Isaiah 13:18 kjv
Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.
Isaiah 13:18 nkjv
Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children.
Isaiah 13:18 niv
Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants, nor will they look with compassion on children.
Isaiah 13:18 esv
Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children.
Isaiah 13:18 nlt
The attacking armies will shoot down the young men with arrows.
They will have no mercy on helpless babies
and will show no compassion for children."
Isaiah 13 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 13:18 | ... neither will the LORD have pity on them. | Divine justice and judgment without mercy. |
| Ps 107:39-40 | When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction and sorrow; He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. | Suffering leading to God's intervention. |
| Jer 50:29-30 | ... recompense her. ... Her young men shall fall in her streets... | Judgment upon Babylon, detailed destruction. |
| Jer 51:3, 56 | ... shut them up together ... for the LORD God of recompenses will surely requite. | God's full recompense for Babylon's sin. |
| Ezek 25:12-17 | ... because they have dealt against my people by taking vengeance, and have taken vengeance, and have dealt vengeance on them; I will stretch out mine hand upon Edom... | God's judgment on nations for their actions. |
| Ezek 28:24-26 | And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel... | Judgment removing sources of pain for Israel. |
| Zeph 2:4-7 | ... Gaza shall be a place to tend sheep, and folds for flocks; And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah... | Judgment on Philistia, remnant for Judah. |
| Zeph 2:8-11 | I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people... Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah... | God's judgment on Moab and Ammon. |
| Zech 1:14-15 | And I cried unto God with my voice, and he heard me. ... therefore I was angry with the heathen that were at ease... | God's anger against complacent nations. |
| Zech 12:2-4 | ... when Jerusalem shall be known, the siege and battle shall be against Jerusalem. | Future conflict around Jerusalem. |
| Rev 17:1-6 | And there came one of the seven angels... and talked with me... saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore... | Prophetic judgment of a corrupt system. |
| Rev 18:4-8, 20, 24 | And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people... For her sins have reached unto heaven... and in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints... therefore shall her plagues come in one day... | Divine call for separation and judgment on Babylon. |
| Ps 2:8-9 | Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance... Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron... | God granting nations to the Messiah for judgment. |
| Ps 110:5-6 | The LORD at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries. | Messiah's decisive judgment. |
| Jer 18:16 | To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing... | Consequence of rebellion and judgment. |
| Amos 5:17 | For the LORD will utter his voice against them... | God's vocal judgment on transgressors. |
| Mic 6:9-16 | The LORD's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. | God sending disciplinary correction. |
| Nahum 2:10-13 | ... emptiness, and voidness, and desolation: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain is in all loins... Wo to the bloody city! it is wholly of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not; ... | Vivid description of Nineveh's destruction. |
| Luke 10:13-15 | Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon... than shall Tyre and Sidon have judgement in the day of judgment... | Jesus lamenting judgment on unrepentant cities. |
| Deut 7:1-2 | ... when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee... thou shalt utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them. | Divine command for complete destruction and no mercy for Canaanites. |
Isaiah 13 verses
Isaiah 13 18 Meaning
The verse declares that God will not delight in the destruction of the inhabitants of Babylon, nor will He spare their young children when He comes to execute His judgment.
Isaiah 13 18 Context
Isaiah 13 prophesies the downfall of Babylon, referred to as "the glory of the kingdoms." This oracle is delivered in a time when Babylon was a rising or established power, itsulence and perceived invincibility a contrast to its eventual fate. The prophet details the instruments of God's wrath, the chaos and terror of the impending battle, and the complete desolation that will follow. The chapter highlights that this judgment is orchestrated by God Himself, involving nations summoned to carry out His divine decree. Babylon's sin and pride have reached a point where God will no longer show them favor. The focus is on the severe and absolute nature of divine judgment against a proud and oppressive empire.
Isaiah 13 18 Word Analysis
- And (וְ - ve): Conjunction, indicating continuation and connection.
- neither (וְלֹא - velo): Negative conjunction, emphasizing the absence of a characteristic.
- will (יֶחְפֶץ - yechephtz): Future tense verb from חָפֵץ (chaphets), meaning "to delight," "to take pleasure," or "to desire." Indicates God's lack of pleasure in this act.
- the (אֶת - et): Direct object marker.
- LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal involvement.
- pity (רָחַם - racham): Verb meaning "to have mercy," "to show compassion," or "to love dearly." Suggests deep, visceral compassion.
- on (עָלֶיהָ - aleiha): Preposition "upon" or "over," combined with the feminine pronoun "her," referring to Babylon.
- them (הֶם - hem): Masculine plural pronoun. However, the feminine "her" in the preceding phrase likely refers to Babylon as a city or nation. The shift in pronoun could indicate that while Babylon is the entity being acted upon, "them" refers to its inhabitants. It’s common in Hebrew for the inhabitants to be implied or represented by the entity. Alternatively, if the direct object marker points to "their young children" from verse 17 (though not explicit in this verse in isolation, contextually it is the focus of divine judgment alongside the nation), "them" can refer to the males in general. More contextually, given "their young children" in v17, it points to the general population being judged.
Words Group Analysis:
- "neither will the LORD have pity on them": This phrase powerfully states that God's judgment against Babylon will be without the usual restraints of mercy or compassion. It highlights the finality and severity of the decreed punishment, where no element of clemency will be extended. This contrasts with God's demonstrated compassion in other instances (e.g., Exodus 34:6-7), indicating that for specific sins and levels of defiance, God’s judgment will be complete.
Isaiah 13 18 Bonus Section
The concept of God taking "delight" in judgment is carefully nuanced in Scripture. It doesn't mean God revels in suffering, but rather He finds satisfaction when His justice is executed, when His holiness is vindicated, and when His people are ultimately delivered from oppressive forces. It aligns with passages that speak of God's wrath being "poured out" as a consequence of persistent sin. The intensity of Babylon's wickedness and its opposition to God's purposes have earned this full measure of judgment, leaving no room for leniency at this appointed time.
Isaiah 13 18 Commentary
This verse underscores the absolute nature of God's judgment on wicked nations and systems that oppose His will. While God is merciful and compassionate, His justice demands consequences for profound sin, oppression, and idolatry. The "delight" mentioned here is God's pleasure in His created order and in the well-being of His people. He does not delight in destruction for destruction's sake. Rather, the destruction of Babylon is the necessary consequence and outworking of His holiness and His commitment to establishing righteousness. The lack of "pity" means no reprieve will be granted; the judgment will be carried out fully. This prophetic pronouncement serves as a stark warning against pride, injustice, and any nation that usurps God's place or persecutes His people.