Isaiah 6:11

Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Isaiah speaks to God immediately after receiving a vision of divine holiness and a commission to pronounce judgment on a hardened people. The exchange occurs right after God declares a period of prophetic hardening in Isaiah 6:10.

The words — The Hebrew עַד־ (‘ad) appears twice, literally meaning “until,” framing the duration of the coming judgment. מָתַ֖י (maṯay) translates as “when?” or “how long?” and marks Isaiah’s direct plea for a timeline.

The thread — The “how long” lament structure runs in Psalms 90:13 and Psalms 94:3, where petitioners ask God for the duration of suffering or divine patience. The desolation motif parallels Leviticus 26:31, which predicts cities reduced to rubble and sanctuaries laid waste.

Why it lands — The text demands a reader confront the fixed timeline of divine judgment and the reality of prolonged desolation before any restoration. It requires acknowledging that prophetic warnings carry concrete historical consequences rather than abstract warnings.

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

וָאֹמַ֕רva./'o.Marand/ I said עַד־'ad-until מָתַ֖יma.Taiwhen?אֲדֹנָ֑י'a.do.NaiO Lord וַיֹּ֡אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said עַ֣ד'aduntil אֲשֶׁר֩'a.Sherthat אִם־'im-<if>שָׁא֨וּsha.'Uthey have lain desolate עָרִ֜ים'a.Rimcities מֵאֵ֣יןme./'Einfrom/ not יוֹשֵׁ֗בyo.Shevinhabitant וּבָתִּים֙u./va.Timand/ houses מֵאֵ֣יןme./'Einfrom/ not אָדָ֔ם'a.Damanyone וְהָאֲדָמָ֖הve./ha./'a.da.Mahand/ the/ ground תִּשָּׁאֶ֥הti.sha.'Ehit will be devastated שְׁמָמָֽה׃she.ma.Maha desolation

King James Version

Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

Cross-references

Leviticus 26:31 I will reduce your cities to rubble and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will refuse to smell the pleasing aroma of your sacrifices.
Psalms 90:13 Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.
Psalms 94:3 How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?
Isaiah 1:7 Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you—a desolation demolished by strangers.
Isaiah 3:26 And the gates of Zion will lament and mourn; destitute, she will sit on the ground.
Isaiah 24:1 Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants—
Psalms 79:5 How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
Psalms 74:10 How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?