Isaiah 24 15

Isaiah 24:15 kjv

Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea.

Isaiah 24:15 nkjv

Therefore glorify the LORD in the dawning light, The name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.

Isaiah 24:15 niv

Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea.

Isaiah 24:15 esv

Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; in the coastlands of the sea, give glory to the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

Isaiah 24:15 nlt

In eastern lands, give glory to the LORD.
In the lands beyond the sea, praise the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.

Isaiah 24 verses

Isaiah 24 15 meaning

Isaiah 24:15 serves as a profound call for universal worship. Despite the overwhelming judgment and desolation described throughout the preceding verses of Isaiah 24, this verse declares that a faithful remnant, dispersed across the earth, will lift up praises to the Lord. It signifies that from the remotest regions – from where the sun rises in the "east" to the distant "coastlands of the sea" – the majesty and holiness of the Lord God of Israel will be acknowledged and glorified by those who witness or experience His righteous judgments and ultimate salvation. This is not merely a descriptive prophecy but also a command, envisioning a future where God's unique name and character are venerated across all nations, setting Him apart from all false gods.

Isaiah 24 15 Context

Isaiah 24, often called the "Little Apocalypse," is part of a larger section (chapters 24-27) describing a global judgment and ultimate salvation. The preceding verses (Is 24:1-14) graphically detail the earth's devastation due to humanity's widespread transgression, law-breaking, and covenant violation. The earth is empty, waste, cursed, mourning, and desolate, its inhabitants few and scattered. Within this scene of cosmic unraveling and deep sorrow, verses 14-16 introduce a stark contrast: amidst the global wailing and scarcity, there arises a cry of praise to the Lord from the very ends of the earth. This sudden eruption of glory indicates that even in dire judgment, a remnant acknowledges God's sovereignty. Historically, it can be seen as a future prophetic vision, surpassing the judgments on contemporary nations, envisioning a climactic end-times judgment, from which true worship will ultimately emerge triumphant, spanning geographical and cultural boundaries.

Isaiah 24 15 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lākēn):
  • Meaning: "On account of this," "thus," "consequently."
  • Significance: This conjunction connects the call to glorify God directly to the preceding descriptions of judgment and desolation. It suggests that because of what God is doing (judging the earth) or despite it, His glory will be proclaimed. It marks a turn from despair to worship.
• glorify (כַּבְּדוּ - kabbĕdū):
  • Meaning: The imperative plural form of the verb kābad (כָּבַד), meaning "to be heavy," "to honor," "to make weighty," "to ascribe glory/importance to."
  • Significance: It is a direct command. It implies giving God the ultimate weight and worth He deserves, acknowledging His sovereignty and majesty in a world prone to idolizing other things. This isn't merely recognition but an act of worship and high esteem.
• the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH):
  • Meaning: The unique, personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. Often rendered as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah."
  • Significance: Distinguishes the true God from all other gods. It emphasizes God's self-existence, faithfulness, and His relationship with His people. The glory is specifically due to YHWH, not a generic deity.
• in the east (בָּאֻרִים - bāʾurim):
  • Meaning: From ʾōr (אוֹר), meaning "light," usually with a preposition indicating location. Literally, "in the lights" or "in the regions of light/dawn." Geographically, the east is where the sun rises and light first appears.
  • Significance:
    • Geographical: Refers to the regions where the sun dawns, generally seen as the Eastern world from Israel's perspective, representing a specific point of origin for global praise.
    • Symbolic: Can symbolize a new dawning, a place of enlightenment or fresh revelation.
    • Contextual: Juxtaposed with "coastlands," it suggests a sweeping universal reach of praise from one end of the known world to the other.
• the name (שֵׁם - šēm):
  • Meaning: Represents more than a label; it embodies God's character, reputation, authority, and presence.
  • Significance: To glorify "the name of the Lord" is to praise and uphold all that God is – His attributes, His deeds, His very being. It is an expression of worship directed at His revealed essence.
• of the Lord God of Israel (יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - YHWH Elohei Yiśraʾēl):
  • Meaning: A compound divine title: YHWH (the personal name), Elohei (God of), Yiśraʾēl (Israel).
  • Significance: Reaffirms the specific identity of the God being praised. He is not a generic god but the God who made a covenant with Israel, who chose them, and through whom He reveals Himself to the world. This doesn't limit the praise but identifies the unique object of worship for all nations.
• in the coastlands of the sea (בְּאִיֵּי הַיָּם - bəʾiyyê hayyām):
  • Meaning: "In the islands of the sea" or "the maritime lands/coastlands." Refers to distant lands accessible by sea, often associated with Gentile nations to the west, north, or south of Israel.
  • Significance: Represents the uttermost parts of the earth, geographically contrasting with "the east." This emphasizes the global scope of God's praise, including all distant peoples and non-Israelites (Gentiles), thereby anticipating the spread of God's glory far beyond the immediate land of Israel.

Words-group analysis:

• "Therefore glorify the Lord...": This opening establishes a theological paradox: in the face of judgment, the appropriate response for the faithful is worship. It is a divine command that reflects God's ultimate victory and justice, which inspires praise even from a remnant undergoing tribulation.
• "...in the east, the name of the Lord God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.": This phrase creates a literary and geographical sweep. "In the east" (where light dawns, often associated with a beginning or new revelation, or specific eastern nations) paired with "the coastlands of the sea" (distant, often Gentile lands) powerfully depicts universal worship. It suggests that from every corner of the earth, from sunrise to sunset, the specific and unique God of Israel will receive adoration, encompassing all nations and cultures. It highlights the universality of God's redemptive plan and sovereign reach.

Isaiah 24 15 Bonus section

The Hebrew word בָּאֻרִים (bāʾurim) for "in the east" (literally "in the lights") has been subject to various interpretations by scholars. While often taken as a geographical reference to the direction of sunrise (east), some rabbinic traditions and ancient versions (like the Septuagint) translated it as "in the doctrines" or "in the interpretations/traditions," implying a glory given through the teaching or the Law. Another less common view suggests "in the fires," linking it to a glorious display amidst judgment (like a shining fire). However, in context with "coastlands of the sea," the geographical interpretation "east" makes the most sense to create a complete global picture (east to west, near to far), indicating that the worship comes from the entire world, acknowledging God's reach and ultimate dominion. This universal scope anticipates the New Testament's proclamation of the Gospel to all nations, gathering worshipers from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

Isaiah 24 15 Commentary

Isaiah 24:15 is a prophetic command embedded within a dramatic vision of cosmic judgment. It defies the expected outcome of desolation – total despair – by declaring that even from the ravaged ends of the earth, praise will erupt for YHWH Elohei Yiśraʾēl. This is not the worship of a localized deity but of the one true God, whose sovereignty and unique name will be acknowledged from the eastern horizons to the farthest maritime nations. This points to a resilient remnant whose faith endures and who understand God's judgments not as arbitrary destruction but as an expression of His justice that ultimately leads to His vindication and global glory. The call is therefore polemic against any alternative deity worshipped in those "coastlands," affirming the exclusive worth of the God of Israel. It foretells a time when all humanity, from diverse backgrounds and geographical locations, will participate in glorifying the King of the universe, whose rule extends far beyond a chosen people, eventually embracing all.