Isaiah 24:21-23
New English Translation
The Lord Will Become King
21 At that time[a] the Lord will punish[b]
the heavenly forces in the heavens[c]
and the earthly kings on the earth.
22 They will be imprisoned in a pit,[d]
locked up in a prison,
and after staying there for a long time,[e] they will be punished.[f]
23 The full moon will be covered up,[g]
the bright sun[h] will be darkened;[i]
for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule[j]
on Mount Zion in Jerusalem
in the presence of his assembly, in majestic splendor.[k]
Footnotes
- Isaiah 24:21 tn Or “in that day” (so KJV). The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.
- Isaiah 24:21 tn Heb “visit [in judgment].”
- Isaiah 24:21 tn Heb “the host of the height in the height.” The “host of the height/heaven” refers to the heavenly luminaries (stars and planets; see, among others, Deut 4:19; 17:3; 2 Kgs 17:16; 21:3, 5; 23:4-5; 2 Chr 33:3, 5) that populate the divine/heavenly assembly in mythological and prescientific Israelite thought (see Job 38:7; Isa 14:13).
- Isaiah 24:22 tn Heb “they will be gathered [in] a gathering [as] a prisoner in a cistern.” It is tempting to eliminate אֲסֵפָה (ʾasefah, “a gathering”) as dittographic or as a gloss, but sound repetition is one of the main characteristics of the style of this section of the chapter.
- Isaiah 24:22 tn Heb “and after a multitude of days.”
- Isaiah 24:22 tn Heb “visited” (so KJV, ASV). This verse can mean to visit for good or for evil. The translation assumes the latter, based on v. 21a. However, BDB 823 s.v. פָּקַד B.Niph.2 suggests the meaning “visit graciously” here, in which case one might translate “they will be released.”
- Isaiah 24:23 tn Heb “will be ashamed.”
- Isaiah 24:23 tn Or “glow of the sun.”
- Isaiah 24:23 tn Heb “will be ashamed” (so NCV).
- Isaiah 24:23 tn Or “take his throne,” “become king.”
- Isaiah 24:23 tn Heb “and before his elders [in] splendor.”
Isaiah 24:21-23
New International Version
21 In that day(A) the Lord will punish(B)
the powers(C) in the heavens above
and the kings(D) on the earth below.
22 They will be herded together
like prisoners(E) bound in a dungeon;(F)
they will be shut up in prison
and be punished[a] after many days.(G)
23 The moon will be dismayed,
the sun(H) ashamed;
for the Lord Almighty will reign(I)
on Mount Zion(J) and in Jerusalem,
and before its elders—with great glory.(K)
Footnotes
- Isaiah 24:22 Or released
Isaiah 24:21-23
English Standard Version
21 On that day the Lord will punish
the host of heaven, in heaven,
and (A)the kings of the earth, on the earth.
22 (B)They will be gathered together
as prisoners in a pit;
they will be shut up in a prison,
and after many days (C)they will be punished.
23 (D)Then the moon will be confounded
and the sun ashamed,
for (E)the Lord of hosts reigns
on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,
and his glory will be before his elders.
Isaiah 24:21-23
New King James Version
21 It shall come to pass in that day
That the Lord will punish on high the host of exalted ones,
And on the earth (A)the kings of the earth.
22 They will be gathered together,
As prisoners are gathered in the [a]pit,
And will be shut up in the prison;
After many days they will be punished.
23 Then the (B)moon will be disgraced
And the sun ashamed;
For the Lord of hosts will (C)reign
On (D)Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
And before His elders, gloriously.
Footnotes
- Isaiah 24:22 dungeon
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