Isaiah 13 7

Isaiah 13:7 kjv

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

Isaiah 13:7 nkjv

Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man's heart will melt,

Isaiah 13:7 niv

Because of this, all hands will go limp, every heart will melt with fear.

Isaiah 13:7 esv

Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt.

Isaiah 13:7 nlt

Every arm is paralyzed with fear.
Every heart melts,

Isaiah 13 verses

Isaiah 13 7 meaning

Isaiah 13:7 graphically portrays the universal and complete human reaction of fear and powerlessness in the face of God's impending judgment. It signifies a profound loss of both physical ability and inner resolve, indicating that all human strength will fail and courage will utterly vanish under the terror of the "Day of the Lord."

Isaiah 13 7 Context

Isaiah chapter 13 is an oracle concerning Babylon's destruction, a significant global power of its time, though this prophecy primarily relates to an event occurring in the future from Isaiah's immediate context (c. 700 BCE). The chapter opens with a declaration of God raising an army (likely the Medes, identified in v. 17) to execute His wrath upon Babylon. The passage is permeated by the theme of "the Day of the LORD," which transcends mere historical events, invoking cosmic imagery of heavenly bodies darkening and the earth shaking (v. 9-13). This amplifies the judgment to a scale that signifies ultimate divine intervention and eschatological implications. Verse 7, therefore, describes the intense fear, paralysis, and psychological collapse that will afflict not just the Babylonians, but universally, anyone facing the unchallengeable power and devastating wrath of the Sovereign God on that terrifying "Day."

Isaiah 13 7 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): This serves as a consequential particle, establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship with the preceding description of terrifying signs and God's assembling forces of judgment (Isa 13:6). It highlights that the ensuing human response is a direct and inevitable outcome of the overwhelming events about to unfold.
• all hands (כָּל יָדַיִם - kol yadáyim): "Hands" symbolize human power, strength, ability to act, to work, to fight, or to hold. "All hands" signifies a universal and complete physical incapacitation, not a single individual or group but everyone's capability. This highlights a collective, profound loss of strength.
• will be faint (תִּרְפֶּינָה - tirpeynah from רָפָה - raphah): The verb means "to slacken," "to let drop," "to weaken," "to sink down." It depicts a loss of vigor, a flaccid and lifeless state where no effective action or resistance can be mounted. It is an image of complete physical debilitation.
• and every man's (וְכָל לֵבָב אֱנוֹשׁ - v'chol levav 'enosh): "Every man's" underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment's impact across humanity. 'Enosh (man, humankind) often carries the nuance of human frailty and mortality, reinforcing the vulnerability of people before God's might.
• heart (לֵבָב - levav): In biblical thought, the "heart" is the seat of intellect, will, courage, emotion, and the innermost being—the core of a person. It is not just an organ but the source of all human resolve and determination.
• will melt (יִמָּס - yimmas from מָסַס - masas): This verb means "to melt," "to dissolve," "to become discouraged," "to quail." It vividly portrays a total collapse of courage, resolve, and inner strength, much like a solid object losing its form when heated. This metaphor powerfully conveys utter psychological and emotional disintegration due to overwhelming fear and terror.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Therefore all hands will be faint: This phrase directly connects the divine judgment described earlier to its universal physical consequence. No human effort or strength, collectively, will stand firm against God's decree. The dropping or weakening of hands implies an inability to resist, defend, or even continue normal activities.
• and every man's heart will melt: This complements the physical incapacitation with an internal, psychological collapse. It emphasizes that not only physical ability but also inner will, courage, and resolve will completely disappear. This "melting heart" is a profound biblical expression for overwhelming dread and terror that paralyzes one from within.

Isaiah 13 7 Bonus section

The profound physical and psychological responses described in Isaiah 13:7 (faint hands, melting hearts) are a powerful prophetic hyperbole typical of apocalyptic literature, designed to convey the absolute terror associated with the "Day of the Lord." This language elevates the destruction of Babylon beyond a mere political event, casting it as a foretaste or pattern for God's ultimate eschatological judgments. It points to the intrinsic frailty of human beings and nations, highlighting that any strength or confidence apart from God is illusory in the face of divine power. This theme echoes through many prophetic books, underscoring the universal vulnerability of all people when God's holy wrath is fully revealed, stripping away all earthly might and pride.

Isaiah 13 7 Commentary

Isaiah 13:7 succinctly captures the profound and pervasive fear that will grip humanity when confronted with the full display of divine wrath on "the Day of the Lord." This verse illustrates an all-encompassing collapse of human capacity—both outward ability and inward resolve. "Faint hands" denote the utter futility of any human attempt to act, fight, or even work. Every muscle goes limp, every plan ceases, and resistance becomes impossible. Simultaneously, "melting hearts" signifies an internal disintegration of courage and mental fortitude, leaving individuals in a state of utter terror and despair. This description emphasizes the irresistibility of God's judgment and the abject helplessness of humankind before His absolute sovereignty, a warning to all, exemplified by Babylon, who presume to stand against the Almighty.