The prophet begins with the word Behold to call on his audience to pay close attention to what he is about to say (for this word see the comments on 3.1). In the rest of the verse he announces that Yahweh will destroy the world beyond recognition, and scatter its inhabitants all over. This verse summarizes the whole chapter.

The LORD will lay waste the earth: The Hebrew verb rendered will lay waste is a participle, so it refers to something that will happen soon. Will lay waste the earth means the earth will be completely devastated/destroyed. The keyword earth occurs here for the first time in this chapter. It refers specifically to the inhabited world.

And make it desolate adds to the picture of a devastated landscape in the previous clause. This clause refers to a world without inhabitants. The word desolate has been used by Revised Standard Version in 1.7; 5.9; and 6.11. Although the Hebrew word here is different, the meaning is the same.

And he will twist its surface is literally “and he will distort its face.” This is another figurative expression for destroying the earth. Revised English Bible says “and turn it upside down” (similarly New American Bible). New Jerusalem Bible pictures an earthquake by saying “buckles its surface” (see verses 19-20). Contemporary English Version has “The LORD is going to twist the earth out of shape.”

And scatter its inhabitants: Yahweh will also cause the people who live on the earth to scatter and become aliens throughout it. The prophet often speaks of people fleeing when there is destruction (see 10.31; 13.14). It is obvious that this verse uses highly poetic imagery since it says Yahweh will empty the world of its people, but then he will scatter them all over it.

For the translation of this verse consider the following examples:

• Listen/Look! Yahweh is about to strip the earth and make it a desolate place.
He will buckle its surface and scatter its inhabitants.

• Listen closely! Yahweh is going to empty the earth and make it a wasteland.
He will destroy its surface and scatter its people.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .