Isaiah 34:12 kjv
They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing.
Isaiah 34:12 nkjv
They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, But none shall be there, and all its princes shall be nothing.
Isaiah 34:12 niv
Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom, all her princes will vanish away.
Isaiah 34:12 esv
Its nobles ? there is no one there to call it a kingdom, and all its princes shall be nothing.
Isaiah 34:12 nlt
It will be called the Land of Nothing,
and all its nobles will soon be gone.
Isaiah 34 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 34:12 | "They shall put a king in place, but he shall not be, and its princes shall all be not." | Consequence of Judgment |
| Jeremiah 30:21 | "And their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them;" | Restoration of Davidic line |
| Hosea 10:3 | "For now they shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then can our king do for us?" | False reliance/Fear |
| Amos 8:11 | "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:" | Spiritual dearth |
| Isaiah 1:30 | "For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen." | Idolatry/Judgment |
| Isaiah 22:1-14 | Judgment upon the house of David, the valley of vision. | National desolation |
| Obadiah 1:8 | "Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of his mount?" | Loss of wisdom |
| Jeremiah 49:7 | "Concerning Edom. Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?" | Loss of wisdom (Edom) |
| Isaiah 63:1-6 | God's vengeance upon Edom. | Divine retribution |
| Psalm 2:1-5 | The raging of nations against God and His anointed. | Kings' rebellion |
| Isaiah 14:24-27 | God's sovereignty and judgment upon nations. | Divine plan |
| Jeremiah 51:57 | Judgment upon Babylon. | National judgment |
| Nahum 3:4-5 | Judgment upon Nineveh. | Judgment on oppressors |
| Habakkuk 2:6-8 | Woes upon those who enrich themselves by injustice. | Exploitation/Judgment |
| Zephaniah 2:15 | Edom shall be a desolation. | Devastation |
| Proverbs 1:20-33 | Rejection of wisdom brings ruin. | Rejection of counsel |
| Ezekiel 35:3-15 | God's judgment on Mount Seir (Edom). | Divine reckoning |
| Isaiah 29:10 | God gives them the spirit of slumber. | Spiritual blindness |
| Jeremiah 23:33-40 | Warnings against false prophets and misused words of God. | Misleading leadership |
| Isaiah 3:1-7 | Judgment upon Israel: removal of staff of bread and staff of water. | Loss of provision |
| Isaiah 19:1-4 | Judgment upon Egypt: a strong hand against them. | Oppressive rule |
Isaiah 34 verses
Isaiah 34 12 Meaning
The verse describes a spiritual desolation and loss of leadership over Edom. The people have sought for a king and rulers, but found none. This signifies a complete absence of guidance and authority, leading to ruin and distress. It reflects a consequence of judgment for their actions.
Isaiah 34 12 Context
This chapter, Isaiah 34, stands as a stark prophecy of judgment against all nations, with a particular focus on Edom, due to their historical enmity towards Israel and their oppressive nature. It describes a time of widespread divine wrath and desolation, likening it to Sodom and Gomorrah. The chapter foretells the destruction of Edom's land and the demise of its leadership, culminating in this verse. The audience, ancient Israel, would have understood this as a direct consequence for nations that opposed God and His people, and as a vindication of God's justice.
Isaiah 34 12 Word Analysis
- וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ (vehekimu): "And they shall raise up" or "establish." The root verb "qum" (קוּם) signifies to stand up, rise, establish, or set. The intensive form ("hiphil") suggests actively bringing something into existence or status.
- מֶֽלֶךְ (melekh): "King." A ruler, sovereign, or monarch.
- וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ (ve'einennu): "But he shall not be" or "and he is not." This clause denotes a failure in the establishment or a subsequent absence of the expected leader.
- וְשָׂרָ֣יו (vesarav): "And its princes." "Sar" (שַׂר) means chief, prince, or captain. The suffix indicates possession by the previously mentioned entity.
- כֻּלָּ֗ם (kullam): "All of them." This emphasizes the completeness of the absence of princes.
- וְאֵין־(ve'ein-): "And there is no" or "and they shall not be." Continues the theme of complete absence.
- מַזְכִּ֤יר (mazkir): "Rememberer" or "one who causes to be remembered." The root verb "zakhar" (זָכַר) means to remember. This implies an official whose role might involve calling to remembrance, or perhaps proclaiming, invoking, or even summoning.
- שָֽׁמָּה׃ (shamah): "There." A locative adverb indicating the place previously described.
Group Analysis: The phrase "They shall put a king in place, but he shall not be, and its princes shall all be not" (וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ מֶֽלֶךְ וְאֵינֶ֑נּוּ וְשָׂרָ֣יו כֻּלָּ֗ם וְאֵין־מַזְכִּ֤יר שָֽׁמָּה׃) paints a picture of failed leadership. It suggests an attempt to establish authority that proves futile. The absence of even a "rememberer" or someone to bring anything to remembrance signifies a total void, a complete breakdown of order and governance. The nation is left without any form of authority or historical continuity.
Isaiah 34 12 Bonus Section
The imagery of a failed king and absent princes in Edom can be seen as a parallel to other instances in Scripture where leadership crumbles due to sin or divine disfavor. For example, the prophetic pronouncements against the kings of Israel and Judah who turned from God often included predictions of their downfall and the disruption of their dynasties. Furthermore, the concept of a lost "rememberer" points to the vulnerability of national memory and identity when detached from a covenantal relationship with God, the ultimate source of true remembrance and endurance. The absence of leadership can lead to internal chaos and external vulnerability, as history repeatedly shows.
Isaiah 34 12 Commentary
This verse encapsulates the utter collapse of governmental and social order in Edom following divine judgment. Despite attempts to install a king and princes, their efforts are nullified, leaving them leaderless and without anyone to uphold their lineage or legacy. The final mention of "no rememberer" signifies a complete erasure, a lack of anyone to even record their existence or cause their memory to endure. This speaks to a comprehensive desolation where the very essence of a nation's continuity is extinguished. The verse serves as a stark illustration of God's power to dismantle even the most established human authorities when His judgment is enacted.