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Isaiah 64:10

Isaiah 64:10 in Multiple Translations

Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation.

Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Thy holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion is become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Your holy towns have become a waste, Zion has become a waste, Jerusalem is a mass of broken walls.

Your holy cities have been turned into a wilderness; Zion has become a desert; yes, even Jerusalem is an abandoned ruin.

Thine holy cities lye waste: Zion is a wildernes, and Ierusalem a desart.

Thy holy cities have been a wilderness, Zion a wilderness hath been, Jerusalem a desolation.

Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

The city of thy sanctuary is become a desert, Sion is made a desert, Jerusalem is desolate.

All of your towns in Judah have become like [MET] deserts; even Jerusalem has been destroyed.

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Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 64:10

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Isaiah 64:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
HEB בֵּ֧ית קָדְשֵׁ֣/נוּ וְ/תִפְאַרְתֵּ֗/נוּ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִֽלְל֨וּ/ךָ֙ אֲבֹתֵ֔י/נוּ הָיָ֖ה לִ/שְׂרֵ֣פַת אֵ֑שׁ וְ/כָל מַחֲמַדֵּ֖י/נוּ הָיָ֥ה לְ/חָרְבָּֽה
בֵּ֧ית bayith H1004 place N-ms
קָדְשֵׁ֣/נוּ qôdesh H6944 Holy Place N-ms | Suff
וְ/תִפְאַרְתֵּ֗/נוּ tiphʼârâh H8597 beauty Conj | N-fs | Suff
אֲשֶׁ֤ר ʼăsher H834 which Rel
הִֽלְל֨וּ/ךָ֙ hâlal H1984 to shine V-Piel-Perf-3cp | Suff
אֲבֹתֵ֔י/נוּ ʼâb H1 father N-mp | Suff
הָיָ֖ה hâyâh H1961 to be V-Qal-Perf-3ms
לִ/שְׂרֵ֣פַת sᵉrêphâh H8316 fire Prep | N-fs
אֵ֑שׁ ʼêsh H784 fire N-cs
וְ/כָל kôl H3605 all Conj | N-ms
מַחֲמַדֵּ֖י/נוּ machmâd H4261 desire N-mp | Suff
הָיָ֥ה hâyâh H1961 to be V-Qal-Perf-3ms
לְ/חָרְבָּֽה chorbâh H2723 desolation Prep | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study

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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 64:10

בֵּ֧ית bayith H1004 "place" N-ms
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
קָדְשֵׁ֣/נוּ qôdesh H6944 "Holy Place" N-ms | Suff
The Holy Place refers to a sacred or set-apart area, like the temple in Jerusalem. It is a place of sanctity and holiness, where God is worshipped. The Bible describes it as a place of reverence and awe.
Definition: This name means apartness, holiness, sacredness Also named: hagion (ἅγιον "Holy Place" G0039)
Usage: Occurs in 380 OT verses. KJV: consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary. See also: Exodus 3:5; Leviticus 23:4; 1 Chronicles 26:26.
וְ/תִפְאַרְתֵּ֗/נוּ tiphʼârâh H8597 "beauty" Conj | N-fs | Suff
This Hebrew word describes something beautiful or glorious, like a lovely garment or a person's honor. In the Bible, it is used to describe God's glory, as well as the beauty of creation and human achievements, as seen in Psalm and Isaiah.
Definition: 1) beauty, splendour, glory 1a) beauty, finery (of garments, jewels) 1b) glory 1b1) of rank, renown 1b2) as attribute of God 1c) honour (or nation Israel) 1d) glorying, boasting (of individual)
Usage: Occurs in 50 OT verses. KJV: beauty(-iful), bravery, comely, fair, glory(-ious), honour, majesty. See also: Exodus 28:2; Isaiah 28:4; Psalms 71:8.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר ʼăsher H834 "which" Rel
This Hebrew word is a conjunction that connects ideas and events in the Bible, like in the book of Genesis, where it's used to describe the relationship between God and His creation.
Definition: A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when
Usage: Occurs in 4440 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, [idiom] alike, as (soon as), because, [idiom] every, for, [phrase] forasmuch, [phrase] from whence, [phrase] how(-soever), [idiom] if, (so) that ((thing) which, wherein), [idiom] though, [phrase] until, [phrase] whatsoever, when, where ([phrase] -as, -in, -of, -on, -soever, -with), which, whilst, [phrase] whither(-soever), who(-m, -soever, -se). As it is indeclinable, it is often accompanied by the personal pronoun expletively, used to show the connection. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 20:9; Genesis 31:16.
הִֽלְל֨וּ/ךָ֙ hâlal H1984 "to shine" V-Piel-Perf-3cp | Suff
To be foolish means to act wildly or make a show, like the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:29. It can also mean to celebrate or boast, as in Psalm 38:5.
Definition: 1) to shine 1a) (Qal) to shine (fig. of God's favour) 1b) (Hiphil) to flash forth light
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. See also: Genesis 12:15; Psalms 113:1; Psalms 5:6.
אֲבֹתֵ֔י/נוּ ʼâb H1 "father" N-mp | Suff
In Hebrew, this word means father, whether literal or figurative. It is used to describe God as the father of his people, as well as human fathers like Abraham. The word is about a paternal relationship or authority.
Definition: 1) father of an individual 2) of God as father of his people 3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan 4) ancestor 4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person 4b) of people 5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art 6) of producer, generator (fig.) 7) of benevolence and protection (fig.) 8) term of respect and honour 9) ruler or chief (spec.) Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
Usage: Occurs in 1060 OT verses. KJV: chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. See also: Genesis 2:24; Genesis 42:37; Leviticus 19:3.
הָיָ֖ה hâyâh H1961 "to be" V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לִ/שְׂרֵ֣פַת sᵉrêphâh H8316 "fire" Prep | N-fs
This Hebrew word refers to burning or cremation, and is used in the Bible to describe the act of burning something, like in Amos 6:10. It can also mean a burning or a fire, and is often associated with purification or destruction. The word is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: burning
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: burning. See also: Genesis 11:3; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Isaiah 9:4.
אֵ֑שׁ ʼêsh H784 "fire" N-cs
Fire is a powerful symbol in the Bible, representing both God's anger and his refining presence, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:24 and Malachi 3:2-3. It is also used for cooking and warmth. This concept is central to many biblical stories.
Definition: 1) fire 1a) fire, flames 1b) supernatural fire (accompanying theophany) 1c) fire (for cooking, roasting, parching) 1d) altar-fire 1e) God's anger (fig.) Aramaic equivalent: esh (אֶשָּׁא "fire" H0785)
Usage: Occurs in 348 OT verses. KJV: burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot. See also: Genesis 15:17; Joshua 7:15; Psalms 11:6.
וְ/כָל kôl H3605 "all" Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
מַחֲמַדֵּ֖י/נוּ machmâd H4261 "desire" N-mp | Suff
A delight or object of affection, this word describes something desirable, as seen in KJV translations as beloved or pleasant things. It represents a cherished or lovely thing.
Definition: desire, desirable thing, pleasant thing
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: beloved, desire, goodly, lovely, pleasant (thing). See also: 1 Kings 20:6; Lamentations 2:4; Isaiah 64:10.
הָיָ֥ה hâyâh H1961 "to be" V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
לְ/חָרְבָּֽה chorbâh H2723 "desolation" Prep | N-fs
This word refers to a place that has been laid waste or destroyed, often due to war or disaster. In the Bible, it is used to describe the consequences of sin and disobedience. The prophet Ezekiel used this word to describe a desolate city.
Definition: a place laid waste, ruin, waste, desolation
Usage: Occurs in 42 OT verses. KJV: decayed place, desolate (place, -tion), destruction, (laid) waste (place). See also: Leviticus 26:31; Jeremiah 27:17; Psalms 9:7.

Study Notes — Isaiah 64:10

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Isaiah 1:7 Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you— a desolation demolished by strangers.
2 Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
3 2 Chronicles 36:19–21 Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value. Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD through Jeremiah.
4 Daniel 9:26–27 Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and will have nothing. Then the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood, and until the end there will be war; desolations have been decreed. And he will confirm a covenant with many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of the temple will come the abomination that causes desolation, until the decreed destruction is poured out upon him. ”
5 2 Kings 25:9 He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building.
6 Psalms 79:1–7 The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those around us. How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name, for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.
7 Daniel 12:7 And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”
8 Revelation 11:1–2 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the number of worshipers there. But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
9 Lamentations 2:4–8 He has bent His bow like an enemy; His right hand is positioned. Like a foe He has killed all who were pleasing to the eye; He has poured out His wrath like fire on the tent of the Daughter of Zion. The Lord is like an enemy; He has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for the Daughter of Judah. He has laid waste His tabernacle like a garden booth; He has destroyed His place of meeting. The LORD has made Zion forget her appointed feasts and Sabbaths. In His fierce anger He has despised both king and priest. The Lord has rejected His altar; He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has delivered the walls of her palaces into the hand of the enemy. They have raised a shout in the house of the LORD as on the day of an appointed feast. The LORD determined to destroy the wall of the Daughter of Zion. He stretched out a measuring line and did not withdraw His hand from destroying. He made the ramparts and walls lament; together they waste away.
10 Lamentations 5:18 because of Mount Zion, which lies desolate, patrolled by foxes.

Isaiah 64:10 Summary

[Isaiah 64:10 is a sad and powerful verse that describes how the special cities of God's people, like Zion and Jerusalem, have become empty and destroyed, much like a wilderness. This happened because of the people's sins and disobedience, as warned in Deuteronomy 28:15-68. Despite this, God's people can still cry out to Him for mercy and forgiveness, just like they do in Isaiah 64, and trust in His promise to restore and revive them, as seen in Psalm 85:1-13.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean when it says 'Your holy cities have become a wilderness' in Isaiah 64:10?

This phrase is a lamentation of how the once sacred and thriving cities of God's people have become desolate and empty, much like the wilderness, a state that is reminiscent of the consequences of disobedience seen in Deuteronomy 28:15-68.

Why is Zion described as a wasteland and Jerusalem as a desolation in Isaiah 64:10?

Zion and Jerusalem, being the central places of worship and the dwelling place of God's presence, are described in this state to highlight the severity of the spiritual and physical devastation that has befallen God's people, a condition that prompts the people to cry out to God for mercy and restoration, as seen in Isaiah 63:15-64:12.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah 64?

Isaiah 64:10 is part of a larger prayer of repentance and plea for restoration, where the people acknowledge their sins and the consequent desolation of their cities, seeking God's forgiveness and revival, echoing the sentiments expressed in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

What can we learn from the contrast between the former glory of these cities and their current state in Isaiah 64:10?

The contrast between the former glory of these cities and their current desolate state serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of seeking God's mercy and restoration, a lesson that is reinforced by passages like Psalm 85:1-13 and Isaiah 40:1-31.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do I respond when I see the spiritual and physical devastation around me, and what can I learn from the example of God's people in Isaiah 64:10?
  2. In what ways can I, like the prophet Isaiah, intercede for my community and nation, praying for their restoration and revival?
  3. What are some personal or communal sins that may have contributed to a sense of desolation or wilderness in my own life or community, and how can I seek God's forgiveness and restoration?
  4. How can the promise of God's presence and restoration, as seen in verses like Isaiah 43:1-7, bring hope and comfort in the midst of desolation and wilderness?

Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 64:10

Thy holy cities are a wilderness,.... Meaning either Zion, the city of David, and Jerusalem; the one called the upper, the other the lower city; now uninhabited, and a mere wilderness: or else the

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 64:10

Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 64:10

Thy holy cities; either Zion and Jerusalem, being the cities they instance in: q.d. Thy holy cities, viz. Zion and Jerusalem: or rather, other cities also in the land of Judea besides those two; called holy, either, 1. Because they were built upon God’ s inheritance, . Or, 2. Because they were inhabited by the Jews, who were a holy people, . Or, 3. Because God had his synagogues in them, . For all which reasons also they are called thy cities. A desolation; utterly waste; not only the ordinary cities, but even Jerusalem and Zion themselves; the one called the upper Jerusalem, or the city of David, because it was built upon Mount Zion; the other the lower city, because it lay under the hill of Zion in the valley: he particularizeth Zion and Jerusalem, though he had mentioned the other cities before, because the chiefest of the cities; it being usual, notwithstanding the mentioning of generals, in which all the particulars or individuals are included, to name the particular again; as, and from the hand of Saul, .

Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 64:10

Isaiah 64:10 Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.Ver. 10. Thy holy cities are a wilderness.] And is that for thine honour. "Behold, see, we beseech thee."

Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 64:10

(10) Thy holy cities . . .—There is no other instance of the plural, and this probably led the LXX. and Vulg. to substitute the singular. It probably rests on the thought that the whole land was holy (Zechariah 2:12), and that this attribute extended, therefore, to all its cities, especially to those which were connected with historical memories. Possibly, however, Zion and Jerusalem—the former identified with the Temple, the latter with the people of Jehovah—are thought of as two distinct cities, locally united. The “wilderness” is, as elsewhere, rather open pasture-land than a sandy desert.

Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 64:10

8–12. The prayer now ends in a direct and touching supplication, supported by various pleas, that Jehovah will at last cause His wrath against His people to cease.

Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 64:10

Thy holy cities are a wilderness - It is to be remembered that this is supposed to be spoken near the close of the exile in Babylon.

Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 64:10

10, 11. Thy holy cities are a wilderness — In the interest of anti-supernaturalism many German and some English interpreters claim support from these verses.

Sermons on Isaiah 64:10

SermonDescription
A.W. Pink 1 John 2:2 by A.W. Pink A.W. Pink examines 1 John 2:2, arguing against the interpretation that Christ's propitiation is universal for all humanity. He emphasizes that the verse is specifically addressing
Ray Ortlund Jr. God Comes Down to Us by Ray Ortlund Jr. Ray Ortlund Jr. preaches about the significance of the church being the salt of the earth and light of the world, emphasizing the importance of the church's condition for the world
Ian Paisley Contrasting Picture of Life and Death by Ian Paisley In this sermon, the preacher discusses the challenges and struggles of life, comparing them to footmen in a race. He emphasizes that everyone will face disappointments, sickness, s
Oswald J. Smith The Return of Jesus Christ to Earth by Oswald J. Smith In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that the world is becoming increasingly evil and corrupt as we approach the end times. He refers to Acts 15:14-18 as the most important prop
Zac Poonen Walking With God in Your Generation (Norwegian) by Zac Poonen This sermon emphasizes the importance of walking with God and living a life that pleases Him, drawing inspiration from the examples of Enoch and Noah. It challenges young people to
Zac Poonen Jerusalem in Last Days Prophecy by Zac Poonen This sermon delves into the prophecies concerning Jerusalem and Iraq in the last days, highlighting the significance of these locations in biblical end-time events. It emphasizes t
Lewis Sperry Chafer Prophecy in the New Testament by Lewis Sperry Chafer Lewis Sperry Chafer delves into the intricate relationship between Old and New Testament prophecies, highlighting the seamless continuity and fulfillment of divine purposes through

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