Isaiah47
World English Bible · Public Domain
1“Come down and sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called tender and delicate.
2Take the millstones and grind flour. Remove your veil, lift up your skirt, uncover your legs, and wade through the rivers.
3Your nakedness will be uncovered. Yes, your shame will be seen. I will take vengeance, and will spare no one.”
4Our Redeemer, Yahweh of Armies is his name, is the Holy One of Israel.
5“Sit in silence, and go into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans. For you shall no longer be called the mistress of kingdoms.
6I was angry with my people. I profaned my inheritance and gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy. You laid a very heavy yoke on the aged.
7You said, ‘I will be a princess forever,’ so that you didn’t lay these things to your heart, nor did you remember the results.
8“Now therefore hear this, you who are given to pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me. I won’t sit as a widow, neither will I know the loss of children.’
9But these two things will come to you in a moment in one day: the loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in their full measure, in the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments.
10For you have trusted in your wickedness. You have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and your knowledge has perverted you. You have said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else besides me.’
11Therefore disaster will come on you. You won’t know when it dawns. Mischief will fall on you. You won’t be able to put it away. Desolation will come on you suddenly, which you don’t understand.
12“Stand now with your enchantments and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth, as if you might profit, as if you might prevail.
13You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. Now let the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from the things that will happen to you.
14Behold, they are like stubble. The fire will burn them. They won’t deliver themselves from the power of the flame. It won’t be a coal to warm at or a fire to sit by.
15The things that you labored in will be like this: those who have trafficked with you from your youth will each wander in his own way. There will be no one to save you.
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