Isaiah 26:21

For behold, the LORD is coming out of His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will reveal her bloodshed and will no longer conceal her slain.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet addresses Israel immediately after instructing them to hide in their rooms until wrath passes. This declaration marks the transition from the people's concealment to God's active emergence from His sanctuary.

The words — The term יֹצֵא (yo.Tze') literally means "[is] about to go forth," paired with לִ/פְקֹד (li/f.Kod), which translates as "to visit" or execute judgment. These verbs frame Yahweh’s departure from His dwelling as a deliberate movement toward accountability.

The thread — God emerging to judge the earth appears in Isaiah 13:11 and aligns with the coming judgment in Jude 1:14 and Revelation 6:9. The image of the earth no longer concealing the slain parallels the martyrs revealed under the altar in Revelation 6:9.

Why it lands — The text states that God will punish iniquity and that the earth will stop hiding its bloodshed. Readers must acknowledge that divine judgment is inevitable and that concealment will not protect the guilty.

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

כִּֽי־ki-for הִנֵּ֤הhi.Nehthere!יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh יֹצֵ֣אyo.Tze'[is] about to go forth מִמְּקוֹמ֔וֹmi./me.ko.M/ofrom/ place/ his לִפְקֹ֛דli/f.Kodto/ visit עֲוֹ֥ן'a.Von[the] iniquity of יֹֽשֵׁב־yo.shev-[the] inhabitant[s] of הָאָ֖רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ earth עָלָ֑יו'a.La/von/ him וְגִלְּתָ֤הve./gi.le.Tahand/ it will reveal הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ha./'A.retzthe/ earth אֶת־'et-<obj.>דָּמֶ֔יהָda.Mei./hablood<s>/ its וְלֹֽא־ve./lo'-and/ not תְכַסֶּ֥הte.kha.Sehit will cover ע֖וֹדodstill עַל־'al-over הֲרוּגֶֽיהָ׃ סha.ru.Gei./haslain [ones]/ its

King James Version

For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

Cross-references

Isaiah 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.
Jude 1:14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
Revelation 6:9 And when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld.
Job 16:18 O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry for help never be laid to rest.
Isaiah 18:4 For this is what the LORD has told me: “I will quietly look on from My dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
Micah 1:3 For behold, the LORD comes forth from His dwelling place; He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth.
Numbers 35:32 Nor should you accept a ransom for the person who flees to a city of refuge and allow him to return and live on his own land before the death of the high priest.
Revelation 16:6 For they have spilled the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink, as they deserve.”
Genesis 4:10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
Psalms 50:2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.