Isaiah 66:24 kjv
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
Isaiah 66:24 nkjv
"And they shall go forth and look Upon the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, And their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
Isaiah 66:24 niv
"And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind."
Isaiah 66:24 esv
"And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."
Isaiah 66:24 nlt
And as they go out, they will see
the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me.
For the worms that devour them will never die,
and the fire that burns them will never go out.
All who pass by
will view them with utter horror."
Isaiah 66 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 1:28 | ...but rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed. | Finality of judgment |
| Isaiah 5:14 | therefore Sheol has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth beyond measure... | Descent into destruction |
| Isaiah 14:15 | but you are brought down to Sheol, to the uttermost depths of the pit. | State of the wicked |
| Jeremiah 7:20 | "but my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place..." | Divine wrath against sin |
| Jeremiah 17:18 | May ruin come on the sacker! ...break them with double breach! | Imprecation against the wicked |
| Jeremiah 20:11 | but the LORD is with me as a mighty warrior... | God's protection for the righteous |
| Ezekiel 18:32 | for I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live. | God's desire for repentance |
| Daniel 12:2 | And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake... to everlasting contempt. | Resurrection and judgment |
| Matthew 3:12 | His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor... | Separating the righteous and wicked |
| Matthew 12:31 | ...but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. | Unpardonable sin's consequence |
| Matthew 13:42 | and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Judgment of the wicked |
| Matthew 13:50 | and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. | Separation and torment |
| Matthew 17:21 | "...but this kind is not driven out except by prayer and fasting." | Certain evils require resolute means |
| Mark 9:48 | where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. | Echo of Isaiah's description |
| Luke 12:35 | You also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. | Readiness for Christ's coming |
| John 3:36 | Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life... | Belief and its eternal result |
| Acts 13:41 | "Look, you scoffers, and marvel, and perish! For I am producing a work in your days that you will by no means believe..." | Rejection leads to destruction |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:9 | They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord... | Eternal punishment |
| Hebrews 6:2 | ...and of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment. | Doctrine of eternal judgment |
| Revelation 14:11 | And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night... | Perpetual torment |
| Revelation 20:10 | Then the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur... | Final destination of the wicked |
| Revelation 20:14 | Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. | The second death defined |
| Revelation 21:8 | But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral... their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. | Reiteration of the fate of the wicked |
Isaiah 66 verses
Isaiah 66 24 Meaning
Isaiah 66:24 describes a future state where the redeemed will gaze upon the fate of the wicked. This finality serves as a stark reminder of God's judgment against sin and rebellion. The image of their "worm shall not die" and their "fire shall not be quenched" is not merely symbolic but speaks to an unending consequence for those who reject God's offer of salvation. This verse highlights God's ultimate sovereignty and the eternal separation from Him experienced by the unrighteous, juxtaposed with the everlasting joy of His people.
Isaiah 66 24 Context
Isaiah chapter 66 concludes the book of Isaiah, depicting the final restoration of Zion and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. It contrasts the blessings awaiting the faithful with the judgment on the unfaithful. Verse 24, coming at the very end, serves as a potent, unforgettable final statement on the eternal destiny of both the saved and the lost. It grounds the prophetic vision of a renewed creation in the absolute reality of divine justice and unending separation from God for those who reject Him. The imagery echoes throughout Scripture, underscoring the eternal consequences of one's choices regarding God's salvation offered through Christ.
Isaiah 66 24 Word analysis
- וְצָאנ֔וּ (wə·ṣā·ānū): "and they shall go forth" or "and they will go out." Implies a purposeful departure or egress.
- וּרְאוּ (ū·rə·ā·ū): "and they shall look." Emphasizes a visual act, a deliberate observation.
- פִגְרֵי־ (piḡ·rê-): "the corpses of." Refers to the physical remains of the dead.
- הָאֲנָשִׁים (hā·’ĕ·nā·šîm): "the men" or "the people." Refers to humankind, specifically those who have sinned.
- הַמּוֹעֲלִים (ham·mō·ʿă·lîm): "those who rebelled" or "transgressed." Denotes active opposition and disobedience against God.
- בִּי֙ (bî): "against me." Directly attributes the rebellion to God.
- כִּי־ (kî-): "for." Introduces the reason or cause for their state.
- תּוֹלַעְתָּם (ṯō·laʿ·ṯām): "their worm." Symbolizes a persistent, consuming decay and corruption. The feminine noun here is noteworthy.
- לֹא־ (lō-): "not." A direct negation.
- תָּמ֔וּת (tā·mūṯ): "dies." Denotes ceasing to exist. The worm does not cease.
- וְאִשָּׁ֔ם (wə·’iš·šām): "and their fire." Refers to a consuming element, symbolic of judgment and destruction.
- לֹ֥א (lō): "not." Another negation.
- תִּכְבֶּֽה (ṯik·bəh): "is quenched" or "extinguished." Indicates an unending burning.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "they shall go forth and look": This emphasizes active witnessing from a state of salvation. It's not a passive experience but a direct, observable reality from a position of safety and deliverance.
- "the corpses of the men who rebelled against me": This paints a graphic picture of absolute defeat and demise for those who opposed God. "Rebelled" highlights the conscious, defiant nature of their sin.
- "their worm shall not die": This refers to the undying torment, shame, and utter putrefaction associated with eternal spiritual death. It’s an unceasing internal decay.
- "and their fire shall not be quenched": This signifies unending destruction and the fiery judgment of God's wrath. It is a consuming, persistent ordeal from which there is no escape.
Isaiah 66 24 Bonus section
The imagery of the worm and fire here strongly echoes the language used in the New Testament by Jesus himself, particularly concerning Gehenna. The perpetual nature described emphasizes the irreversible character of the final judgment for the unrepentant, underscoring the urgent need for individuals to heed God's call to salvation. It also points to the ultimate triumph of God's holiness and righteousness in both justice and mercy, for those within His eternal kingdom.
Isaiah 66 24 Commentary
This concluding verse of Isaiah paints a sobering yet absolute picture of eternal separation from God for those who remain in rebellion. The redeemed, from their place of unending bliss and peace in God's presence, will clearly perceive the immutable consequence for those who have rejected His saving grace. The imagery of the un-dying worm and unquenched fire signifies an unending state of corruption, suffering, and the divine judgment against sin, not as mere symbolic punishment, but as a real, perpetual reality of being estranged from the source of life. This finality underscores the seriousness of God’s justice, which is inseparable from His love, as He provides a path to eternal life through repentance and faith in Christ. The ultimate joy of the redeemed is contrasted with the ultimate desolation of the unrepentant, affirming God's complete victory over sin and death for His people.