Isaiah47
King James Version · Public Domain
1Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
2Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
3Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.
4As for our redeemer, the Lord of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.
5Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.
6I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.
7And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
8Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
9But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
10For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
11Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
12Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
13Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
14Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it.
15Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 47.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: God's judgments on Babylon. (1-6). Carelessness and confidence shall not prevent the evil. (7-15).
vv1-6
Babylon is represented under the emblem of a female in deep distress. She was to be degraded and endure sufferings; and is represented sitting on the ground, grinding at the handmill, the lowest and most laborious service. God was righteous in his vengeance, and none should interpose. The prophet exults in the Lord of hosts, as the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel. God often permits wicked men to prevail against his people; but those who cruelly oppress them will be punished.
vv7-15
Let us beware of acting and speaking as Babylon did; of trusting in tyranny and oppression; of boasting as to our abilities, relying on ourselves, and ascribing success to our own prudence and wisdom; lest we partake of her plagues. Those in the height of prosperity, are apt to fancy themselves out of the reach of adversity. It is also common for sinners to think they shall be safe, because they think to be secret in wicked ways. But their security shall be their ruin. Let us draw from such passages as the foregoing, those lessons of humility and trust in God which they convey. If we believe the word of God, we may know how it will be with the righteous and the wicked to all eternity. We may learn how to escape the wrath to come, to glorify God, to have peace through life, hope in death, and everlasting happiness. Let us then stand aloof from all delusions.
Key Words
יָרַד: to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications)
יָשַׁב: properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
עָפָר: dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
בְּתוּלָה: a virgin (from her privacy); sometimes (by continuation) a bride; also (figuratively) a city or state
בַּת: a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
בָּבֶל: Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אַיִן: a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle
כִּסֵּא: properly, covered, i.e. a throne (as canopied)
כַּשְׂדִּי: a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people
Cross References
Isaiah 47Mystic Babylon directly mimics the historical Babylon's boast: 'I sit a queen, and am no widow.'
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels Israel's bold acclamation of her strong Redeemer (Jehovah of hosts) against her Babylonian oppressors.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God was but a little displeased, but the heathen nations helped forward the affliction without mercy.
Supported by JFB
The exact same arrogant self-deification ('I am, and there is none besides me') applied to Nineveh.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Grinding at the millstones is highlighted as the most humiliating labor reserved for slaves.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God judges the Chaldeans because they rejoiced and were glad while destroying His heritage.
Supported by JFB
Like Babylon, Jerusalem sinned because she 'remembereth not her last end' (latter end).
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Depicts the wicked man's practical atheism: 'He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten...'
Supported by JFB
The posture of mourning and extreme degradation is sitting in silence on the ground.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates the daily ancient task of 'two women grinding at the mill' referenced in Isaiah's judgment.
Supported by JFB
Refers to the ultimate societal contrast from the king to 'the maidservant behind the mill.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts Babylon's title 'lady of kingdoms' with her ultimate ruin as 'the glory of kingdoms.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Laments that the Chaldeans showed no mercy to the elderly, hanging princes and dishonoring elders.
Supported by JFB
God desires wisdom that considers 'their latter end,' which Babylon foolishly ignored.
Supported by John Calvin
The sudden, single-night fulfillment of Babylon's catastrophic downfall under Belshazzar.
Supported by JFB