The Meaning of Isaiah 32:13 Explained

Isaiah 32:13

KJV: Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city:

YLT: Over the ground of my people thorn -- brier goeth up, Surely over all houses of joy of the exulting city,

Darby: Upon the land of my people shall come up thistles and briars, yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city.

ASV: Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Upon the land  of my people  shall come up  thorns  [and] briers;  yea, upon all the houses  of joy  [in] the joyous  city: 

What does Isaiah 32:13 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 32:13 mean?

On the land of my people thorns [and] briers will come up Yes on all the homes happy [in] the city joyous
עַ֚ל אַדְמַ֣ת עַמִּ֔י ק֥וֹץ שָׁמִ֖יר תַּֽעֲלֶ֑ה כִּ֚י עַל־ כָּל־ בָּתֵּ֣י מָשׂ֔וֹשׂ קִרְיָ֖ה עַלִּיזָֽה

אַדְמַ֣ת  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֲדָמָה 
Sense: ground, land.
עַמִּ֔י  of  my  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
ק֥וֹץ  thorns 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹוץ 
Sense: thorn, thornbush.
שָׁמִ֖יר  [and]  briers 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמִיר 
Sense: thorn(s), adamant, flint.
תַּֽעֲלֶ֑ה  will  come  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
כִּ֚י  Yes 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
בָּתֵּ֣י  the  homes 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
מָשׂ֔וֹשׂ  happy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָשֹׂושׂ 
Sense: exultation, joy, rejoicing.
קִרְיָ֖ה  [in]  the  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קִרְיָה 
Sense: city, town.
עַלִּיזָֽה  joyous 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: עַלִּיז  
Sense: exultant, jubilant.