Meaning of "broom of destruction"?
What does "sweep it with the broom of destruction" signify about God's judgment?

Setting the Scene: Isaiah 14:23

“I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts. (Isaiah 14:23)

Babylon’s pride and cruelty draw a vivid promise: God Himself will “sweep” the city. The metaphor of a broom highlights how His judgment operates.


The Image of the Broom

• Everyday tool—used to clear every speck from a floor

• Requires deliberate, repeated strokes until nothing remains

• Leaves behind a space that is clean, empty, ready for a new purpose


What the Phrase Conveys About God’s Judgment

• Thoroughness

– Nothing escapes His notice. Every trace of wickedness is removed (cf. 2 Kings 21:13).

• Finality

– Once the sweeping is finished, the place is uninhabitable except for creatures of desolation (“owls,” “swampland”). No rebuilding on human terms.

• Purity of Purpose

– The goal is not random destruction but moral cleansing. Evil is expelled so righteousness can stand (cf. Malachi 4:1-3).

• Divine Initiative

– “I will sweep” shows God personally carries out the judgment; it cannot be halted or negotiated (Nahum 1:3).


Supporting Scriptures

2 Kings 21:13—God “will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.”

Revelation 18:21—Babylon pictured again: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be seen again.”

Malachi 4:1—The day of the LORD “will leave them neither root nor branch.”


Personal Takeaways for Today

• Sin tolerated eventually meets a broom, not a feather duster.

• God’s judgments, though severe, aim at restoring holiness to His creation.

• Believers live in hope, knowing the same God who sweeps away evil also prepares a renewed, righteous dwelling for His people (2 Peter 3:13).

How does Isaiah 14:23 illustrate God's power over nations and their destinies?
Top of Page
Top of Page