Isaiah 24 22

Isaiah 24:22 kjv

And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited.

Isaiah 24:22 nkjv

They will be gathered together, As prisoners are gathered in the pit, And will be shut up in the prison; After many days they will be punished.

Isaiah 24:22 niv

They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days.

Isaiah 24:22 esv

They will be gathered together as prisoners in a pit; they will be shut up in a prison, and after many days they will be punished.

Isaiah 24:22 nlt

They will be rounded up and put in prison.
They will be shut up in prison
and will finally be punished.

Isaiah 24 verses

Isaiah 24 22 meaning

Isaiah 24:22 prophesies a solemn act of divine judgment against both spiritual "hosts of the height" and human "kings of the earth" (referencing v.21). It declares their inevitable collection, confinement in a metaphorical "pit" and "prison," akin to a dungeon, signifying a state of profound condemnation and incapacitation. Following this period of confinement, described as "after many days," they will face a divine "visitation," which in this context means a reckoning, punishment, or a final judgment, ensuring that no power, seen or unseen, escapes God's ultimate justice.

Isaiah 24 22 Context

Isaiah chapter 24 is often called the "Little Apocalypse" due to its sweeping prophecy of global judgment, mirroring themes found in more extensive apocalyptic literature. This chapter describes a coming desolation that will encompass the whole earth, laying it waste as a direct consequence of humanity's sin, lawbreaking, and disregard for God's covenant. Verses 1-20 depict the earth mourning, cities falling into ruin, and joy ceasing, all under the direct hand of God. Immediately preceding verse 22, verse 21 specifically targets the "host of heaven on high" (likely cosmic, spiritual powers) and the "kings of the earth" (earthly rulers) for punishment. Thus, verse 22 outlines the specific fate of these two categories of power—their incarceration and ultimate judgment—before the triumphant reign of the Lord on Mount Zion described in verse 23. This vision assures Judah, likely facing oppression, of God's ultimate sovereignty and justice over all authorities.

Isaiah 24 22 Word analysis

• And they shall be gathered together (וְאֻסְּפוּ - v'-'us-s'-fu, from אָסַף - asaf): This passive voice highlights divine agency; God is the one doing the gathering. It implies a forced collection for a specific purpose—judgment—rather than a willing assembly. The term denotes being swept up or removed.
• as prisoners (אֲסִירִים - a-si-rim, plural of אָסִיר - asir): These are individuals held in bondage, under constraint, emphasizing their subjugated state and lack of freedom, signaling their utter powerlessness before God.
• in the pit (עַל בּוֹר - al bor): The Hebrew bor often refers to a cistern, well, or dungeon. It signifies a dark, deep, often waterless cavity, representing a place of extreme distress, confinement, or impending death, where one is held captive and removed from the world.
• and shall be shut up (וְסֻגְּרוּ - v'-sug-g'-ru, from סָגַר - sagar): Another passive verb, showing God's direct action. It implies a complete and secure enclosure, ensuring no escape, cementing their imprisonment.
• in the prison (בַּמַּסְגֵּר - ba-mas-ger, from מִסְגָּר - misgar): This noun specifies a literal place of confinement, custody, or enclosure, reinforcing the idea of secure, controlled imprisonment.
• and after many days (וּמֵרֹב יָמִים - u-me-rov ya-mim): This phrase indicates a significant, prolonged period of time, not an immediate event. It suggests an interim state of waiting or suspended judgment, prior to the final reckoning. This temporal element is crucial for understanding the verse's eschatological scope.
• shall they be visited (יִפָּקְדוּ - yik-qa'-dû, from פָּקַד - paqad): The Hebrew verb paqad is multifaceted, meaning to visit, attend, appoint, muster, or punish. In this context, following an act of confinement, it unequivocally refers to a visitation for the purpose of rendering judgment, accountability, and punishment. It’s a divine audit, an ultimate reckoning.

• Gathered...shut up in the prison: This pairing emphasizes an inescapable double layer of divine confinement. First, they are rounded up like criminals; then, they are securely locked away, symbolizing their complete loss of power and freedom.
• In the pit...in the prison: The parallelism of "pit" and "prison" reinforces the grim reality of their fate. Both terms evoke imagery of dark, isolated, and oppressive confinement. "Pit" often carries connotations of the grave or a deathly dungeon, deepening the sense of condemnation.
• After many days shall they be visited: This phrase points to the eschatological nature of this prophecy. It suggests an intermediate period of holding, analogous to the binding of Satan in the abyss before the final judgment (Rev 20). The "visitation" marks the final act of God's justice, not their release.

Isaiah 24 22 Bonus section

The concept of "many days" between initial confinement and final judgment in Isaiah 24:22 aligns with a broader biblical understanding of God's patience and the timing of eschatological events. It provides a theological framework for the delay of ultimate judgment, allowing for an interim period where other aspects of God's plan unfold. This interim period is seen elsewhere in scripture, such as the millennial reign described in Revelation 20, where Satan is bound before his final release and subsequent eternal judgment. This temporal gap ensures that every entity, seen or unseen, receives its just and complete due according to God's perfect timing, reinforcing His ultimate control over all history and eternity.

Isaiah 24 22 Commentary

Isaiah 24:22 serves as a pivotal statement of divine justice, elaborating on the fate of the powerful spiritual and earthly entities mentioned in the preceding verse. It details a comprehensive two-stage judgment. First, these rebellious forces are rounded up and utterly confined, removed from their positions of power, held in a metaphorical "pit" and "prison"—places of ultimate degradation and control. This imprisonment signifies a state of total incapacitation by God. Second, a significant period, "many days," is prescribed for this confinement, after which a decisive divine "visitation" occurs. This visitation is not for relief or liberation, but for final accounting and the administration of righteous punishment, confirming God's absolute sovereignty over all powers that oppose Him. This promise of ultimate justice assures the faithful that though evil may seemingly prevail for a time, God's final reckoning is inevitable and just.