What does Isaiah 34:17 mean?
"And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein." - Isaiah 34:17
Isaiah 34:17 (KJV) reads, "And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein." This verse comes from a passage in the book of Isaiah that describes the judgment and destruction of the nations. The overall theme of this verse is the idea of divine justice and the inheritance of God's chosen people.
In the context of the entire chapter of Isaiah 34, the prophet Isaiah foretells the judgment of the nations and the punishment of the wicked. This verse in particular is a promise to the people of God that they will inherit the land and possess it forever. This inheritance is a symbol of God's faithfulness and protection of His people, as well as a sign of His sovereignty over all the earth.
The imagery of casting lots and dividing the land by line is a symbolic reference to the fairness and order of God's judgments. In ancient times, casting lots and dividing land by line were common methods of determining boundaries and distributing property. In this context, it signifies that God's allocation of land to His people is just and precise, and that He is the ultimate authority over the possession of the land.
The promise that "they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein" reflects the everlasting nature of God's covenant with His people. This assurance of perpetual inheritance underscores the idea that God's promises are unchanging and enduring. The notion of dwelling in the land from generation to generation implies the continuity and perpetuation of God's favor and provision for His chosen people throughout time.
The broader theological significance of this verse lies in its connection to the concept of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. Throughout the Bible, God repeatedly demonstrates His commitment to His people by granting them inheritances, blessings, and protection. This verse serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and rightful ownership of the earth, and His ultimate authority in determining the fate of nations and individuals.
Furthermore, the promise of an everlasting possession carries eschatological implications, pointing towards the eternal inheritance and dwelling place that God has prepared for His people in the new heaven and new earth. This verse thus points to the ultimate hope and security that believers have in God's eternal promises.
In summary, Isaiah 34:17 conveys the themes of divine justice, inheritance, and God's faithfulness to His people. It emphasizes the fairness and permanence of God's judgments, as well as the unchanging nature of His promises. The symbolism of casting lots and dividing land underscores the precision and authority of God's allocation of blessings to His people. Ultimately, this verse points towards the eternal inheritance and dwelling place that believers have in God's sovereign and faithful care.
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Isaiah 34:17 - "And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein."
"And he hath cast the lot for them, and his hand hath divided it unto them by line: they shall possess it for ever, from generation to generation shall they dwell therein." - Isaiah 34:17
Isaiah 34:8 - "For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion."
1 Samuel 17:34-35
Exodus 34:17 - "Thou shalt make thee no molten gods."
Psalms 34:17 - "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."
Isaiah 10:34 - "And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one."
Isaiah 37:34 - "By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD."
Isaiah 54:17
Isaiah 54:17
Isaiah 38:17
Isaiah 34:12 - "They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing."
Genesis 34:17 - "But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone."
Isaiah 34:9 - "And the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch."
Job 34:17 - "Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?"
Numbers 34:17 - "These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun."
Isaiah 34:5 - "For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment."
"Thou shalt make thee no molten gods." - Exodus 34:17
2 Chronicles 34:17 - "And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen."
Isaiah 34:13 - "And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls."
Isaiah 34:7 - "And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness."
Luke 17:34 - "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left."
"For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion." - Isaiah 34:8
Isaiah 34:11 - "¶ But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness."
Acts 17:34 - "Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them."
Isaiah 34:1 - "Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it."
Isaiah 34:15 - "There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate."
Isaiah 34:2 - "For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter."
1 Samuel 17:34 - "And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:"
Ezekiel 34:17 - "And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats."