Isa 24:17-18 | NETfull | STEP | Terror, pit, and snare are ready to overtake you inhabitants of the earth!

Isaiah 24:17-18

17 Terror, pit, and snare
are ready to overtake you inhabitants of the earth! ^{▼▼ Heb “[are] upon you, O inhabitant of the earth.” The first line of v. 17 provides another classic example of Hebrew wordplay. The names of the three instruments of judgment (פָח,פַחַת,פַּחַד [pakhad, fakhat, fakh]) all begin with the letters פח (peh-khet) and the first two end in dental consonants (ת/ד, tet/dalet). Once again the repetition of sound draws attention to the statement and contributes to the theme of the inescapability of judgment. As their similar-sounding names suggest, terror, pit, and snare are allies in destroying the objects of divine wrath.}
18 The one who runs away from the sound of the terror
will fall into the pit; ^{▼▼ The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.}
the one who climbs out of the pit,
will be trapped by the snare.
For the floodgates of the heavens ^{▼▼ Heb “from the height”; KJV “from on high.”} are opened up ^{▼▼ The language reflects the account of the Noahic Flood (see Gen 7:11).}
and the foundations of the earth shake.