Isaiah 24:12 Meaning and Explanation
“In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Cities are left desolate; their gates—symbols of order and welcome—are destroyed.
The Context of Isaiah 24:12
City gates as symbols of societal collapse.
What Does Isaiah 24:12 Mean?
The gate (שַׁעַר, shaʿar) was the center of community life and justice in ancient Israel. Its destruction symbolizes not just physical ruin but the collapse of the social order it represented.
Desolation left behind suggests something more than temporary destruction—it is abandonment and emptying. The gate remains smitten, unable to function, a monument to what was lost.
Isaiah 24:12 in the Original Language
gate (שַׁעַר) — shaʿar; the gathering place for justice, commerce, and defense; its destruction signals the end of organized society.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 24:12
What does Isaiah 24:12 mean?
Cities are left desolate; their gates—symbols of order and welcome—are destroyed.
What is the context of Isaiah 24:12?
City gates as symbols of societal collapse.