Isaiah 14:23 kjv
I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 14:23 nkjv
"I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," says the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 14:23 niv
"I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD Almighty.
Isaiah 14:23 esv
"And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of hosts.
Isaiah 14:23 nlt
"I will make Babylon a desolate place of owls,
filled with swamps and marshes.
I will sweep the land with the broom of destruction.
I, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!"
Isaiah 14 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 14:12 | How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! | Isa 14:12 (Fulfillment of prophecy against pride) |
| Jer 50:15-16 | Shout against her from all around: “Babylon has declared her guilt, for she has revolted against me. But the people of Israel have not committed against me, but against Babylon; therefore you must not rule over them by force, nor bind them with chains. They shall come to Zion, and their oppressors shall be punished.” | Jer 50:15-16 (God's judgment on Babylon) |
| Jer 51:45 | My people, go out from her! Each of you save your life from the burning anger of the LORD. | Jer 51:45 (Exhortation to flee Babylon) |
| Zech 5:3-4 | Then he said to me, “This is the curse that is spreading over the whole land; because of the lawlessness of the debtor and the swearer, it will be completely swept from your side.” | Zech 5:3-4 (Curses upon lawlessness) |
| Rev 18:2 | With a mighty voice he proclaimed: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a prison for every unclean spirit, a cage for every unclean and hated bird. | Rev 18:2 (Fallen Babylon imagery) |
| Rev 18:8 | Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. | Rev 18:8 (Babylon's judgment) |
| Prov 18:12 | Before a downfall the heart of man is proud, but humility comes before honor. | Prov 18:12 (Pride precedes fall) |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. | Prov 16:18 (Pride and fall) |
| Ps 75:4-5 | “Do not exalt your horns,” he said. “Do not set your horns so defiantly,” or “Do not lift your horns so arrogantly.” | Ps 75:4-5 (Warning against arrogance) |
| Dan 4:37 | Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. | Dan 4:37 (Nebuchadnezzar's humility) |
| Luke 1:52 | He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. | Luke 1:52 (Magnificat theme) |
| Isa 10:5-6 | Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand lies the club of my fury! I will send him against a godless nation, I will send him to the people who stir up my anger, to plunder them, to capture them and to trample them down like the dust of the streets. | Isa 10:5-6 (God using Assyria) |
| Isa 10:12 | When the Lord has finished all he intended on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the fruits of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the high looks of his pride. | Isa 10:12 (Punishment of Assyrian pride) |
| 2 Kings 17:5-6 | (While the Assyrian army advanced.) The king of Assyria invaded all the land, and went up to Samaria, and was in siege against it. At the end of three years he took it. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Israel, the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away to Assyria. | 2 Kings 17:5-6 (Assyria's conquest of Israel) |
| Jer 20:4 | For this is what the LORD says: “I am about to put all Jerusalem in the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it and burn it down.” | Jer 20:4 (Jerusalem to be captured by Babylon) |
| Hab 2:8 | Because you have plundered many nations, the remainder of the peoples will plunder you, because of man’s bloodshed and for the violence done to the earth, to the towns and all who live in them. | Hab 2:8 (Judgment on plunderers) |
| Ps 137:8-9 | O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us. Happy is the one who takes your little children and dashes them against the rock. | Ps 137:8-9 (Imprecation against Babylon) |
| Isa 14:13-15 | You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the Pit. | Isa 14:13-15 (King of Babylon's ambitious pride) |
Isaiah 14 verses
Isaiah 14 23 Meaning
God will utterly destroy the line of the king of Babylon. This destruction will be so complete that no descendant will survive to claim his throne. The imagery is of divine judgment on prideful rulers, paralleling Babylon's overreach.
Isaiah 14 23 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah chapter 14, often referred to as the "Oracle against Babylon." The primary context is a prophetic declaration of God's judgment against the proud and powerful king of Babylon (likely Sennacherib or Nebuchadnezzar). This king's immense pride and his desire to elevate himself above God are central themes. Isaiah uses vivid imagery of cosmic battle and earthly destruction to illustrate the complete downfall that awaits such arrogance. The chapter is rich in polemics against the polytheistic and deified ruler concepts prevalent in ancient Near Eastern cultures, contrasting them with the sovereignty of the one true God, Yahweh.
Isaiah 14 23 Word analysis
- "God": Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים ('Elohim). A plural noun, but often used with a singular verb to refer to the one God of Israel. Indicates the supreme authority and power behind the pronouncement.
- "will cut off": Hebrew: כָּרַת (karat). Means to cut off, to sever, to exterminate, to bring to an end. Implies a definitive and complete removal.
- "for himself": Hebrew: לִּי (li). In this context, it refers to his own line, his descendants.
- "and": Hebrew: וְ (we). Connects clauses.
- "shall cut off": Hebrew: יַכְרִית (yakrit). Future tense of karat, indicating a future certainty of complete destruction.
- "from": Hebrew: מִן (min). Indicates removal from.
- "Babylon": Hebrew: בָּבֶל (Bāḇel). Refers to the great ancient Mesopotamian empire and its capital city. Symbolizes worldly power and pride.
- "son": Hebrew: בֵּן (ben). Refers to a child, offspring, descendant.
- "and": Hebrew: וְ (we).
- "grandson": Hebrew: נֶכֶד (neḵed) or בֶּן־בֶּן (ben-ben). While the direct translation is more likely "offspring," the emphasis is on lineage, so "grandson" captures the idea of extending generations. The Septuagint translates this as "offspring." The intention is to signify all descendants.
- "of": Hebrew: וְ (we) with suffixes indicating possession or relationship.
- "that": Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר ('asher). Relative pronoun.
- "city": Hebrew: קִרְיָה (qiryāh). Can refer to a city, town, or inhabited place.
Group analysis:
- "God will cut off for himself": This signifies divine ownership and prerogative in carrying out judgment. God's action is absolute.
- "son and grandson of Babylon": This phrasing emphasizes the complete eradication of the lineage, leaving no heir or remnant of the royal line. It speaks of the extinction of the family of the king associated with Babylon.
Isaiah 14 23 Bonus section
The "King of Babylon" in this chapter is a symbolic figure representing not just historical Babylonian rulers but also any entity or power that exalts itself against God and his people, exhibiting characteristics akin to the Antichrist figure. The theme of God's judgment against oppressive and prideful kingdoms resonates throughout scripture, serving as a reminder of divine justice. The complete destruction of a lineage is a severe judgment, reflecting the totality of God's disfavor against defiant arrogance. The ultimate fulfillment of judgment against pride is often associated with fallen spiritual powers, with Lucifer (the "morning star") being a prime example, as elaborated in earlier verses of this chapter.
Isaiah 14 23 Commentary
This verse is a powerful pronouncement of utter destruction upon the royal house of Babylon, stemming from their pride and defiance against God. It declares that not only will the king himself be dealt with, but his entire family line will be annihilated. This comprehensive judgment ensures that no heir will be left to inherit the throne or to perpetuate the line. The imagery of "son and grandson" (representing all descendants) being cut off conveys total extinction. This divine action highlights the ultimate consequence of excessive pride and the futile attempt to usurp God's authority, as exemplified by the King of Babylon in the preceding verses. God's sovereignty is demonstrated in his ability to not only overthrow earthly kingdoms but to annihilate their very lineage.