Isaiah 34 10

Isaiah 34:10 kjv

It shall not be quenched night nor day; the smoke thereof shall go up for ever: from generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it for ever and ever.

Isaiah 34:10 nkjv

It shall not be quenched night or day; Its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; No one shall pass through it forever and ever.

Isaiah 34:10 niv

It will not be quenched night or day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again.

Isaiah 34:10 esv

Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever.

Isaiah 34:10 nlt

This judgment on Edom will never end;
the smoke of its burning will rise forever.
The land will lie deserted from generation to generation.
No one will live there anymore.

Isaiah 34 verses

Isaiah 34 10 Meaning

The verse describes a perpetual state of desolation and destruction for the land, with smoke rising forever, signifying unending ruin. No one will pass through it, emphasizing complete abandonment and emptiness.

Isaiah 34 10 Context

Isaiah 34 foretells God's judgment upon the nations, specifically Edom. This chapter describes a comprehensive and fierce retribution, leading to the land's utter desolation and emptiness. The smoke rising signifies a fiery destruction and a permanent mark of God's wrath and justice. The verse in question encapsulates the totality of this devastation, painting a picture of a land rendered uninhabitable and eternally abandoned as a consequence of its actions against God's people.

Isaiah 34 10 Word Analysis

• וְעָלָ֤ה (və‘ālāh): "and it shall go up," "and smoke shall rise."
  • This signifies an ongoing and persistent ascent. In the context of judgment, it's the enduring effect of fiery destruction.
  • The verb "alah" (to go up) is often used for smoke rising from sacrifices (Lev 1:9), but here it indicates destruction, contrasting the sweet savor of acceptable offerings with the acrid smoke of judgment.
• קִיטֹ֤ר (qīṭōr): "smoke."
  • A tangible manifestation of fire and destruction. Its perpetual rising implies that the fire's effects are lasting, even if the burning itself is no longer active.
  • This word also relates to the "cloud of smoke" from a fire (Job 41:20), reinforcing the visual imagery of a suffocating, pervasive haze.
• כֹּֽחַ (kōcha): "its strength," "its power."
  • Can refer to the land's vitality, its inhabitants' power, or its overall productive capacity. The judgment removes this strength.
• מֵהֶם֙ (mehhem): "from them," referring back to the "its" of the previous word.
  • Emphasizes that the strength is completely eradicated from the land or its people.
• וְאֶרֶץ (wə’ereṣ): "and the land."
  • The focus shifts to the geographical entity itself, now stripped of its inherent power.
• קָ֔ח (qāḥ): "shall be taken," "shall be scorched," "shall be held."
  • A critical word. In this context, it implies a complete takeover or desolation, a state of being rendered barren and empty. It suggests the land will be held captive by its desolation.
  • Some translations use "scorched" or "burnt," which fits the imagery of perpetual smoke. The root can also mean "to take hold of" or "to be taken."
• לְדֹר֙ (ləḏōr): "for generation."
  • Indicates a permanent condition, not temporary. The desolation will last through many generations.
• וְאִ֨ישׁ (wə’îsh): "and man."
  • Focuses on the absence of human presence and habitation.
• לֹ֤א (lō): "not."
  • Absolute negation of human presence.
• יַעַבְרֶ֔נָּה (ya‘aḇrɛnnah): "shall pass through it."
  • Not even transient passersby will traverse the land. It is entirely shut off and unapproachable.
  • The verb "avar" implies movement across. The negation emphasizes total inaccessibility.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "וְעָלָה קִיטוֹר כֹּחַ מֵהֶם" (and the smoke of its power goes up from them): This phrase poetically links the land's lost strength or vitality ("koach") to the rising smoke. The power that once animated the land now fuels the smoke of its destruction, a powerful image of complete ruin.
• "וְאֶרֶץ קָח לְדֹר" (and the land shall be held/scorched for generation): This emphasizes the permanence of the desolation. The land itself is so utterly affected that it is "held" or permanently "scorched" by the judgment.
• "וְאִישׁ לֹא יַעַבְרֶנָּה" (and man shall not pass through it): This phrase serves as the definitive conclusion to the description of desolation. The absence of any human transit underscores the absolute emptiness and unapproachability of the land.

Isaiah 34 10 Bonus Section

The concept of smoke rising "forever" is potent in Scripture. While physical fires eventually die out, this "smoke" represents a perpetual reminder and ongoing consequence of judgment. This is echoed in Revelation 19:3 regarding Babylon's judgment, stating "the smoke from her goes up forever and ever." This indicates a complete and indelible mark of divine justice on the place of rebellion. The verse also highlights a reversal of divine blessing. Where God promises a land that flows with milk and honey, here is a land that produces only smoke and emptiness due to sin. It's a powerful testament to God's sovereignty over both creation and judgment.

Isaiah 34 10 Commentary

Isaiah 34:10 paints a picture of absolute and eternal desolation as a consequence of divine judgment. The rising smoke from the land signifies not just fire, but a profound spiritual and physical emptiness, a removal of all former life and purpose. The land's strength is consumed, turning into smoke, and the result is a permanent state where even the simplest act of passing through becomes impossible for any human. This is a land completely surrendered to God's wrath, serving as a stark warning of the finality of judgment for those who oppose God. The verse serves as a powerful image of the complete obliteration of God's enemies and their dwelling places, mirroring eschatological pronouncements found in later biblical texts.