The Meaning of Isaiah 32:14 Explained

Isaiah 32:14

KJV: Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

YLT: Surely the palace hath been left, The multitude of the city forsaken, Fort and watch-tower hath been for dens unto the age, A joy of wild asses -- a pasture of herds;

Darby: For the palace shall be deserted, the multitude of the city shall be forsaken; hill and watchtower shall be caves for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

ASV: For the palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Because the palaces  shall be forsaken;  the multitude  of the city  shall be left;  the forts  and towers  shall be for dens  for  ever,  a joy  of wild asses,  a pasture  of flocks; 

What does Isaiah 32:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 32:9-20 - The Fruits Of Righteousness
When Christ's kingdom is set up it will bring dismay to the poor children of fashion. For more days than there are in the year will they be troubled, Isaiah 32:10, and will smite on their breasts in lamentation, Isaiah 32:12. The prediction of Isaiah 32:15-20 includes Pentecost, and looks forward to the era which lies immediately beyond this travail of the world. What is now reckoned as a fruitful field will be regarded as a barren forest in comparison with what shall then exist. Let us remember that righteousness must precede peace. See Matthew 5:24 and Hebrews 7:2. When God's judgments are hurtling through the air, and proud cities are being leveled to the earth, let us take refuge in His loving care. In Him are our safe dwellings and our quiet resting-places. But when the world is most unquiet, let us pursue our work of salvation; for when waters overflow the banks of the river, oxen and asses may still be sent forth to make furrows for the harvest seed. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 32

1  The blessings of Christ's kingdom
9  Desolation is foreshown
14  Restoration is promised to succeed

What do the individual words in Isaiah 32:14 mean?

Because the palaces will be forsaken bustling the city will be deserted the forts and towers will become for lairs for ever a joy of wild donkeys a pasture of flocks
כִּֽי־ אַרְמ֣וֹן נֻטָּ֔שׁ הֲמ֥וֹן עִ֖יר עֻזָּ֑ב עֹ֣פֶל וָבַ֜חַן הָיָ֨ה בְעַ֤ד מְעָרוֹת֙ עַד־ עוֹלָ֔ם מְשׂ֥וֹשׂ פְּרָאִ֖ים מִרְעֵ֥ה עֲדָרִֽים

כִּֽי־  Because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אַרְמ֣וֹן  the  palaces 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַרְמֹון  
Sense: citadel, palace, fortress.
נֻטָּ֔שׁ  will  be  forsaken 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטַשׁ  
Sense: to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw.
הֲמ֥וֹן  bustling 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הָמֹון 
Sense: (Qal) murmur, roar, crowd, abundance, tumult, sound.
עִ֖יר  the  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
עֻזָּ֑ב  will  be  deserted 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
עֹ֣פֶל  the  forts 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹפֶל  
Sense: hill, mound, fort, stronghold, Ophel.
וָבַ֜חַן  and  towers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בַּחַן  
Sense: watchtower.
הָיָ֨ה  will  become 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מְעָרוֹת֙  lairs 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מְעָרָה  
Sense: cave, den, hole.
עוֹלָ֔ם  ever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
מְשׂ֥וֹשׂ  a  joy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָשֹׂושׂ 
Sense: exultation, joy, rejoicing.
פְּרָאִ֖ים  of  wild  donkeys 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: פֶּרֶא 
Sense: wild ass.
מִרְעֵ֥ה  a  pasture 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מִרְעֶה  
Sense: pasture, pasturage.
עֲדָרִֽים  of  flocks 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֵדֶר  
Sense: flock, herd.