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.
Thorns will grow up in her palaces, and weeds and brambles will take over her fortresses. It will become a place where wild creatures live, and a dwelling place for owls.
This verse describes complete desolation - once-grand buildings will be overgrown with weeds and inhabited only by wild animals.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah 34 is part of a prophetic oracle against the nation of Edom, a long-standing enemy of Israel, written during the 8th century BC amid regional conflicts involving Assyria and other powers. The verse uses poetic imagery to depict the total desolation of Edom's once-mighty cities, symbolizing God's judgment for their hostility toward Israel and their idolatry. This reflects the historical reality of ancient Near Eastern warfare, where defeated lands often became uninhabitable wastelands.
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