The once prosperous agricultural land would be overrun by briers and thorns and serve only as grazing land.
Isaiah had prophesied that if the people (“ye”; plural, vv. 9 and 13) did not believe and hearken, they would not be established permanently in the land, though he made it clear that Judah would not be totally destroyed; a remnant would return to the land and to their God, for the Messiah would come through Judah (which was comforting assurance of their destiny despite the temporary setbacks).