The Meaning of Isaiah 6:12 Explained

Isaiah 6:12

KJV: And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

YLT: And Jehovah hath put man far off, And great is the forsaken part in the heart of the land.

Darby: and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the solitude be great in the midst of the land.

ASV: and Jehovah have removed men far away, and the forsaken places be many in the midst of the land.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  have removed  men  far away,  and [there be] a great  forsaking  in the midst  of the land. 

What does Isaiah 6:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 6:1-13 - A Call To Heroic Service
Kings die; Jesus lives. See John 12:41. We are here reminded of Acts 22:17-18. How great the contrast between the worship of these seraphim in the Unseen-Holy and man's perfunctory rites! Six wings-two for meditation, two for humility, and two for service. Service should take only a third of our energy. One cried unto another-one inspired spirit will awaken others. The threefold repetition of the word holy, implies the Trinity. If door-posts tremble, much more should the hearts of sinful men! Isaiah, in the previous chapter, had uttered six woes against others, but his seventh and sorest woe is against himself. The sinner, like the leper, cries, Unclean! Leviticus 13:45. The seraph did not wait to be told; he knew that there was only one cure for such need as the prophet's, Isaiah 6:9-13. When men refuse God's offered grace, every refusal hardens. It is either "the savour of death unto death" or of "life unto life," 2 Corinthians 2:16. The life of the oak and the terebinth only seems to become extinct in winter; there is revival in the spring. Is it winter with you? Pray for the springtime! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 6

1  Isaiah, in a vision of the Lord in his glory
5  Being terrified, has apprehensions removed
8  He offers himself, and is sent to show the obstinacy of the people
13  A remnant shall be saved

What do the individual words in Isaiah 6:12 mean?

And has removed far away Yahweh - men and [are] many the forsaken places in the midst of the land
וְרִחַ֥ק יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־ הָאָדָ֑ם וְרַבָּ֥ה הָעֲזוּבָ֖ה בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ

וְרִחַ֥ק  And  has  removed  far  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָחַק  
Sense: to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאָדָ֑ם  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
וְרַבָּ֥ה  and  [are]  many 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
הָעֲזוּבָ֖ה  the  forsaken  places 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, feminine singular
Root: עֲזוּבָה  
Sense: forsakenness, desolation.
בְּקֶ֥רֶב  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
הָאָֽרֶץ  of  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.