Isaiah 8:22

Verse

Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

American Standard Version (1901)

and they shall look unto the earth, and, behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and into thick darkness they shall be driven away.

Bible in Basic English

And he will be looking down on the earth, and there will be trouble and dark clouds, black night where there is no seeing.

Free Bible Version

Then they will look towards the earth and see only misery and gloom and agonizing depression, and they will be thrown out into the darkness.

Geneva Bible 1599

And when he shall looke to the earth, beholde trouble, and darkenes, vexation and anguish, and he is driuen to darkenes.

King James (Authorized) Version

And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

One Unity Resource Bible

and look to the earth, and see distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness.

Translation for Translators

They will look around the land and see only trouble/distress and darkness and things that cause them to despair. And then they will be thrown into the very black darkness of hell.

Unlocked Literal Bible

They will look at the earth and see distress, darkness, and oppressive gloom. They will be driven into a land of darkness.

Noah Webster Bible

And they shall look to the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

World English Bible

then look to the earth and see distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness.

Young's Literal Translation

And unto the land it looketh attentively, And lo, adversity and darkness! — Dimness, distress, and thick darkness is driven away, But not the dimness for which she is in distress!

Context

Darkness and Light

²¹They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.²²Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

Summary

This verse reflects the despair and darkness that the people of Judah were experiencing due to their disobedience and rejection of God. The mention of distress and hunger symbolizes their spiritual emptiness and longing for God's presence. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the hopelessness that results from living in sin. Ultimately, it points to the need for repentance and returning to God for true fulfillment and restoration.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And they shall look unto the earth,.... As persons in distress, upwards and downwards, backwards and forwards, on the right hand and on the left, particularly into the land of Judea; a land that used to flow with milk and honey, a land of light, plenty, and prosperity: and behold trouble and darkness; adversity, and miseries of all kinds, expressed by a variety of words; and even words fail to express the tribulation of these times, which were such as were not from the beginning of the world, Mat 24:22, dimness of anguish; or "fleeing from affliction" (e), multitudes everywhere fleeing from one place to another, to avoid the calamities coming upon them, Mat 24:16, and they shall be driven to darkness; when they endeavour to escape one calamity, they shall be driven and fall into another; the whole land shall be full of nothing else. (e) a "volare", Forerius. Next: Isaiah Chapter 9