Isaiah 24:4
New International Version
The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers, the heavens languish with the earth.

New Living Translation
The earth mourns and dries up, and the land wastes away and withers. Even the greatest people on earth waste away.

English Standard Version
The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the highest people of the earth languish.

Berean Standard Bible
The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and fades; the exalted of the earth waste away.

King James Bible
The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

New King James Version
The earth mourns and fades away, The world languishes and fades away; The haughty people of the earth languish.

New American Standard Bible
The earth dries up and crumbles away, the mainland dries out and crumbles away, the exalted of the people of the earth dwindle.

NASB 1995
The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.

NASB 1977
The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.

Legacy Standard Bible
The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the exalted of the people of the earth languish.

Amplified Bible
The earth dries up and crumbles away, the world dries out and crumbles away, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.

Christian Standard Bible
The earth mourns and withers; the world wastes away and withers; the exalted people of the earth waste away.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The earth mourns and withers; the world wastes away and withers; the exalted people of the earth waste away.

American Standard Version
The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.

Contemporary English Version
The earth wilts away; its mighty leaders melt to nothing.

English Revised Version
The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the lofty people of the earth do languish.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The earth dries up and withers. The world wastes away and withers. The great leaders of the earth waste away.

Good News Translation
The earth dries up and withers; the whole world grows weak; both earth and sky decay.

International Standard Version
"The earth dries up and withers; the world languishes and fades away; heaven fades away, along with the earth.

Majority Standard Bible
The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and fades; the exalted of the earth waste away.

NET Bible
The earth dries up and withers, the world shrivels up and withers; the prominent people of the earth fade away.

New Heart English Bible
The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.

Webster's Bible Translation
The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

World English Bible
The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away. The lofty people of the earth languish.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The earth has mourned, faded, "" The world has languished, faded, "" They have languished—the high place of the people of the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
Mourned, faded hath the land, Languished, faded hath the world, Languished have they -- the high place of the people of the land.

Smith's Literal Translation
The earth mourning, fell away: the habitable globe languishing, fell away: the heights of the people of the land languished,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The earth mourned, and faded away, and is weakened: the world faded away, the height of the people of the earth is weakened.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The earth mourned, and slipped away, and languished. The world slipped away; the loftiness of the people of the earth was weakened.

New American Bible
The earth mourns and fades, the world languishes and fades; both heaven and earth languish.

New Revised Standard Version
The earth dries up and withers, the world languishes and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The earth howls and sits in mourning, the world wails and sits in mourning, the haughty people of the earth lament.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Earth howled and sat in mourning! The world howled and sat and mourned! The High One of the Earth howled!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The earth fainteth and fadeth away, The world faileth and fadeth away, The lofty people of the earth do fail.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The earth mourns, and the world is ruined, the lofty ones of the earth are mourning.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Judgment on the Earth
3The earth will be utterly laid waste and thoroughly plundered. For the LORD has spoken this word. 4The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and fades; the exalted of the earth waste away. 5The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 4:28
Therefore the earth will mourn and the heavens above will grow dark. I have spoken, I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back.”

Hosea 4:3
Therefore the land mourns, and all who dwell in it will waste away with the beasts of the field and the birds of the air; even the fish of the sea disappear.

Joel 1:10-12
The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails. / Be dismayed, O farmers, wail, O vinedressers, over the wheat and barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. / The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple—all the trees of the orchard—are withered. Surely the joy of mankind has dried up.

Zephaniah 1:2-3
“I will completely sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. / “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

Amos 5:16-17
Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says: “There will be wailing in all the public squares and cries of ‘Alas! Alas!’ in all the streets. The farmer will be summoned to mourn, and the mourners to wail. / There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,” says the LORD.

Ezekiel 7:15-16
The sword is outside; plague and famine are within. Those in the country will die by the sword, and those in the city will be devoured by famine and plague. / The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity.

Lamentations 1:4
The roads to Zion mourn, because no one comes to her appointed feasts. All her gates are deserted; her priests groan, her maidens grieve, and she herself is bitter with anguish.

Micah 7:13
Then the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the fruit of their deeds.

Nahum 1:4
He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts.

Romans 8:20-22
For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. / We know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until the present time.

Revelation 18:11-17
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves. ...

Matthew 24:7-8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. / All these are the beginning of birth pains.

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Mark 13:8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, as well as famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

2 Peter 3:10-13
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. / Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness / as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. ...


Treasury of Scripture

The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

mourneth

Isaiah 3:26
And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.

Isaiah 28:1
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!

Isaiah 33:9
The earth mourneth and languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits.

haughty people.

Isaiah 2:11,12
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day…

Jump to Previous
Dries Earth Exalted Fade Faded Fades Fadeth Fail Faileth Fainteth Full Grief Haughty Heavens High Languishes Languisheth Mourned Mourneth Mourns Ones Sorrowing Together Wasting Withers World
Jump to Next
Dries Earth Exalted Fade Faded Fades Fadeth Fail Faileth Fainteth Full Grief Haughty Heavens High Languishes Languisheth Mourned Mourneth Mourns Ones Sorrowing Together Wasting Withers World
Isaiah 24
1. The doleful judgments of God upon the land
13. A remnant shall joyfully praise him
16. God in his judgments shall advance his kingdom














The earth mourns
The phrase "the earth mourns" in Isaiah 24:4 reflects a deep sense of lamentation and sorrow. The Hebrew word for "earth" here is "אֶרֶץ" (erets), which can refer to the physical land or the inhabitants of the earth. This mourning is not just a poetic expression but signifies a profound disruption in the natural order, a theme consistent with the prophetic literature where the earth often responds to human sinfulness. The mourning of the earth can be seen as a metaphor for the consequences of humanity's rebellion against God, echoing the curse upon the ground in Genesis 3:17. It serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between human actions and the created world, emphasizing the biblical principle of stewardship and accountability.

and withers
The term "withers" suggests a drying up or fading away, akin to a plant deprived of water. In Hebrew, the word used is "נָבֵל" (nabel), which conveys the idea of decay or decline. This imagery of withering is often used in Scripture to describe the effects of sin and judgment, as seen in Psalm 1:3-4, where the righteous are compared to a tree that does not wither. The withering of the earth in Isaiah 24:4 symbolizes the loss of vitality and life, a direct result of divine judgment. It serves as a stark warning of the spiritual and physical desolation that follows when humanity turns away from God.

the world languishes
The phrase "the world languishes" further intensifies the picture of a creation in distress. The Hebrew word "אֻמְלַל" (umlal) means to be weak or feeble. This languishing is not limited to the physical realm but extends to the moral and spiritual decay of society. The "world" here, "תֵּבֵל" (tebel), refers to the inhabited world, indicating that the impact of sin and judgment is universal. This languishing reflects the groaning of creation mentioned in Romans 8:22, awaiting redemption. It is a call for repentance and a return to God, highlighting the hope of restoration through divine intervention.

and withers
The repetition of "withers" emphasizes the severity and certainty of the judgment. It underscores the irreversible nature of the consequences when God's laws are violated. This repetition serves as a literary device to draw attention to the seriousness of the situation, urging the reader to reflect on the cause of such desolation and the need for a change of heart.

the exalted of the earth
The phrase "the exalted of the earth" refers to those in positions of power and influence. The Hebrew word "מָרוֹם" (marom) denotes height or elevation, often used metaphorically for those who are proud or arrogant. In the context of Isaiah 24, the exalted are not immune to the effects of judgment; in fact, they are often held to a higher standard due to their responsibility and influence. This serves as a reminder of the biblical principle that pride precedes a fall (Proverbs 16:18) and that true exaltation comes from humility and obedience to God.

waste away
The phrase "waste away" conveys a sense of gradual decline and deterioration. The Hebrew word "רָזַז" (razaz) implies being reduced or diminished. This wasting away of the exalted signifies the futility of relying on human strength and wisdom apart from God. It is a powerful reminder that earthly power and prestige are temporary and that true security and significance are found in a relationship with the Creator. This serves as an encouragement to seek God's kingdom and righteousness, knowing that all else will ultimately fade away.

(4) The haughty people of the earth.--Literally, the heights, or, to use an English term with a like history, "the highnesses of the people."

Verse 4. - The earth... fadeth away. As a flower that fades and withers up (comp. Isaiah 1:30; Isaiah 28:1, 4; Isaiah 34:4, etc.; Psalm 1:3; Psalm 37:2). The world. Tabel has never any narrower sense than the entire "world," and must be regarded as fixing the meaning of arets in passages where (as here) the two are used as synonymous. The haughty people; or, the high ones. All the great are brought down, and laid low, that "the Lord alone may be exalted in that day" (cf. Isaiah 2:11-17).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The earth
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

mourns
אָבְלָ֤ה (’ā·ḇə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 56: To bewail

and withers;
נָֽבְלָה֙ (nā·ḇə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5034: To wilt, to fall away, fail, faint, to be foolish, wicked, to despise, disgrace

the world
תֵּבֵ֑ל (tê·ḇêl)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8398: The earth, the globe, its inhabitants, a particular land

languishes
אֻמְלְלָ֥ה (’um·lə·lāh)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 535: To droop, to be sick, to mourn

and fades;
נָבְלָ֖ה (nā·ḇə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5034: To wilt, to fall away, fail, faint, to be foolish, wicked, to despise, disgrace

the exalted
מְר֥וֹם (mə·rō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4791: Altitude

of the earth
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

waste away.
אֻמְלָ֖לוּ (’um·lā·lū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 535: To droop, to be sick, to mourn


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 24:4 The earth mourns and fades away (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 24:3
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