All ye beasts of the field, come to devour, yea, all ye beasts in the forest.

ISAIAH 56:9KJV
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Isaiah 56:9 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 56:9 mean?

Isaiah 56:9 calls wild animals to come and eat, using the threat of an attack to introduce a warning about danger facing God’s people. The startling invitation prepares the reader for the description of careless leaders that follows.

The animals from both field and forest picture danger gathering from many directions. The verse gives the command as a prophetic announcement; the following verses compare the people’s leaders to watchmen and shepherds who fail to protect those in their care.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 56:9

  • “beasts” — חַיָּה (ḥayyah): The word can refer broadly to living creatures, including wild animals. Here, the call to “devour” gives the creatures their threatening role.
  • “come” — אָתָה (atah): The word means to come or arrive. Its command form makes the scene an invitation to the animals, not merely a prediction that danger will come.

Why Isaiah 56:9 matters

  • Isaiah 56:9 marks a sharp change in tone. After the welcome extended to others in verse 8, the call to devour brings a warning into the passage.
  • The danger is linked to failed leadership, not just to the strength of the attackers. Verse 10 describes watchmen as blind and unable to sound an alarm.
  • The animal image leads into another picture of neglected care. Verse 11 calls the leaders shepherds who look after their own gain, helping explain why the people are exposed.

Where else these words appear

“come” Hebrew H857 · used in 20 verses

  • Deuteronomy 33:2 And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
  • Psalms 68:31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
  • Isaiah 41:25 I have raised up one from the north, and he shall come: from the rising of the sun shall he call upon my name: and he shall come upon princes as upon morter, and as the potter treadeth clay.

“forest” Hebrew H3293 · used in 58 verses

  • Deuteronomy 19:5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:
  • Psalms 83:14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
  • Isaiah 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.