Isaiah 47 meaning explained in AI Summary

Isaiah 47 is a chapter of lamentation and pronouncements of judgment against Babylon, the powerful and arrogant empire that had oppressed Israel. Here's a summary:

Babylon's Humiliation and Fall (Verses 1-5):

• Isaiah addresses Babylon as a "virgin daughter," signifying her pride and perceived invincibility, commanding her to come down from her throne and sit in the dust.
• The chapter paints a vivid picture of Babylon's humiliation, stripped of her former glory and forced into slavery.
• This downfall is attributed to God's judgment for her cruelty and arrogance towards Israel, God's chosen people.

Babylon's Sins (Verses 6-11):

• The chapter lists Babylon's transgressions:
  • Cruelty towards Israel: Babylon is accused of showing no mercy to God's people, making their yoke heavy.
  • Arrogance and Self-Indulgence: Babylon is described as feeling secure and boasting about her power, claiming to be "forever" and having no equal.
  • Idolatry and Sorcery: The text condemns Babylon's reliance on magic and sorcery, trusting in their wisdom and knowledge rather than in God.

The Ineffectiveness of Babylon's Magic (Verses 12-15):

• Isaiah mocks Babylon's reliance on astrology and sorcery.
• He declares that despite their enchantments and spells, their efforts to avert judgment will be futile.
• The "astrologers" and "stargazers" will be powerless against the fire of God's wrath.

Babylon's Complete Destruction (Verses 14-15):

• The chapter ends with a powerful image of Babylon's destruction.
• Her allies are depicted as fleeing, unable to help her.
• The fire of God's judgment will consume her, leaving her desolate and without hope.

Key Themes:

• God's Justice and Judgment: The chapter emphasizes that God will not tolerate the oppression of his people and will judge those who act with pride and cruelty.
• The Futility of Human Pride and Power: Babylon's fall serves as a warning against arrogance and self-reliance. True security comes only from God.
• The Emptiness of False Gods: Isaiah exposes the impotence of Babylon's idols and magic in the face of God's power.

Isaiah 47 is a powerful reminder that God is sovereign over all nations and will ultimately judge those who oppose him. It also offers hope to the oppressed, assuring them that God sees their suffering and will bring justice in his time.

Isaiah 47 bible study ai commentary

Isaiah 47 proclaims God's sovereign judgment upon the arrogant and idolatrous empire of Babylon. Personifying the city as a proud queen suddenly and violently debased to a slave, the prophecy serves as a divine taunt-song. It contrasts Babylon's self-deifying pride, cruel oppression, and reliance on occult wisdom with the absolute power and justice of Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel. This fall is not merely a political event but a theological one, demonstrating that no human empire or pagan belief system can withstand the will of the Holy One of Israel, who promises liberation for His people.

Isaiah 47 context

This chapter is a prophecy delivered by Isaiah in the 8th century BC, looking forward to events of the 6th century BC. It addresses the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which would later, in 586 BC, destroy Jerusalem and take the people of Judah into exile. At the time of this prophecy, Babylon was the world's superpower, renowned for its military might, immense wealth, architectural splendor (like the Ishtar Gate and ziggurats), and advanced knowledge, particularly in astrology and divination. This prophecy of Babylon's fall would be fulfilled in 539 BC when Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered the city, an event that paved the way for the Jews to return to their homeland. The chapter functions as a powerful word of comfort to the future exiles, assuring them that their oppressor is not eternal and will face divine justice.

Isaiah 47:1

Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate.

In-depth-analysis

• Come down and sit in the dust: This is a command for total humiliation. A throne signifies honor, power, and authority; the dust signifies debasement, mourning, and defeat. This is a dramatic reversal of status.
• Virgin daughter of Babylon: The term "virgin" signifies a city that had, until this point, never been conquered or violated by a foreign enemy. It highlights her seeming invincibility and pride.
• Daughter of the Chaldeans: The Chaldeans were the ruling ethnic and priestly class of the Neo-Babylonian empire, famous for their practice of astrology and magic. This identifies the leadership responsible for Babylon's character.
• No more be called tender and delicate: This refers to the loss of a luxurious, pampered, and protected lifestyle. The privileges of the elite will be stripped away.

Bible references

• Lamentations 2:10: "The elders of the daughter of Zion sit on the ground and keep silence; they have thrown dust on their heads..." (Perfect parallel of humbling, showing Babylon will suffer what she inflicted on Zion).
• Job 2:8: "And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes." (Imagery of utter desolation and grief).
• Revelation 18:7: "...she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, I am no widow, and will never see mourning.'" (Directly echoes Babylon's pride, which is about to be shattered).

Cross references

Jer 13:18 (humbling of royalty), Luke 1:52 (He has brought down the mighty from their thrones), Isa 3:26 (Zion sits on the ground), Jer 48:18 (call to Moab to come down from glory).

Isaiah 47:2

Take the millstones and grind meal; remove your veil, uncover your locks, make bare the leg, pass through the rivers.

In-depth-analysis

• Take the millstones and grind meal: This was the work of the lowest female slave. The queen is demoted to the most menial and physically demanding labor.
• Remove your veil, uncover your locks: A veiled woman in that culture was respectable and protected. To forcibly unveil her was an act of extreme public shame and dishonor.
• Make bare the leg, pass through the rivers: This imagery portrays a forced march into exile. Captives would have to lift their skirts to wade through rivers, a further sign of vulnerability, exposure, and loss of dignity.

Bible references

• Exodus 11:5: "...every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill..." (Highlights grinding as the lowest form of labor).
• Judges 16:21: "And the Philistines seized him [Samson] and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he was grinding in the prison." (Grinding as the work of a humbled captive).
• Nahum 3:5: "Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness..." (Parallel judgment of shame against Nineveh).

Cross references

Song 4:1 (beauty of a veiled bride - a contrast), Jer 13:22, 26 (Jerusalem's shame), Ezek 16:37 (Israel's allegorical stripping).

Isaiah 47:3

Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your shame shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will not meet you as a man.

In-depth-analysis

• Nakedness ... shame shall be seen: This confirms the intent of verse 2. The humiliation will be total and public. There will be no hiding her fall from the world.
• I will take vengeance: God explicitly claims responsibility. This is not a random political event but a deliberate act of divine retribution for Babylon's sins, particularly her cruelty towards Israel (v. 6).
• I will not meet you as a man: This is a crucial phrase with several layers of meaning. It means God’s judgment will not be limited by human weakness, it cannot be bought off or appeased by human means (as one might entreat a human conqueror), and it will be executed with overwhelming, irresistible divine power.

Bible references

• Deuteronomy 32:35: "'Vengeance is mine, and recompense...'” (Affirms vengeance as a divine prerogative).
• Romans 12:19: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.'" (NT principle quoting the OT, showing God as the ultimate judge).
• Habakkuk 2:8: "Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the peoples shall plunder you..." (The principle of lex talionis, retribution, applied to Babylon/Chaldeans).

Cross references

Nah 3:5 (shame of Nineveh), Heb 10:30-31 (fearful thing to fall into God's hands), Isa 34:8 (day of the Lord's vengeance for Zion), Luke 18:7 (God gives justice for His elect).

Isaiah 47:4

Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name—is the Holy One of Israel.

In-depth-analysis

• This verse is a liturgical interruption, a declaration of faith by Isaiah or the people of Israel.
• Our Redeemer (Go'el): This title signifies a kinsman-redeemer, one who has the duty to rescue, vindicate, and restore a relative who has fallen into debt, slavery, or trouble. God is acting as Israel’s next-of-kin to free them from Babylon.
• The LORD of hosts: A title emphasizing God's supreme power over all armies, both heavenly and earthly. This is the power He will use against Babylon.
• The Holy One of Israel: This title emphasizes God's transcendent moral purity and otherness. Babylon is being judged because its pride and cruelty are an affront to God's holiness.

Bible references

• Isaiah 43:14: "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'For your sake I will send to Babylon and bring them all down as fugitives...'" (Directly links the title of Redeemer to the act of judging Babylon).
• Jeremiah 50:34: "Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon." (A parallel prophecy using the same titles and theme).
• Psalm 78:35: "They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer." (Establishes Redeemer as a key name for God in Israel's history).

Cross references

Isa 41:14, Isa 44:6, 24, Isa 54:5, Pro 23:11, Job 19:25 (classic redeemer text).

Isaiah 47:5

Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the Lady of Kingdoms.

In-depth-analysis

• Sit in silence: A command for the proud, boisterous city to become silent. Its political influence, economic clamor, and boastful pronouncements will cease.
• Go into darkness: A metaphor for oblivion, obscurity, and death. The "light" of Babylon's glory will be extinguished.
• Lady of Kingdoms: This was Babylon’s self-appointed title, signifying its imperial dominion over other nations. God officially revokes this title, stripping the empire of its supremacy.

Bible references

• Revelation 18:23: "...and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more..." (Echoes the themes of silence and darkness in the fall of the eschatological Babylon).
• 1 Samuel 2:9: "...but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness..." (A principle from Hannah's song that the arrogant are brought to ruin).
• Lamentations 3:2: "He has driven me and brought me into darkness and not into light." (The experience of judgment as being cast into darkness).

Cross references

Isa 13:20 (Babylon will never be inhabited), Jer 25:10 (the sounds of life will cease), Job 18:5-6 (the lamp of the wicked is put out).

Isaiah 47:6

I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; on the old you laid a very heavy yoke.

In-depth-analysis

• I was angry... I gave them into your hand: God acknowledges His own sovereign purpose. The Babylonian exile was not an accident or a sign of God’s weakness; it was a deliberate act of divine discipline against Judah for their sins.
• You showed them no mercy: This is the core of God's charge against Babylon. While God used Babylon as an instrument of discipline, they acted with excessive cruelty and selfish ambition, not as agents of measured justice.
• On the old you laid a very heavy yoke: Mistreatment of the elderly was a profound violation of ancient Near Eastern law and morality. This specific charge highlights Babylon's extreme and heartless cruelty.

Bible references

• Zechariah 1:15: "...I was a little angry, and they furthered the disaster." (Perfectly summarizes the charge: God was disciplining, but the nations used it as an excuse for cruel opportunism).
• Deuteronomy 28:50: "...a nation of fierce face, who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young." (Part of the curse for disobedience, which Babylon fulfilled with cruelty).
• Habakkuk 1:5-11: (Describes God raising up the Chaldeans as his instrument of judgment, followed by Habakkuk's complaint about their injustice).

Cross references

Isa 10:5-7 (Assyria as the rod of God's anger with a proud heart), Jer 50:17, Jer 51:34-35 (complaints about Babylon's cruelty), Lam 4:16, Lam 5:12.

Isaiah 47:7

You said, ‘I shall be lady forever,’ so that you did not lay these things to your heart or remember their latter end.

In-depth-analysis

• I shall be lady forever: This reveals Babylon's sin of hubris and perceived self-sufficiency. She believed her power and dominion were permanent and inherent, forgetting they were granted by a higher power.
• Did not lay these things to your heart: A phrase for a complete lack of reflection, wisdom, or moral consideration.
• Remember their latter end: Babylon failed to consider the principle of divine justice—that how one acts will have future consequences. They lived only for the present, with no thought for eventual accountability.

Bible references

• Deuteronomy 32:29: "If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end." (Moses' song warns Israel of the very failure Babylon now commits: not considering the consequences of their actions).
• Revelation 18:7: "As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen...'" (Direct NT use of this verse's theme).
• Psalm 49:11: "Their inner thought is that their houses are forever..." (The folly of the wicked who believe their earthly status is permanent).

Cross references

Psa 10:6 (the wicked says 'I shall not be moved'), Dan 4:30 (Nebuchadnezzar's pride), Ecc 8:11 (because sentence is not executed speedily, men's hearts are set to do evil).

Isaiah 47:8

Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures, who sit securely, who say in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me; I shall not sit as a widow or know the loss of children.’

In-depth-analysis

• Lover of pleasures, who sit securely: Describes a decadent, complacent society that believes itself invulnerable to disaster.
• ‘I am, and there is no one besides me’: This is the pinnacle of blasphemy. Babylon arrogates to herself the unique signature phrase of God (Yahweh) Himself. She puts herself in the place of God.
• Not sit as a widow or know the loss of children: "Widow" refers to losing her king and national leadership. "Loss of children" refers to losing her population through war and destruction. She believes she is immune to the two greatest calamities that could befall a city.

Bible references

• Isaiah 45:5: "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no God." (The divine claim that Babylon blasphemously usurps).
• Zephaniah 2:15: "This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, ‘I am, and there is no one else.’ What a desolation she has become..." (Identical "I am" claim made by Nineveh, showing this is an archetypal sin of arrogant empires).
• Revelation 18:7: "...since in her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen, I am no widow, and will never see mourning.’" (The most direct NT quotation of this verse's attitude).

Cross references

Isa 45:6, 18, 21-22 (God's repeated "I AM" statements), Lam 1:1 (Jerusalem described as a widow), Pro 16:18 (pride before a fall).

Polemics

The declaration “I am, and there is no one besides me” is a direct polemic against the foundational claim of Babylonian imperial theology. The king of Babylon was seen as the regent of the chief god Marduk, and the city itself was the cosmic center of the world (axis mundi). By making this claim, Babylon asserts itself as the ultimate reality. Isaiah counters this by having Yahweh, the God of a tiny, exiled people, proclaim that He alone holds this title, thereby asserting His absolute sovereignty over Babylon's gods and its king.

Isaiah 47:9

These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day: the loss of children and widowhood; they shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of the multitude of your sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.

In-depth-analysis

• In a moment, in one day: Emphasizes the suddenness and shock of the collapse. Babylon's fall will not be a gradual decline but a catastrophic event, fulfilling the "loss of children and widowhood" from v. 8. Historically, Babylon fell to Cyrus overnight with little resistance.
• In full measure: The judgment will be complete and unmitigated.
• In spite of... your sorceries and enchantments: This directly attacks the source of Babylon’s security. They trusted in their magical arts, divination, and occult knowledge to protect them. God declares these practices are utterly powerless against His decree.

Bible references

• Revelation 18:8: "Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and mourning and famine—and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her." (Directly echoes the "in one day" theme).
• 1 Thessalonians 5:3: "While people are saying, 'There is peace and security,' then sudden destruction will come upon them..." (NT principle of sudden judgment on the complacent).
• Daniel 5:25-31: (The story of Belshazzar's feast, where the writing on the wall predicts Babylon's immediate fall, which happens "that very night").

Cross references

Jer 51:8 (Suddenly Babylon has fallen), Psa 73:19 (how they are destroyed in a moment!), Dan 2:1-2 (Babylon's reliance on magicians and sorcerers).

Isaiah 47:10

You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me’; your wisdom and your knowledge, they perverted you, and you said in your heart, ‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’

In-depth-analysis

• Secure in your wickedness: Their sin was not a source of fear but of security. They believed their power allowed them to be unjust without consequence.
• ‘No one sees me’: The folly of believing that sin can be hidden from the all-seeing God.
• Your wisdom and your knowledge, they perverted you: Babylon's acclaimed "wisdom" (astrology, divination, statecraft) was the very thing that led to her moral and spiritual downfall. It bred arrogance rather than true understanding.
• ‘I am, and there is no one besides me’: A repetition of the blasphemous claim from verse 8, reinforcing this as the central sin driving her destruction.

Bible references

• Psalm 94:7: "And they say, 'The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.'" (A common thought of the wicked, which the Psalmist refutes).
• 1 Corinthians 3:19: "For the wisdom of this world is folly with God..." (NT principle that human-centered wisdom is foolishness from God's perspective).
• Job 5:13: "He catches the wise in their own craftiness..." (The principle that human cunning ultimately snares itself).

Cross references

Psa 10:11, Eze 8:12 (the wicked think God does not see), Jer 8:9 (the wise men are shamed), Rom 1:22 (professing to be wise, they became fools).

Isaiah 47:11

But evil shall come upon you, which you will not know how to charm away; disaster shall fall upon you, for which you will not be able to atone; and ruin shall come upon you suddenly, of which you know nothing.

In-depth-analysis

• You will not know how to charm away (shachar): A brilliant pun. The Hebrew word for "charm away" or "conjure" is related to the word for "dawn" (shachar). The coming disaster is a "dawn" that you cannot magically ward off or predict.
• Not be able to atone: No sacrifice, payment, or ritual will appease the divine wrath. Her destruction is irrevocable.
• Ruin... of which you know nothing: Despite all their stargazers and diviners who claimed to predict the future, this ultimate ruin will catch them completely by surprise.

Bible references

• Proverbs 29:1: "He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing." (Principle of sudden, final judgment).
• Luke 21:34: "But watch yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation... and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap." (Jesus' warning about unpreparedness for judgment).

Cross references

Psa 35:8 (let ruin come upon him unawares), Nah 1:9 (affliction will not rise up a second time), Jer 15:1.

Isaiah 47:12-13

Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror. You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.

In-depth-analysis

• Stand fast... perhaps...: This is pure, biting sarcasm. God challenges Babylon to trust in the very source of her pride. 'Go on, try to use your magic. See if it helps you.'
• Labored from your youth: Acknowledges that the occult was not a casual interest but deeply embedded in Babylonian culture from its inception.
• Wearied with your many counsels: Her reliance on divination has become an exhausting, burdensome, and ultimately fruitless endeavor.
• Divide the heavens (hove•rei sha•ma•yim), who gaze at the stars (ha•cho•zim bak•ko•cha•vim): Technical terms for the Babylonian practice of astrology. They meticulously mapped the sky, believing they could discern the future from celestial movements. Isaiah mocks them, challenging these experts to save the city.

Bible references

• Deuteronomy 18:10-12: "There shall not be found among you anyone who... practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer... for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD." (Shows that Babylon's state religion was an abomination to God).
• Daniel 2:27-28: "Daniel answered the king... ‘No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery... but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries...’" (A direct narrative confrontation between the God of Israel and the failure of Babylonian divination).

Cross references

Jer 27:9 (do not listen to your diviners), Jer 10:2 (learn not the way of the nations), Acts 19:19 (burning of magic books as repentance).

Polemics

This is a direct polemic against the state religion and science of Mesopotamia. The Babylonians believed their fate was determined by the gods, whose will could be read in the stars. Isaiah declares that their astrologers are useless. They are counselors who have only wearied the nation and cannot save it. The God of Israel, not the stars, determines destiny. This fundamentally undermines the entire Babylonian worldview.

Isaiah 47:14

Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before!

In-depth-analysis

• Like stubble; the fire consumes them: The mighty astrologers, far from saving the city, will be instantly destroyed by God’s judgment, as flammable as dry straw.
• They cannot deliver themselves: Their powerlessness is total; they are not only unable to save others but are helpless to save themselves.
• No coal for warming oneself: A final, contemptuous dismissal. The fire of judgment is not a comforting, useful hearth fire. It is purely and terrifyingly destructive, offering no benefit, comfort, or hope.

Bible references

• Malachi 4:1: "'For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble...'" (Uses the same imagery for the final day of judgment).
• Matthew 3:12: "[He] will clear his threshing floor... but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (John the Baptist uses this imagery for divine judgment).
• Nahum 1:10: "For they are like entangled thorns, like drunkards as they drink; they are consumed like stubble fully dry." (Same imagery used against Assyria).

Cross references

Isa 5:24, Isa 40:24, Isa 41:2, Psa 83:13-15.

Isaiah 47:15

Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have trafficked with you from your youth; they wander off, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you.

In-depth-analysis

• Those with whom you have labored: This can refer both to the occult practitioners (v. 12) and the international merchants and political allies who were part of Babylon’s empire.
• They wander off, each in his own direction: In the moment of crisis, all of Babylon’s allies and sources of strength will abandon her to save themselves. Her commercial and political network will disintegrate.
• There is no one to save you: The final, definitive verdict. Neither supernatural powers (sorcerers) nor human powers (allies) can rescue Babylon from the judgment of Yahweh. The proud, self-sufficient empire ends up completely alone and helpless.

Bible references

• Revelation 18:11, 15: "And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore... The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning." (Describes the exact same abandonment of the eschatological Babylon by her commercial partners).
• Jeremiah 51:9: "'We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed. Forsake her, and let us go each to his own country...'" (Parallel prophecy where Babylon's allies explicitly abandon her).

Cross references

Eze 27:36 (lament over Tyre's merchants), Nah 3:16-17 (Nineveh's allies flee), Rev 18:2-3.

Isaiah chapter 47 analysis

• Babylon as an Archetype: Isaiah 47 establishes "Babylon" as more than just a historical city. It becomes a biblical archetype for any arrogant, self-deifying, humanistic system that oppresses God's people and trusts in its own power, wealth, and wisdom. This is precisely why John uses Isaiah 47's exact language and themes to describe "Babylon the Great" in Revelation 17-18, applying them to the final anti-God world system.
• The Divine "I AM" vs. Blasphemous Pride: A central theological battle in this chapter is over the phrase "I am, and there is no one besides me" (v. 8, 10). In Isaiah 40-48, God repeatedly uses this phrase to assert His unique, sole deity (43:11, 44:6, 45:5-6, 45:21). Babylon's use of this phrase is the ultimate expression of human pride, attempting to usurp God's unique identity. Its fall is a direct consequence of this blasphemy.
• The Instrument and the Excess: Verse 6 provides a key principle of divine justice. God can and does use evil nations as his instrument of discipline (the "rod of his anger" - Isa 10:5). However, that nation is still held accountable for its own motives and for any cruelty that exceeds the divine purpose. Babylon was an instrument, but it acted without mercy, sealing its own doom.
• The Futility of Occult Knowledge: The chapter is a powerful polemic against all forms of divination, astrology, and magic. Babylon's "wisdom" is portrayed as an exhausting, perverse, and utterly useless system that provides a false sense of security while leading to ruin. The true future is not in the stars but in the hands of the God who created the stars.

Isaiah 47 summary

God declares a comprehensive judgment on Babylon, personified as an arrogant queen who will be violently humbled from her throne to the dust of a slave. Her downfall is a direct result of her cruel oppression of Israel, her blasphemous pride in claiming divine status ("I am, and there is none else"), and her futile reliance on sorcery and astrology. The prophecy foretells her sudden, complete, and inescapable destruction, proving her occult powers useless and her allies quick to abandon her, all to demonstrate the absolute sovereignty of Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel.