Isaiah 64:10

10 ¹Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

Isaiah 64:10 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 64:10

Thy holy cities are a wilderness
Meaning either Zion, the city of David, and Jerusalem; the one called the upper, the other the lower city; now uninhabited, and a mere wilderness: or else the other cities of Judea, in which were formerly synagogues for religious service, and in which dwelt many godly families where the worship of God was kept up; but now a desert, at least quite devoid of true religion and godliness. Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation;
which are either explanative of the holy cities in the preceding clauses, or are mentioned as distinct from them; the account proceeding from the lesser to the metropolitan cities, which fared no better than they did, but equally lay desolate; and which fulfilled the prophecy in ( Micah 3:12 ) and was the case of those cities, at the destruction of them by Titus; and to this day are in a ruinous condition in the hands of the Turks.

Isaiah 64:10 In-Context

8 But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

9 Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.

10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness; Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

11 Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, has been burned by fire, and all our pleasant places have become ruins.

12 Will you restrain yourself at these things, O LORD? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 1:3; Nehemiah 2:3