Bible Strands
Isaiah 24:16
From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet speaks as a witness to global worship, then shifts to a first-person lament amid widespread covenant violation. The moment marks a transition from distant praise to immediate personal and national crisis.
The words — The noun רָזִי־ (ra.zi-) literally means "leanness" or wasting away, describing physical and spiritual depletion. The verb שָׁמַ֙עְנוּ֙ (sha.Ma'.nu) means "we have heard," grounding the distant song in auditory report.
The thread — The pattern of betrayal appears in Isaiah 21:2 and Jeremiah 3:20, where treachery breaks covenant relationships. This theme echoes the warning in Isaiah 33:1 against the destroyer who becomes destroyed.
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that widespread faithlessness accompanies both corporate worship and personal despair. It requires the reader to confront the reality that divine glory does not erase human treachery or suffering.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 21:2 A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.”
- Isaiah 33:1 Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed.
- Jeremiah 3:20 But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 5:11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to Me,” declares the LORD.
- Exodus 15:11 Who among the gods is like You, O LORD? Who is like You—majestic in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders?
- Psalms 2:8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
- Psalms 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD. All the families of the nations will bow down before Him.
- Psalms 58:10 The righteous will rejoice when they see they are avenged; they will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
- Psalms 67:7 God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
- Psalms 72:8 May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.