Isaiah 14:17 kjv
That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
Isaiah 14:17 nkjv
Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?'
Isaiah 14:17 niv
the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?"
Isaiah 14:17 esv
who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?'
Isaiah 14:17 nlt
Is this the one who destroyed the world
and made it into a wasteland?
Is this the king who demolished the world's greatest cities
and had no mercy on his prisoners?'
Isaiah 14 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 14:16 | "Those who see you will gaze at you and consider you, saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms... | Old Testament |
| Isa 14:15 | Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the utmost depths of the Pit. | Old Testament |
| Isa 47:1 | "Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground! There is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! | Old Testament |
| Ezek 28:2 | "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god... | Old Testament |
| Ezek 28:16 | In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God... | Old Testament |
| Rev 18:7 | As she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, ‘I sit on a throne, I am no widow... | New Testament |
| Luke 10:18 | He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. | New Testament |
| Matt 11:23 | “And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom... | New Testament |
| Prov 18:12 | Before destruction, a person’s heart is proud, but before honor is humility. | Old Testament |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. | Old Testament |
| Dan 4:37 | Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, and all of whose works are truth, and whose ways are justice. And those who walk in pride he is able to put down. | Old Testament |
| John 12:31 | Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. | New Testament |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | ...God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. | New Testament |
| Rom 1:30 | ...¹⁵talking about those who are arrogant, or proud, or boastful; inventing evil things, disobedient to parents, | New Testament |
| Ps 37:36 | I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green laurel tree. | Old Testament |
| Ps 73:18 | Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. | Old Testament |
| Ps 140:12 | I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. | Old Testament |
| 2 Thess 1:9 | They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might... | New Testament |
| Rev 20:10 | Then the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. | New Testament |
| Isa 2:17 | And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of man shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day. | Old Testament |
| Jer 21:13 | Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain, declares the LORD... | Old Testament |
| Zeph 2:15 | This is the city full of shouting, joyous city. Your revelers were scattered, your wine merchants were carried off... | Old Testament |
Isaiah 14 verses
Isaiah 14 17 Meaning
This verse describes the judgment and downfall of a king who acted with great pride and oppression. It states that such a ruler, who considered himself a god and ruled unjustly, would be cast down and utterly destroyed, with no one offering any sympathy for his ruin.
Isaiah 14 17 Context
Isaiah 14:12-23 is a passage known as the "Fall of Babylon" or "Oracles Against the King of Babylon." It begins by speaking of Israel's future restoration and joy, followed by a poetic oracle detailing the downfall of a powerful, arrogant ruler, often interpreted as the literal King of Babylon, but also symbolically representing a type of defiant, prideful opposition to God, often associated with Satan. The immediate historical context is likely the proud king of Babylon who oppressed Israel. The passage vividly describes his hubris in aspiring to the heavens and being like the Most High, leading to his utter humiliation and destruction, cast down to the "uttermost depths of the pit." This oracle serves as a powerful warning against pride and a declaration of God's sovereignty over all earthly powers.
Isaiah 14 17 Word Analysis
- וְאַתָּה (wə’at·tâ): "And you." Connects this verse to the preceding descriptions, focusing the pronouncement directly on the king.
- הֻשְׁלַכְתָּ (huš·lač·tā): "you have been cast down," "you have been thrown." This is a Piel passive perfect verb from the root šālakh (to cast, send). The passive voice emphasizes that the action is done to him by an external force, in this case, God. It signifies a forceful expulsion and degradation.
- מִבַּלַּעֲדֵי (mibbäl·la·‘ă·dê): "from the side of," "apart from," "without." Implies separation or exclusion from something once possessed or associated with.
- עֵצְךָ (‘êṣ·ḵā): "your tree," "your garden," "your timber." In this context, it likely refers to his grandeur and provision, the source of his vitality and strength, similar to the "tree of life" imagery.
- וְכַלִּבִּנִים (wəḵal·lib·nîm): "and as the grafthousings" or "as the plants." This word is a hapax legomenon (occurs only once in the Bible), making its precise meaning debated. Some interpret it as "covered" or "clothed," suggesting a state of shame and nakedness. Others suggest it relates to plants or progeny, indicating his lineage and descendants will also be cut off.
- כְּמֵתִים (kəmê·ṯîm): "as the slain," "like the dead." This simile emphasizes the finality and completeness of his destruction. He is no longer standing or living; his influence is dead.
- בְּחַלְלֵי (bə·ḥal·lê): "in the slaughter of," "in the carcasses of." A strong image of defeat and battlefield casualties.
- חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ): "sword." A common instrument of war and judgment.
- אֲנָשִׁים (’ănā·šîm): "men."
- נְפָלִים (nə·fā·lîm): "fallen," "gibeonites." This refers to a specific group of people, descendants of the giant Anakim, known for their physical prowess (Joshua 15:13-14). In this context, it's used to describe those who have been violently struck down and lie as corpses. It intensifies the picture of carnage and utter defeat.
Words-group analysis:The phrase "as the slain and the carcasses of the sword" (kəmê·ṯîm bə·ḥal·lê ḥereḇ ’ănā·šîm nə·fā·lîm) paints a stark picture of total annihilation, emphasizing the violent end and the widespread devastation left behind after a fierce battle, equating the fallen king to common soldiers and victims of war rather than a great monarch.
Isaiah 14 17 Bonus Section
The imagery of the "tree" (‘êṣ) is potent in biblical literature, often symbolizing a powerful nation, a dynasty, or individual prosperity and life (e.g., Psalm 1:3; Ezekiel 31). Here, the king's "tree" is discarded, signifying the severance of his influence, legacy, and sustenance. The difficult word "\libnim" has led to various interpretations, with some seeing a connection to shame and nakedness, a consequence of his fallen pride. The contrast between his former presumed divine status and his ultimate consignment among the "slain" (\kəmê·ṯîm) and "fallen" (\nə·fā·lîm) emphasizes the severity of divine retribution against blasphemous arrogance. This prophetic judgment serves as a universal warning against any entity, temporal or spiritual, that usurps God's glory and oppresses His people. The parallel with Lucifer's fall in Christian interpretation draws from the overarching themes of pride and rebellion against divine authority, extending the meaning beyond a mere historical king.
Isaiah 14 17 Commentary
This verse pronounces a grim fate upon the arrogant king, who is forcefully cast down from his high estate. He is stripped of his strength and prosperity, compared to a withered branch or discarded foliage. His end is to be ignominious, like that of nameless warriors fallen in battle, leaving him not even a grave befitting his former status. The language is strong and judgmental, highlighting that his own pride has led to this ultimate downfall, rejected and despised by all.