Isaiah 13 13

Isaiah 13:13 kjv

Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.

Isaiah 13:13 nkjv

Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger.

Isaiah 13:13 niv

Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.

Isaiah 13:13 esv

Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the LORD of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.

Isaiah 13:13 nlt

For I will shake the heavens.
The earth will move from its place
when the LORD of Heaven's Armies displays his wrath
in the day of his fierce anger."

Isaiah 13 verses

Isaiah 13 13 meaning

Isaiah 13:13 powerfully describes a divinely orchestrated, cosmic cataclysm as the manifestation of God's intense wrath. The verse foretells a profound upheaval where the heavens themselves will be made to tremble, and the earth will be violently dislodged from its stable position. This severe, foundational shattering of creation is explicitly attributed to the "wrath of the LORD of hosts" and will occur on the appointed "day of His burning anger," signifying a terrifying judgment on an unprecedented scale.

Isaiah 13 13 Context

Isaiah chapter 13 serves as the opening "oracle" or "burden" (מַשָּׂא, maśśāʾ) concerning Babylon, one of several prophecies against nations surrounding Judah. This chapter portrays the coming "Day of the Lord" not merely as a local event but as an apocalyptic, cosmic judgment. Historically, it refers to the eventual overthrow of the Babylonian empire by the Medes (Is 13:17). However, the highly symbolic and dramatic language, including the darkening of celestial bodies (Is 13:10) and cosmic disturbances, transcends a typical military conquest. This profound imagery suggests an eschatological dimension, pointing to a broader, ultimate judgment where God intervenes to humble all human pride and unrighteousness, demonstrating His supreme sovereignty over creation and nations. The context immediately preceding verse 13 details how the sun, moon, and stars will not give their light (Is 13:10), setting the stage for even more severe cosmic destabilization driven by divine wrath.

Isaiah 13 13 Word analysis

• Therefore (כֵּן, kēn): This adverb acts as a strong logical connector, indicating that what follows is a direct consequence of the cosmic signs and judgments previously described in verses 10-12 (the darkening of heavenly bodies and the removal of the wicked). It underscores the intentionality behind God's subsequent actions.
• I will make the heavens tremble (אַרְגִּיז שָׁמַיִם, 'argîz shāmayim):
  • אַרְגִּיז ('argîz): This is from the Hebrew verb râgaz (רָגַז, H7264), meaning "to tremble, shake, be agitated." In the Hiphil imperfect, "I will cause to tremble," it clearly indicates God as the active agent. This is not a natural occurrence but a deliberate divine act.
  • שָׁמַיִם (shāmayim): (H8064) refers to the "heavens" or "sky." In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, the heavens were often perceived as stable, the dwelling place of deities, and sometimes even worshipped. Their trembling signifies a complete overturning of order and a direct challenge to any perceived stability or control by false gods, asserting Yahweh's unparalleled dominion over all creation.
• and the earth will be shaken from its place (וְתִרְעַשׁ אֶרֶץ מִמְּקוֹמָהּ, vᵉtirʿaš 'erets mimqômāh):
  • וְתִרְעַשׁ (vᵉtirʿaš): This is from the verb raʿash (רָעַשׁ, H7493), "to quake, tremble, shake violently." The "earth" ('erets, H776) here signifies not just the ground but the entire world, encompassing all human society and stability.
  • מִמְּקוֹמָהּ (mimqômāh): This phrase means "from its place" (derived from māqôm, מָקוֹם, H4725, meaning "place, location"). This powerful image suggests a fundamental destabilization of creation itself, the ultimate undoing of all that is perceived as fixed and secure. It implies an upheaval beyond typical earthquakes, touching the very foundations of existence and, by extension, the overthrow of established societal and political structures, especially Babylon's.
• at the wrath of the LORD of hosts (מֵרַגֶז יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, mērāgez Yahweh tsᵉvāʾôt):
  • מֵרַגֶז (mērāgez): The preposition min ("from") attached to rāgez (רֶגֶז, H7267), a noun meaning "quaking, agitation, fury." It indicates the immediate cause or source of the cosmic shaking – God's passionate anger.
  • יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (Yahweh tsᵉvāʾôt): "LORD of hosts" or "LORD of armies." This is a profoundly significant divine title, emphasizing God's sovereign power over all celestial and earthly forces. He is depicted as the supreme divine warrior, commander of all creation, ensuring the irresistible execution of His judgments. This title reinforces the scale and certainty of the prophesied cataclysm.
• in the day of His burning anger (וּבְיוֹם חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ, ûvᵉyôm ḥărôn 'appô):
  • בְּיוֹם (bᵉyôm): "in the day of." This specifies the timing as a distinct, divinely appointed "Day," often referring to the "Day of the Lord" in prophetic literature – a period of judgment and vindication.
  • חֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ (ḥărôn 'appô): This is a vivid Hebrew idiom for intense, "fierce" or "burning" anger (from charon חָרוֹן, H2740, meaning "burning," and aph אַף, H639, meaning "nose," idiomatically "anger"). It stresses the extreme severity and righteous indignation that fuels God's cosmic judgment, emphasizing that this destruction is not arbitrary but a just response to accumulated sin.

• Words-Group Analysis:
• "I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place": This coupled phrase demonstrates God's absolute power over both the celestial and terrestrial realms. It suggests a complete dissolution of the natural order, conveying that nothing is stable or immune to the Lord's intervention. This signifies not just natural disasters, but an unraveling of the very fabric of existence, representing the collapse of all worldly power and perceived security.
• "at the wrath of the LORD of hosts, in the day of His burning anger": This segment explicitly names the impetus and the nature of the cosmic destruction. The repetition and intensification of "wrath" (rāgez) and "burning anger" (ḥărôn 'appô) convey a powerful sense of God's uncontainable and righteous indignation. The use of "LORD of hosts" grounds this devastating power in the hands of the omnipotent, sovereign God who commands all cosmic and earthly forces.

Isaiah 13 13 Bonus section

The apocalyptic imagery of Isaiah 13:13, where creation itself seems to unravel, functions on multiple levels. It can be seen as literal foretelling of astronomical and seismic events accompanying God's ultimate judgment. More broadly, it uses the collapse of the cosmos as a powerful metaphor for the absolute dissolution of the world's most arrogant empires and their systems. For the ancient Near Eastern audience, who often viewed the heavens and celestial bodies as divine or stable forces influencing fate, the idea of Yahweh making them tremble was a profound theological statement, asserting His singular dominion and omnipotence over all rival deities and earthly powers. This deep tremor of the universe ultimately prefigures the New Testament concept that "everything that can be shaken will be removed" (Heb 12:27) to make way for the eternal and unshakeable Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 13 13 Commentary

Isaiah 13:13 is a chilling portrayal of divine judgment, depicting a cosmic destabilization initiated by God's fervent wrath. The heavens themselves, considered realms of order, and the very earth, symbolizing stability, are dramatically displaced. This imagery is not just hyperbole; it represents a fundamental overturning of both physical creation and established human order, especially concerning the mighty Babylonian empire. The verse clearly attributes this cataclysm to the "LORD of hosts" and His "burning anger," underscoring His unchallenged sovereignty and the righteous severity of His justice. This prophecy, while pointing to Babylon's historical fall, carries profound eschatological implications, hinting at a future "Day of the Lord" when all that seems unshakeable will be exposed to His ultimate and fiery judgment. It warns against trusting in worldly stability, highlighting that only God's kingdom is truly unshakable.