The Meaning of Isaiah 24:16 Explained

Isaiah 24:16

KJV: From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.

YLT: From the skirt of the earth we heard songs, The desire of the righteous. And I say, 'Leanness is to me, Leanness is to me, woe is to me.' Treacherous dealers dealt treacherously, Yea, treachery, treacherous dealers dealt treacherously.

Darby: From the end of the earth have we heard songs: Glory to the righteous! And I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! The treacherous have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.

ASV: From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs: Glory to the righteous. But I said, I pine away, I pine away, woe is me! the treacherous have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

From the uttermost part  of the earth  have we heard  songs,  [even] glory  to the righteous.  But I said,  My leanness,  my leanness,  woe  unto me! the treacherous dealers  have dealt treacherously;  yea, the treacherous dealers  have dealt very  treacherously. 

What does Isaiah 24:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah anticipated himself and others hearing the remnant praise God for His righteousness (in judging the ungodly).
But as the prophet contemplated this end-times scene, he also felt the condemnation of others as deeply as he formerly felt his own (cf. Isaiah 6:5). Even though God was judging the wicked, they proceeded to act as bad as ever, betraying one another treacherously (cf. Isaiah 21:2; Revelation 9:20-21).

Context Summary

Isaiah 24:14-23 - The Inescapable Penalty Of Sin
There is always a godly remnant, as we are told in Isaiah 24:13, remaining in times of shaking, on the topmost boughs. The survivors who had fled across the seas from the judgments, would adore Jehovah for His goodness and mercy.
The fires of the East are in contrast to the isles of the West, Isaiah 24:15. Perhaps they stand for the fires of tribulation, in which we must glorify God. To whatever part of the earth the fugitives fled, they would be compelled to acknowledge the glory of righteousness, or perhaps of the Righteous One. The dispersion of the Church in the early days carried the message and music of the gospel everywhere. Though we may travel to the limits of sorrow, let us glorify our God.
Note the instability of all earthly things, Isaiah 24:18, etc. Woe to those who trust in them! Remember to build within the borders of the everlasting kingdom of Hebrews 12:23-28. When all the world kingdoms are destroyed, that of Israel, God's ancient choice, shall stand, Isaiah 24:23. May we as the brethren of the King share His glory and reign with Him in those great coming days! In the meanwhile glorify Him in the skies. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Isaiah 24:16 mean?

From the ends of the earth songs we have heard Glory to the righteous But I said I am ruined to me ruined to Woe to me the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously and indeed very the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously
מִכְּנַ֨ף הָאָ֜רֶץ זְמִרֹ֤ת שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙ צְבִ֣י לַצַּדִּ֔יק וָאֹמַ֛ר רָזִי־ לִ֥י רָֽזִי־ לִ֖י א֣וֹי לִ֑י בֹּגְדִ֣ים בָּגָ֔דוּ וּבֶ֥גֶד בּוֹגְדִ֖ים בָּגָֽדוּ

מִכְּנַ֨ף  From  the  ends 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כָּנָף  
Sense: wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner, shirt.
הָאָ֜רֶץ  of  the  earth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
זְמִרֹ֤ת  songs 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: זָמִיר  
Sense: song, psalm.
שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙  we  have  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
צְבִ֣י  Glory 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: beauty, glory, honour.
לַצַּדִּ֔יק  to  the  righteous 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
וָאֹמַ֛ר  But  I  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
רָזִי־  I  am  ruined 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָזִי  
Sense: leanness, wasting.
לִ֥י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
רָֽזִי־  ruined 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רָזִי  
Sense: leanness, wasting.
א֣וֹי  Woe 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֹוי  
Sense: woe! alas! oh!.
לִ֑י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
בֹּגְדִ֣ים  the  treacherous  dealers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בָּגַד  
Sense: to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously.
בָּגָ֔דוּ  have  dealt  treacherously 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּגַד  
Sense: to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously.
וּבֶ֥גֶד  and  indeed  very 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
בּוֹגְדִ֖ים  the  treacherous  dealers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: בָּגַד  
Sense: to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously.
בָּגָֽדוּ  have  dealt  treacherously 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּגַד  
Sense: to act treacherously, deceitfully, deal treacherously.