And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
You will be brought down low, and you will speak from the ground. Your voice will come up faintly from the dust, and your words will be like those of a spirit speaking from beneath the earth—your speech will be nothing more than a whisper rising from the dust.
God is warning that those who oppose Him will be humbled so completely that they'll be reduced to speaking weakly from the ground like ghostly whispers.
📚 Historical Context
This prophecy was directed at Jerusalem (called Ariel in the previous verses) during a time when the city faced threats from Assyrian invasion. The imagery of speaking 'from the ground' and 'out of the dust' refers to the ancient practice of necromancy—consulting spirits of the dead who were believed to speak in whispers from beneath the earth. Isaiah is saying Jerusalem will be so devastated that its voice will be as faint and powerless as these supposed spirit voices.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.