Isaiah 13 4

Isaiah 13:4 kjv

The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

Isaiah 13:4 nkjv

The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle.

Isaiah 13:4 niv

Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war.

Isaiah 13:4 esv

The sound of a tumult is on the mountains as of a great multitude! The sound of an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The LORD of hosts is mustering a host for battle.

Isaiah 13:4 nlt

Hear the noise on the mountains!
Listen, as the vast armies march!
It is the noise and shouting of many nations.
The LORD of Heaven's Armies has called this army together.

Isaiah 13 4 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isaiah 13:1The oracle concerning Babylon…God's judgment declared
Isaiah 13:2-3Raise a signal over a bare mountain; lift up your voice to them. Wave the hand…Preparation for invasion
Jeremiah 51:11Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The Lord stirred up the spirit of the kings…God empowering enemy forces
Jeremiah 50:9For behold, I will stir up and bring upon Babylon a company of great nations…Divine mobilization of nations
Isaiah 41:25"I stirred up one from the north, and he has come; from the rising of the sun he called on my name…God using distant powers to judge
Ezekiel 23:22-24Therefore, Gog, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will give you into their hand…Divine orchestrations of conflict
Habakkuk 1:6I am stirring up the Chaldeans, that fierce and hasty nation…God using Babylon for judgment
Revelation 18:2-3“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!... for all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”Judgment upon Babylon
Psalm 2:2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed…Earthly rulers against God’s decree
Psalm 149:6-9Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands…God’s people executing judgment
2 Chronicles 20:15And all Judah and their little ones, their wives, and their children stood before the Lord.People standing before God's command
Job 1:12Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand…”God authorizing action through others
John 11:49-50One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people…Unwittingly fulfilling prophecy
Acts 4:27-28For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.Human actions fulfilling God's plan
Genesis 50:20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…God’s sovereign purposes in evil acts
Amos 3:6Does a trumpet blast in a city, and disaster not occur? Has not the Lord done it?God as the source of disaster
Zechariah 1:15And I am veryously displeased with the nations that are at ease…God’s displeasure with complacent nations
Nahum 1:1The oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.Oracle against a great city
Proverbs 21:1"The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will."God's control over rulers' hearts
Psalm 76:10Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remainder of wrath you will restrain.God using human wrath

Isaiah 13 verses

Isaiah 13 4 Meaning

This verse describes a divine command, an issuance of decree, from the Lord Almighty concerning a call to war against Babylon. It signifies God’s sovereignty in initiating military action and His involvement in the rise and fall of nations.

Isaiah 13 4 Context

Isaiah chapter 13 is a prophetic oracle concerning Babylon. It begins by calling for a gathering of warriors, implying an impending invasion and judgment upon the city. The historical context is crucial, as Babylon was a powerful empire that would eventually conquer Jerusalem and exile its people. However, this chapter’s focus is on God’s judgment against Babylon itself for its pride and cruelty. The audience would have understood the geopolitical significance of Babylon as a dominant world power and the potential for divine intervention in the affairs of nations. The oracle highlights God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms, demonstrating that even mighty empires are subject to His decree and judgment.

Isaiah 13 4 Word Analysis

  • מַשָּׂא (maśśāʾ): Burden, utterance, oracle, message, declaration. This word signifies a weighty and divinely inspired message.
  • בָּבֶל (Bāḇel): Babylon. A prominent city and empire in ancient Mesopotamia, often symbolic of opposition to God’s people and His purposes.
  • הַנּוֹצָר (han-nōṣār): Which was seen, revealed, or lifted up. This participle suggests that the prophecy against Babylon is a disclosed revelation.
  • יְשַׁעְיָהוּ (Yəšʿayāhû): Isaiah. The prophet through whom this oracle was delivered.
  • צָרָה (ṣārāh): Adversity, distress, trouble. The coming judgment will bring immense suffering.
  • מַרְאֶה (marʾeh): Vision, sight, appearance. What is revealed to the prophet.
  • שָׁפָר (šāp̄ār): Clear, bright. Indicating clarity of the divine message.
  • בִּי (bî): Against me, concerning me. When linked to a divine pronouncement, it indicates divine pronouncement upon.
  • לֵב (lēḇ): Heart. Symbolizes the inner being or will.
  • עַל (ʿal): Upon, against, over. Demonstrates the object of the pronouncement or action.
  • רָמִים (rāmîm): High, lifted up, proud. Directly relates to Babylon's arrogance.

Words-group analysis:

  • "a burden of Babylon": This opening phrase immediately establishes the weighty nature of the prophecy, indicating a declaration of judgment against a specific, significant nation.
  • "What I saw concerning Babylon": This emphasizes the visionary aspect of prophecy and the personal revelation received by Isaiah.
  • "lifted up to you": This can be interpreted as the prophecy being made manifest or elevated for all to hear, or God raising up instruments of judgment.
  • "the high and the lifted up": This refers to proud and exalted individuals or nations, specifically highlighting Babylon’s arrogance and exaltation that will be brought low.

Isaiah 13 4 Bonus Section

This chapter is foundational for understanding the prophetic critique of imperial power and God's sovereign hand in history. The "lifting up of a signal" is a military metaphor for mustering forces for battle, indicating a mobilization ordered by God Himself. The subsequent verses in chapter 13 continue to detail the devastating conquest that awaits Babylon, emphasizing its utter destruction. This imagery of divine judgment extends to other proud nations in Scripture and serves as a warning about the consequences of opposing God's will and His chosen people. The chapter also resonates with New Testament themes of judgment upon symbolic "Babylon" (e.g., Revelation 18).

Isaiah 13 4 Commentary

The pronouncement concerning Babylon is a weighty oracle. Isaiah is shown a vision, and the message is clear: God is directing an invasion. He has summoned mighty warriors and divinely influenced kings for His indignation and fury against Babylon. The chapter highlights God's ultimate control over nations, using them as instruments to execute His will and judgment, even if those instruments are proud and destructive. Babylon’s own pride and actions set it up for this divine intervention.