Isaiah 14:16 kjv
They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
Isaiah 14:16 nkjv
"Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,
Isaiah 14:16 niv
Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble,
Isaiah 14:16 esv
Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,
Isaiah 14:16 nlt
Everyone there will stare at you and ask,
'Can this be the one who shook the earth
and made the kingdoms of the world tremble?
Isaiah 14 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 14:17 | Who made the earth tremble, and the kingdoms shake? | Isa 14:16 (Immediate context) |
| Jeremiah 22:30 | Give a prophecy against Jehoiakim: "Write this down: 'A king without descendants, a ruler who will not prosper in his lifetime. None of his offspring will succeed him as king, nor will any of them reign in Judah.'" | Jer 22:30 (Parallel prophecy of downfall) |
| Ezekiel 28:12 | "You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." | Ezek 28:12 (Describes previous greatness) |
| Ezekiel 28:13 | "You were in Eden, God’s garden; you were adorned with every precious stone—red jasper, topaz, and emerald, with beryl, onyx and jasper, with lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl. They were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared." | Ezek 28:13 (Details former glory) |
| Luke 10:18 | Jesus replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." | Luke 10:18 (Christ's perspective on Satan's fall) |
| Revelation 12:7 | Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. | Rev 12:7 (Heavenly conflict) |
| Revelation 12:9 | The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan. He deceived the whole world and was thrown to the earth, and his angels with him. | Rev 12:9 (Satan's casting down) |
| 2 Peter 2:4 | For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to the realm of utter darkness, to be kept under judgment for the day of reckoning. | 2 Pet 2:4 (Divine judgment on fallen angels) |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. | Jude 1:6 (Similar judgment on angels) |
| Isaiah 13:19 | Babylon, the Jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. | Isa 13:19 (Parallel judgment of a proud city/kingdom) |
| Jeremiah 50:30 | Her young men will fall in the streets; all her warriors will be silenced in that day," declares the LORD. | Jer 50:30 (Judgment on oppressor) |
| Nahum 3:5 | "I am against you," declares the LORD Almighty. "I will lift your skirts over your face and expose your nakedness to the nations, your shame to the kingdoms. | Nah 3:5 (Judgment of pride and exposure) |
| Ezekiel 31:3 | See how Lebanon excels— a cedar tree with beautiful branches, a shade-giving forest, tall and spreading, its top reaching into the clouds. | Ezek 31:3 (Metaphor of towering greatness) |
| Ezekiel 31:10 | Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘Because they towered high and their tops reached the clouds, and they were arrogant in their height, I gave them into the hands of a mighty ruler, the most terrible of nations, to be punished for their insolence. | Ezek 31:10 (Divine judgment for pride and height) |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. | Prov 16:18 (Principle of pride) |
| Job 20:6-7 | Though his pride should rise to the heavens, though his head reach the clouds, yet he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will ask, 'Where is he?' | Job 20:6-7 (Similar description of proud downfall) |
| Matthew 23:12 | For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | Matt 23:12 (Jesus' teaching on exaltation/humiliation) |
| Psalm 37:35-36 | I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a tree in its native soil. But he soon vanished, I looked for him, but he could not be found. | Ps 37:35-36 (Transience of wickedness) |
| Isaiah 2:11 | The eyes of the LORD Almighty have risen against the arrogant, and the lofty will be humbled; the haughty will be brought low. | Isa 2:11 (The LORD brings down the proud) |
| Obadiah 1:3-4 | You Elomites who dwell securely in the crags of the mountains, you say in your heart, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Though you soar aloft like an eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD. | Obad 1:3-4 (Judgment on proud ascent) |
Isaiah 14 verses
Isaiah 14 16 Meaning
This verse describes those who look upon the fallen individual, observing their former glory and current degradation. They question the identity of this person, noting the stark contrast between their past reign and their present lowly state. The question implies astonishment at the complete downfall of someone once so powerful and prominent.
Isaiah 14 16 Context
This verse is found in Isaiah chapter 14, which vividly describes the downfall of the King of Babylon. This chapter contains prophetic pronouncements against the arrogant ruler who oppressed God's people. The passage uses metaphorical language, likely referring not only to the human king but also symbolizing the fall of Satan, the ultimate adversary who rebelled against God due to his pride. The surrounding verses depict the exultation of Israel over the defeated enemy and God’s ultimate triumph over forces that oppose Him.
Isaiah 14 16 Word Analysis
- רָאָה (raʾah): "to see," "to behold," "to perceive." It implies a visual act but also an understanding or recognition.
- שֶׁלּוּט (shillot): This is a rare or perhaps a poetic/archaic form. Likely related to "dominion," "power," or "rule." It signifies the power or dominion held.
- לְכָה (leḵa): "to you" (masculine singular). Directed at the fallen king.
- הִקְרִיב (hiqriv): "to bring near," "to cause to approach." Here it suggests they brought him to the threshold or very close.
- עוֹרֵר (ʿorer): "to stir up," "to awaken," "to cause to rise." Implies causing commotion or raising him up.
- מֶלֶךְ (meleḵ): "king."
- מַמְלְכוֹת (mamleḵot): "kingdoms," "reigns."
- אֶרֶץ (ʾereṣ): "earth," "land."
- תְּמוּגָה (temugah): "image," "likeness," "representation." The verse may be implying a striking likeness to his former self, or that his former "likeness" is no longer recognized.
- שׂוּר (sur): A root indicating "to turn aside," "to depart," "to change." The phrase implies a changed state or departure from his former being.
Group Analysis:
The phrase "Who caused the earth to tremble... who made the kingdoms shake?" describes the past devastating impact of the King of Babylon on nations. "Did we not send prisoners to their homes... even you with our letters?" suggests that their own perceived actions or treaties, perhaps those meant to bring peace or alliance, inadvertently led to their present state or facilitated their rise and fall. The question about his likeness and former ruling "made the kingdoms shake" highlights the astonishment at his complete ruin.
Isaiah 14 16 Bonus Section
The imagery of "Did we not send prisoners to their homes..." may allude to Assyrian or Babylonian practices of deporting conquered populations and then sometimes returning them or resettling them, creating complex political dynamics that could ultimately contribute to the ruler's undoing. It hints at the complex human machinations and political strategies that God uses in His overarching plan. The "likeness" could also imply that his true self, revealed by his actions, was nothing like the glorious image he projected, or that his current state is a horrific perversion of his former status.
Isaiah 14 16 Commentary
This verse captures the awe and disbelief of observers witnessing the complete desolation of a once mighty ruler. It's a testament to divine power that can exalt and utterly bring low, revealing that earthly power and grandeur are transient. The interrogation signifies a profound recognition of the magnitude of his fall, making the people wonder about the identity of this shadow of his former self who once held such immense sway. It underscores the principle that ultimate authority rests with God, who orchestrates the rise and fall of nations and kings according to His sovereign will.