Isaiah 34:5 kjv
For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.
Isaiah 34:5 nkjv
"For My sword shall be bathed in heaven; Indeed it shall come down on Edom, And on the people of My curse, for judgment.
Isaiah 34:5 niv
My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed.
Isaiah 34:5 esv
For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction.
Isaiah 34:5 nlt
And when my sword has finished its work in the heavens,
it will fall upon Edom,
the nation I have marked for destruction.
Isaiah 34 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 34:5 | For my sword has drunk its fill in heaven; behold, it will descend upon Edom | Judgment upon Edom |
| Jeremiah 49:12 | For behold, I am bringing a disaster, says the LORD. And you are not to go unpunished | Punishment of nations |
| Jeremiah 49:7 | And judgment for the peoples and punishment for the nations | Retribution for nations |
| Jeremiah 49:13 | For I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, that Bozrah shall become an object of horror, a reproach, a waste, and a curse... | Bozrah's desolation |
| Jeremiah 51:34 | "Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me, he has crushed me... | Babylon's fate |
| Ezekiel 39:17 | As for you, son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: Speak to the birds of every sort and to all beasts of the field: "'Assemble yourselves, and come... | Feast of God's judgments |
| Revelation 19:17 | Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he called out with a loud voice to all the birds that fly through the midst of heaven, "Come, gather for the great supper of God... | Great supper of God |
| Revelation 19:18 | ...so that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." | Eating of the slain |
| Psalm 7:11 | God is a righteous judge, and God is indignant every day. | God's righteous anger |
| Psalm 68:30 | Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of wild bulls with the calves of the peoples, so that they kowtow with pieces of silver; scatter the peoples who delight in war! | God's victory over nations |
| Psalm 91:6 | ...nor for the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. | Destruction comes |
| Isaiah 13:15 | Everyone found will be thrust through, and every one caught will fall by the sword. | Slaughter of enemies |
| Isaiah 27:1 | In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. | God's powerful sword |
| Isaiah 63:1-6 | Who is this that comes from Edom, in dyed garments from Bozrah...? Why is your apparel red...? | Coming in wrath |
| Habakkuk 2:16 | You will drink of shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink, and be uncircumcised! The cup of the LORD’s right hand will be turned over to you, and utter shame will come upon your glory. | Cup of wrath |
| Deuteronomy 32:41 | I will whet my flashing sword and my hand shall take hold on judgment; I will return vengeance on my adversaries and repay those who hate me. | God's vengeance |
| Romans 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” | Leave vengeance to God |
| Hebrews 10:30 | For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” | The Lord will judge |
| Revelation 6:8 | And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts. | Horse of Death |
| Isaiah 34:2-3 | For the LORD has indignation against all the nations, and fury against all their host; he has devoted them to utter destruction, he has given them over for slaughter. Their slain shall be cast out, and the stench of their corpses shall issue from their nahin... | LORD's indignation |
Isaiah 34 verses
Isaiah 34 5 Meaning
The Lord's sword descends upon the nations, not merely a physical weapon but a divine instrument of judgment. It is described as being "made fat" and "drunk with blood," signifying a thorough and complete outpouring of wrath. This judgment is not indiscriminate but targeted, specifically mentioned as the blood of lambs and goats, goats of the thicket. The "fat" represents the richest portion, implying the Lord's satisfaction in executing justice upon the wicked. The blood signifies the shedding of life in consequence of sin, and the reference to "fat" and "drunk" paints a vivid picture of the magnitude and completeness of this divine retribution.
Isaiah 34 5 Context
Isaiah 34 stands as a stark pronouncement of divine judgment against the nations, particularly focusing on Edom. The chapter's context is one of prophetic denunciation of injustice and opposition to God's people. Isaiah's message aims to comfort Judah by revealing God's unwavering commitment to justice and his ultimate victory over all antagonistic forces. The entirety of chapter 34 depicts a cosmic overthrow, a fierce day of reckoning for those who have acted wickedly and oppressively. Edom, in particular, is singled out due to their historical enmity towards Israel. Verse 5 specifically describes the instrument and nature of God's judgment.
Isaiah 34 5 Word Analysis
כִּי (ki): "For," "because," "when." This conjunction introduces the reason or cause for what follows. It links the divine sword's action to God's intention or decree.
חַרְבִּי (charbi): "My sword." This is the singular, feminine noun "charabh" (sword) in the first person singular possessive. It signifies a weapon of war and judgment, imbued with God's authority and power.
שָׁבְעָה (shav'ah): "Has drunk its fill," "has become full," "has satisfied itself." The root verb is שָׁבַע (shava). This vividly personifies the sword, portraying it as being satiated with blood, emphasizing the thoroughness and completeness of the shedding of blood in God's judgment.
בַּשָּׁמָיִם (bashamayim): "In heaven," "in the heavens." This phrase indicates the origin or consecration of the sword within the divine realm. It suggests that this judgment originates from God's ultimate authority and plan, rather than being a purely earthly conflict. Some interpretations consider it a parallel to heavenly armies.
הִנֵּה (hinneh): "Behold," "look," "lo." This interjection serves to draw the listener's attention emphatically to the statement that follows, highlighting its certainty and significance.
לְנַקְמָה (lenakemah): "For vengeance," "for retribution," "for punishment." The preposition "le" (to, for) is attached to the noun "nakemah" (vengeance, punishment) from the root נָקַם (nakam). This specifies the purpose of the sword's descent.
יָרְדָה (yaredah): "It will descend," "it has come down." The verb יָרַד (yarad) means to go down, descend. This indicates a movement from the divine sphere to the earthly realm where judgment will be executed.
עַל־אֱדוֹם (al-'Edom): "Upon Edom." "Al" means upon or against, and "Edom" refers to the descendants of Esau, Israel's brother, and their land. This clearly identifies the primary target of this specific judgment.
Group of words - "My sword has drunk its fill": This imagery of a sword becoming "fat" or "drunk" with blood is a powerful metaphor for the complete and decisive nature of God's judgment. It reflects an overflowing or surplus of spilled blood, signifying a judgment that is not partial but thorough, leaving no room for escape or leniency for the condemned.
Group of words - "Behold, it will descend upon Edom": This phrase underscores the active and intentional execution of God's judgment. "Behold" draws immediate attention, and "descend" signifies the movement of divine authority and power from heaven to earth, targeting a specific nation, Edom, for retribution.
Isaiah 34 5 Bonus Section
The imagery of God's sword being "drunk with blood" is potent and echoes throughout prophetic literature, emphasizing the intensity and totality of divine retribution. This verse can be seen as a precursor to New Testament concepts of God's wrath against sin, often described through judgment, while also highlighting God's ultimate power to bring justice to pass. The specific mention of "lambs and goats" might be a symbolic reference to sacrifices, paradoxically used here to describe the shedding of blood as a consequence of unrighteousness rather than as a ritual offering. The nations against which this judgment is pronounced (particularly Edom) serve as archetypes of those who oppose God's sovereignty and people.
Isaiah 34 5 Commentary
This verse is a powerful depiction of divine justice. God's "sword" is not merely a tool of destruction but an expression of His righteous judgment against sin and rebellion. The imagery of the sword being "fat" and "drunk" with blood underscores the completeness and finality of this judgment, especially against Edom. The origin "in heaven" emphasizes that this judgment is divinely ordained and executed with perfect authority. It serves as a solemn warning that God will hold nations and individuals accountable for their actions, particularly for acts of cruelty and opposition against His chosen people. This foreshadows a thorough cleansing and restoration following the purging of wickedness.