Isaiah 13:17 kjv
Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
Isaiah 13:17 nkjv
"Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it.
Isaiah 13:17 niv
See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold.
Isaiah 13:17 esv
Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold.
Isaiah 13:17 nlt
"Look, I will stir up the Medes against Babylon.
They cannot be tempted by silver
or bribed with gold.
Isaiah 13 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 13:3 | I command my consecrated ones; I summon my warriors, my | Isa 13:3 - God's command |
| Jer 51:28 | Give notice through the land: call out the mercenaries! Mobilize nations. | Jer 51:28 - Mobilization |
| Jer 50:9 | For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations. | Jer 50:9 - Nations gathered |
| Isa 13:4-5 | A mighty host... for the Lord Almighty is mustering an army for battle. | Isa 13:4-5 - Army mustering |
| Jer 51:11 | Sharpen the arrows, prepare the shields. | Jer 51:11 - Weapons prepared |
| Jer 51:20 | You are my battle-axe, my weapon for smashing nations. | Jer 51:20 - God's weapon |
| Zeph 1:7 | Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. | Zeph 1:7 - Day of the Lord |
| Joel 2:11 | The Lord summons his attacking force, for his camp is vast. | Joel 2:11 - Lord's camp |
| Rev 17:12, 14, 16 | The ten horns you saw... will wage war against the Lamb... will triumph over them. | Rev 17:12,14,16 - Final conflict |
| Isa 10:5-6 | Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger... I will send him against a godless nation. | Isa 10:5-6 - Assyria as rod |
| Hab 1:6 | I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people. | Hab 1:6 - Babylon as tool |
| Ezek 39:17-20 | This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, feast and | Ezek 39:17-20 - Great feast |
| Ps 17:13 | Confront them, Lord, make them bow down. | Ps 17:13 - Confrontation |
| Prov 16:4 | The Lord works out everything for his own purposes— even the wicked for the day of disaster. | Prov 16:4 - God's purpose |
| Rev 18:6 | Pay her back as she has paid back others... double for her sins. | Rev 18:6 - Retribution |
| Ps 75:7-8 | but God is the judge: he brings one down, he raises another. | Ps 75:7-8 - God's judgment |
| Jer 25:9 | I will summon all the peoples of the north... and Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant. | Jer 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar as servant |
| Ezek 32:11-12 | For the Sovereign Lord says: the sword of the greatest might shall strike. | Ezek 32:11-12 - Sword's might |
| Isa 45:1-4 | This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus... to give him the nations. | Isa 45:1-4 - Cyrus anointed |
| Acts 4:27-28 | they indeed gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate. | Acts 4:27-28 - Unwitting participants |
| 1 Cor 5:5 | you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord. | 1 Cor 5:5 - Delivery to destruction |
| Rev 6:17 | For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand? | Rev 6:17 - Great day of wrath |
Isaiah 13 verses
Isaiah 13 17 Meaning
The verse declares that the Medes are the instruments of God's wrath against Babylon. They are described as God's consecrated warriors, roused to execute His anger and devastation.
Isaiah 13 17 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah chapter 13, which is a prophecy against Babylon. The entire chapter details the impending destruction of the city by the Medes and Persians. It describes the scene of battle, the terror of the inhabitants, and the complete devastation that will occur. The focus is on God's sovereign judgment being enacted through earthly powers. Historically, Babylon was a powerful empire, and its eventual fall to the Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great fulfilled this prophecy. The "day of the Lord" concept, common in prophetic literature, refers to a time of divine judgment and intervention in history.
Isaiah 13 17 Word Analysis
- "Behold," - A Hebrew interjection (רְא֛וּ - rə·’ū) commanding attention, signaling a significant revelation or announcement. It draws the listener to a specific point of focus.
- "for," - Indicates a reason or cause for the preceding statement or the one following.
- "the Medes" - Refers to the Median people, a powerful ancient kingdom and warriors, known for their military prowess. They were part of the coalition that conquered Babylon. (מַדַּי - mā·ḏāy)
- "destroy" - Hebrew: קָרָא (qā·rāl) - meaning to call or summon, here used in the sense of designating or appointing for a specific purpose, which is destruction.
- "Babylon," - The capital city of the Babylonian empire, a symbol of earthly power and opposition to God. (בָּבֶל - bā·ḇel)
- "they," - Pronoun referring back to the Medes.
- "are the means" - Hebrew: נָתַ֫תִּי (nā·ṯaṯ·tî) - a verb meaning "I have given" or "I have appointed," emphasizing God's active role in choosing the Medes.
- "of its destruction," - Refers to the destruction or ruin of Babylon.
- "and destroy" - Reinforces the action of destruction.
- "its defenders," - The people who would fight to protect Babylon. (מִבְצָרֶיהָ - miḇ·ṣā·rê·hā - her strongholds or fortified places, implying her defenders).
- "its oppressors" - Those who oppressed others; this might also refer to Babylon's former oppressors being now subjugated or, more likely, it speaks of the very ones who strengthened Babylon being now cast down. The Hebrew word here is יָהִ֣יר (yā·hîr) meaning proud, arrogant, a spoiler or oppressor.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:
- "Behold, for the Medes are the means of its destruction," - This phrase signifies divine enablement and selection. God isn't just observing; He is actively using the Medes as His instrument for judgment. The choice of the Medes underscores God's sovereign control over nations and their rise and fall.
- "and destroy its defenders, its oppressors." - This speaks of comprehensive judgment. Not only the soldiers and the city's military might ("defenders"), but also those within Babylon who perhaps were haughty and cruel towards others or who had built up their power through wicked means ("oppressors"), will be brought low. It implies the eradication of Babylon's strength and its arrogant spirit.
Isaiah 13 17 Bonus Section
The concept of God using a foreign nation as His instrument of judgment is a recurring theme in the Old Testament. For example, Assyria was used against Israel and Judah (Isaiah 10:5-16), and later Babylon was used against Judah. This verse emphasizes that "God's consecrated ones" (v. 3) are mobilized. This consecration signifies they are set apart and empowered by God for this specific task of judgment. While the Medes were not consciously serving Yahweh, their actions were part of God's overarching plan and purpose to bring judgment upon a city that had become synonymous with sin and rebellion. This demonstrates that God can work through any person or nation, fulfilling His divine will, even if they are unaware of His ultimate purpose.
Isaiah 13 17 Commentary
This verse unequivocally states that the Medes are God's chosen agents for Babylon's downfall. It's not a mere political shift, but a divine judgment. God designates the Medes for this purpose, equipping them to annihilate Babylon's defenders and even those who perhaps were their pride and source of oppression. This highlights God's sovereignty over history, using even pagan nations as tools in His hands to enact judgment on sin and injustice. The complete destruction prophesied signifies the utter ruin and end of Babylon's dominion and influence.