdrop for prophetic warnings about judgment and desolation.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian Empire under Sennacherib attempts to conquer Judah, though Jerusalem ultimately withstands the siege. This highlights the ever-present threat of foreign invasion and divine judgment.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian deportation
The Neo-Babylonian Empire begins deporting citizens from Judah, starting with the elite. This marks the initial phase of Judah's exile and foreshadows further destruction.

Key themes

01Divine judgment measure
02Utter desolation declared
03Wilderness reclaiming land
04Inhabitants replaced by creatures

Cross-references

Isaiah 13:20

This passage uses very similar imagery of desolation, with wild animals taking over, to describe the destruction of Babylon, highlighting a recurring prophetic theme of divine judgment leading to utter ruin.

Jeremiah 4:23

This verse explicitly echoes the 'confusion' and 'emptiness' mentioned in Isaiah 34:11, directly linking the prophecy to the state of the primeval chaos, emphasizing the complete undoing of what was once ordered.

Ezekiel 25:13

This passage speaks of God's judgment upon Edom, mirroring the prophecy in Isaiah 34 by stating that He will bring His hand against them and make it a desolation, aligning with the 'plumb line of emptiness'.

Lamentations 2:8

This verse describes Jerusalem's destruction using the metaphor of a measuring line, directly parallel to the 'line of confusion' in Isaiah 34:11, showing how God uses precise judgment to bring about ruin.

Scholarly commentary

Isaiah 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 -…
clarke

Isaiah 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…
barnes

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What Isaiah 34:11-14 means

Original language

confusionתֹהוּ

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.

emptinessבֹהוּ

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.

noblesחֹרֵיהָ

choriym · Hebrew Noun

Refers to an elite class of people, leaders, or those of high social or political rank within a nation or society.

princesשָׂרֶיהָ

sarim · Hebrew Noun

In a political or military context, these are leaders, rulers, or heads of tribes/clans who hold authority over a people.

Historical context

Written: Likely mid-to-late 8th century BC, during the reign of Hezekiah.
Author: Isaiah, traditionally understood as the prophet of that name who served in the Kingdom of Judah.
Location: Written from Judah, prophesying concerning Edom.
Genre: Prophetic poetry, featuring vivid imagery and metaphors of desolation to convey judgment.

Historical background

c. 840 BC

Omri and Ahab rule Israel

The Northern Kingdom of Israel, a powerful neighboring state, exerts significant influence. The text later references Israel's destruction, suggesting a comparison or consequence related to this power.

c. 722 BC

Assyrian conquest of Israel

The Assyrian Empire destroys the Northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people. This event serves as a backdrop for prophetic warnings about judgment and desolation.

c. 701 BC

Assyrian siege of Jerusalem

The Assyrian Empire under Sennacherib attempts to conquer Judah, though Jerusalem ultimately withstands the siege. This highlights the ever-present threat of foreign invasion and divine judgment.

c. 605 BC

First Babylonian deportation

The Neo-Babylonian Empire begins deporting citizens from Judah, starting with the elite. This marks the initial phase of Judah's exile and foreshadows further destruction.