Isaiah 13 10

Isaiah 13:10 kjv

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Isaiah 13:10 nkjv

For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine.

Isaiah 13:10 niv

The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.

Isaiah 13:10 esv

For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.

Isaiah 13:10 nlt

The heavens will be black above them;
the stars will give no light.
The sun will be dark when it rises,
and the moon will provide no light.

Isaiah 13 verses

Isaiah 13 10 meaning

Isaiah 13:10 vividly describes a complete cessation of light from celestial bodies – the stars, the sun, and the moon. This powerful imagery symbolizes an extreme, unnatural darkness signifying a profound and comprehensive divine judgment, leading to the collapse of all order, life, and hope for the condemned nation. It marks the arrival of the "Day of the Lord," characterized by ultimate desolation.

Isaiah 13 10 Context

Isaiah 13 is a "burden against Babylon," an oracle of judgment declared by the Lord through Isaiah. This chapter introduces the fearsome "Day of the Lord," an apocalyptic portrayal of divine wrath intended to completely dismantle Babylon, a dominant power in Isaiah's era or in the future from Judah's perspective. The cosmic disruption described in verse 10 functions within this broader prophetic judgment. It's part of a literary genre using hyperbolic and symbolic language to convey the absolute nature and overwhelming force of God's intervention, turning the world upside down for those targeted. Historically, for Judah, this message provided a glimpse of God's ultimate sovereignty over nations, offering hope that oppressors, like Babylon, would not reign eternally. It also serves as a warning against trusting in earthly powers.

Isaiah 13 10 Word analysis

• For (כִּי - ki): This conjunctive particle often means "because" or "indeed," here it explains why the Day of the Lord is so terrible and why those who see it will lament (referencing Isa 13:6-9). It introduces the foundation of the coming cosmic devastation.
• the stars (כּוֹכְבֵי - kokhavei): Refers to the visible celestial points of light. In the ancient world, stars were crucial for navigation, timekeeping, and often associated with deities, destiny, or national omens. Their failure implies a profound loss of guidance and a sign of divine disfavor, disrupting perceived cosmic order.
• of heaven (הַשָּׁמַיִם - hashshamayim): Signifies their dwelling place and reinforces their role as part of the natural, created order which God established.
• and their constellations (וּכְסִילֵיהֶם - uchesileihem): This term specifically denotes a group of stars, often translated as "Orion" (from the Hebrew word kesil, "fool," perhaps referring to the mythical giant in chains). Its inclusion indicates that not only individual stars but also established, recognizable patterns in the heavens, relied upon for ancient astrological interpretations, would fail. It underlines the comprehensiveness of the celestial disruption.
• will not give (לֹא יָהֵלּוּ - lo yahellu): Literally, "will not flash" or "will not shine brightly." It suggests an active withdrawal or ceasing of their function, not merely a temporary hiding behind clouds. It's a fundamental malfunction.
• their light (אוֹרָם - oram): The radiant energy emitted by celestial bodies, essential for visibility, warmth, and life. The absence of this light implies disorientation, fear, cold, and the general withdrawal of vital life-giving principles.
• the sun (הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ - hashshemesh): The primary source of all natural light and life on Earth. In many ancient cultures, the sun was deified or associated with divine power (e.g., Marduk in Babylon). Its darkening is a powerful polemic, showing Yahweh's absolute supremacy over these supposedly mighty celestial powers and their associated deities.
• will be dark (חָשַׁךְ - chashakh): This verb means "to become dark," "to be dim." It indicates a direct obscuring or cessation of the sun's brilliance, removing its light and warmth.
• when it rises (בְּצֵאתוֹ - betze'to): Even at the point of its daily emergence and expected full splendor, the sun will fail to shine. This highlights an unnatural and unexpected cessation, occurring at the moment light is most anticipated, intensifying the sense of hopelessness and cosmic anomaly.
• and the moon (וְיָרֵחַ - veyareach): The earth's largest nocturnal light source, also influential on tides and time cycles. Its failure extends the darkness to the entire 24-hour cycle.
• will not shed its light (לֹא יָאִיר אוֹרוֹ - lo ya'ir oro): Reiterates the complete absence of illumination, mirroring the stars and sun. It signals a universal cosmic failure, impacting both day and night, signifying that the judgment is total and inescapable, affecting every aspect of existence for the doomed realm.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light": This phrase encompasses the general celestial canopy. The failure of all visible stars and recognizable stellar patterns signifies the collapse of foundational order, predictability, and cosmic signs that ancient cultures (including Babylon with its astrology) relied upon. It demonstrates Yahweh's control over creation itself.
• "the sun will be dark when it rises": This focuses on the primary source of daylight, crucial for life and daily activity. Its failure to shine at its rising emphasizes an utterly unnatural event, suggesting that hope (often symbolized by the dawn) will be denied, and even the most certain natural event will be disrupted by God's judgment. It heralds a day that never truly begins with light, symbolizing unending gloom and devastation.
• "and the moon will not shed its light": This completes the trio of major celestial lights, encompassing the night. The moon's failure signifies that there will be no reprieve from the darkness, no nocturnal comfort or guidance. Combined, these phrases paint a picture of total, unrelenting, universal darkness, an ultimate withdrawal of all natural light, paralleling the complete annihilation of the targeted nation.

Isaiah 13 10 Bonus section

• The cosmic language here is often called astral apocalypticism, signifying a change so fundamental it impacts the very fabric of existence, moving beyond mere earthly events.
• The cessation of light is intrinsically linked to the "Day of the Lord" being a "day of darkness" (Amo 5:18). It underscores the terrors of that day, where God's glorious presence (often manifested as light) is replaced by judgment's overwhelming gloom for the unrighteous.
• This passage's imagery also implies a return to a state of pre-creation chaos (tohu va'vohu, Gen 1:2), signaling a de-creation process initiated by God's judgment before a potential new order.
• The fulfillment of this cosmic disruption is seen in various biblical texts as either specific historical judgments or, ultimately, the final eschatological judgment preceding the establishment of new heavens and a new earth where God Himself becomes the light source (Rev 21:23).

Isaiah 13 10 Commentary

Isaiah 13:10 employs potent apocalyptic imagery characteristic of "Day of the Lord" prophecies, vividly depicting a cosmic catastrophe where all sources of natural light cease to function. This is not intended as a literal astronomical prediction but rather a powerful literary device to convey the absolute and comprehensive nature of divine judgment, particularly against Babylon. The failure of the sun, moon, and stars symbolizes the utter collapse of the natural order, human institutions, and any false security for the condemned. It represents the withdrawal of God's favor, the dawning of an era of despair and destruction, and a world plunged into physical and spiritual darkness. The imagery also serves as a polemic against pagan astrological beliefs, demonstrating that Yahweh alone controls the cosmos and determines destiny, not celestial omens or local deities associated with these heavenly bodies. This powerful metaphor of cosmic dissolution emphasizes that when God judges, no aspect of life, no matter how seemingly stable, remains untouched. It's a foreshadowing of universal devastation, a theme echoed in both Old and New Testament prophecies of God's ultimate reckoning.