Isaiah 24:21
New International Version
In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below.

New Living Translation
In that day the LORD will punish the gods in the heavens and the proud rulers of the nations on earth.

English Standard Version
On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven, in heaven, and the kings of the earth, on the earth.

Berean Standard Bible
In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below.

King James Bible
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

New King James Version
It shall come to pass in that day That the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, And on the earth the kings of the earth.

New American Standard Bible
So it will happen on that day, That the LORD will punish the rebellious angels of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth.

NASB 1995
So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on earth.

NASB 1977
So it will happen in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of heaven, on high, And the kings of the earth, on earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
So it will be in that day, That Yahweh will punish the host of heights on high, And the kings of the earth on earth.

Amplified Bible
So it will happen in that day That the LORD will visit and punish the host (fallen angels) of heaven on high, And the kings of the earth on the earth.

Christian Standard Bible
On that day the LORD will punish the army of the heights in the heights and the kings of the ground on the ground.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and kings of the earth below.

American Standard Version
And it shall come to pass in that day, that Jehovah will punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

Contemporary English Version
On that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens and the kings of the earth.

English Revised Version
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
On that day the LORD will punish heaven's armies in heaven and earth's kings on earth.

Good News Translation
A time is coming when the LORD will punish the powers above and the rulers of the earth.

International Standard Version
"And it will come about at that time, the LORD will punish the armies of the exalted ones in the heavens, and the rulers of the earth on earth.

Majority Standard Bible
In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below.

NET Bible
At that time the LORD will punish the heavenly forces in the heavens and the earthly kings on the earth.

New Heart English Bible
It shall happen in that day that the LORD will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

World English Bible
It will happen in that day that Yahweh will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And it has come to pass in that day, "" YHWH lays a charge on the host of the high place in the high place, "" And on the kings of the earth on the earth.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, in that day, Jehovah layeth a charge on the host of the high place in the high place, And on the kings of the land on the land.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it was in that day Jehovah shall review upon the army of the height upon the height, and upon the kings of the earth upon the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass, that in that day the Lord shall visit upon the host of heaven on high, and upon the kings of the earth, on the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And this shall be: in that day, the Lord will visit upon the armies of the sky above, and upon the kings of the earth who are on the ground.

New American Bible
On that day the LORD will punish the host of the heavens in the heavens, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

New Revised Standard Version
On that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven in heaven, and on earth the kings of the earth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD shall punish the host of the lofty ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In that day LORD JEHOVAH shall command concerning the armies of the high place in the high place, and concerning the Kings of the Earth in the Earth
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it shall come to pass in that day, That the LORD will punish the host of the high heaven on high, And the kings of the earth upon the earth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God shall bring his hand upon the host of heaven, and upon the kings of the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Judgment on the Earth
20The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a shack. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again. 21 In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below. 22They will be gathered together like prisoners in a pit. They will be confined to a dungeon and punished after many days.…

Cross References
Revelation 19:19-21
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. / But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. / And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Revelation 20:1-3
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven with the key to the Abyss, holding in his hand a great chain. / He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. / And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.

Revelation 20:7-10
When the thousand years are complete, Satan will be released from his prison, / and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore. / And they marched across the broad expanse of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them. ...

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 12:7-9
Then a war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. / But the dragon was not strong enough, and no longer was any place found in heaven for him and his angels. / And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Revelation 16:14-16
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. / “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” / And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

Revelation 19:11-16
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows. / He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God. ...

Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

Revelation 14:19-20
So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the grapes of the earth, and he threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. / And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and the blood that flowed from it rose as high as the bridles of the horses for a distance of 1,600 stadia.

Daniel 7:9-10
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. / A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.

Daniel 7:26
But the court will convene, and his dominion will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Jeremiah 25:30-33
So you are to prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high; He will raise His voice from His holy habitation. He will roar loudly over His pasture; like those who tread the grapes, He will call out with a shout against all the inhabitants of the earth. / The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD. / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth.” ...

Ezekiel 38:18-23
Now on that day when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, My wrath will flare up. / In My zeal and fiery rage I proclaim that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. / The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that crawls upon the ground, and all mankind on the face of the earth will tremble at My presence. The mountains will be thrown down, the cliffs will collapse, and every wall will fall to the ground. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.

the Lord

Isaiah 10:25-27
For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and mine anger in their destruction…

Isaiah 14:1,2
For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob…

Isaiah 25:10-12
For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill…

punish.

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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














In that day
This phrase often signifies a future time of divine intervention or judgment. In the prophetic literature of the Bible, "that day" frequently refers to the Day of the Lord, a time when God will decisively act in history to bring about His purposes. The Hebrew word for "day" is "yom," which can mean a literal 24-hour period or an extended time of God's activity. Here, it points to a future event when God will execute His judgment and establish His righteousness.

the LORD
The term "LORD" in all capital letters is the English representation of the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, the personal name of God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14. This name emphasizes God's eternal, self-existent nature and His covenant relationship with Israel. It is a reminder of God's sovereignty and faithfulness, assuring believers that He is in control and His promises will be fulfilled.

will punish
The Hebrew word used here is "paqad," which can mean to visit, attend to, or punish. In this context, it conveys the idea of God executing justice. This is not arbitrary or capricious punishment but a righteous response to sin and rebellion. It reflects God's holiness and His commitment to uphold justice in the world.

the host of heaven
This phrase can refer to celestial bodies or spiritual beings. In the context of Isaiah, it likely points to spiritual powers or principalities that have set themselves against God. The Bible often speaks of a spiritual realm where forces of good and evil are in conflict. God's judgment will extend beyond the earthly realm to address these spiritual entities.

above
This word indicates the realm of the spiritual or heavenly. It suggests that God's judgment is comprehensive, reaching into the heavens. It underscores the biblical teaching that God's sovereignty extends over all creation, both visible and invisible.

and the kings of the earth
This phrase highlights the earthly rulers and authorities who have opposed God's will. Throughout history, many leaders have set themselves against God's purposes, often oppressing His people. The mention of "kings" signifies those in positions of power and influence. God's judgment will hold them accountable for their actions, affirming that no one is beyond His reach.

below
This word contrasts with "above," emphasizing the earthly realm. It reinforces the idea that God's judgment is all-encompassing, affecting both the spiritual and physical worlds. It serves as a reminder that God's justice will be executed on earth as it is in heaven, fulfilling His divine plan for creation.

(21) The Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high . . .--The prophet's utterance becomes more and more apocalyptic. He sees more than the condemnation of the kings of earth. Jehovah visits also the "principalities and powers in heavenly places" (Ephesians 3:10) or "on high" (Ephesians 6:12). Perhaps identifying these spiritual evil powers with the gods whom the nations worshipped, and these again with the stars in the firmament, Isaiah foresees a time when their long-protracted rebellion shall come to an end, and all authority and power be put down under the might of Jehovah (1Corinthians 15:25). The antithetical parallelism of the two clauses is decisive against the interpretation which sees in the "high ones on high" only the representatives of earthly kingdoms, though we may admit that from the prophet's stand-point each rebel nation is thought of as swayed by a rebel spirit. (Comp. Daniel 10:20; Ecclesiasticus 17:14; and the LXX. of Deuteronomy 32:8 : "He set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.") The same thought is found in a Rabbinic proverb, "God never destroys a nation without having first of all destroyed its prince" (Delitzsch, but without a reference). . . . Verses 21-23. - THE SUPRAMUNDANE JUDGMENT, AND FINAL ESTABLISHMENT OF GOD'S KINGDOM. Upon the destruction of the world there is to supervene a visitation of those who have been specially instrumental in producing the great wickedness that has brought the world to an end. These most guilty ones are classified under two heads: they consist of

(1) the host of the high ones that are on high (literally, "the host of the height in the height"); and

(2) the kings of the earth upon the earth. These are to be "gathered together in the pit," and "shut up in the prison," and finally, after a long imprisonment, punished (vers. 21, 22). Then the visible reign of the Lord of hosts is to be established "in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem," and he is to rule in the presence of his "ancients" in glory (ver. 23). Verse 21. - In that day. About that time - in connection with the series of events just related. The Lord shall punish the host of the high ones. It is generally allowed that these high ones, set m contrast as they are with the "kings of the earth," must belong to the class of supramundane intelligences, spiritual beings of a high order. Some have inclined to identify them with the "patron-spirits of nations," spoken of by Daniel (Daniel 10:13, 20, 21); but those "patron-spirits" are among the elect and unfallen angels; they protect nations, but do not lead them into sin or wickedness; they have no need to be "visited," and will certainly not be "shut up in prison" with the wicked kings of the earth. The spirits here spoken of must belong to the class of fallen spirits - they must be included among those "principalities and powers," of whom St. Paul speaks (Ephesians 6:12), whom he calls "the rulers of the darkness of this world," and to whom he ascribes "spiritual wickedness in high places." The punishment of such spirits is, perhaps, shadowed forth in the eighty-second psalm; it was distinctly taught in the Book of Enoch; and it is glanced at by St. Jude in his Epistle (ver. 6). And the kings. Kings, especially kings in the Oriental sense, have an enormous influence over the nations which they govern, and therefore a heavy responsibility. The kings of the nations are viewed here as having brought about the general corruption and wickedness which has necessitated the destruction of the earth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
In that
הַה֔וּא (ha·hū)
Article | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

day
בַּיּ֣וֹם (bay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

the LORD
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will punish
יִפְקֹ֧ד (yip̄·qōḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

the host
צְבָ֥א (ṣə·ḇā)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign

of heaven
הַמָּר֖וֹם (ham·mā·rō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4791: Altitude

above
בַּמָּר֑וֹם (bam·mā·rō·wm)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4791: Altitude

and the kings
מַלְכֵ֥י (mal·ḵê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4428: A king

of the earth
הָאֲדָמָ֖ה (hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 127: Ground, land

below.
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 24:21 It shall happen in that day that (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 24:20
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