Isaiah 14:4 kjv
That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
Isaiah 14:4 nkjv
that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: "How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased!
Isaiah 14:4 niv
you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!
Isaiah 14:4 esv
you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: "How the oppressor has ceased, the insolent fury ceased!
Isaiah 14:4 nlt
you will taunt the king of Babylon. You will say, "The mighty man has been destroyed.
Yes, your insolence is ended.
Isaiah 14 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 14:12 | "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the morning! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once knocked down the nations!" | Downfall prophecy |
| Luke 10:18 | "He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.'" | Satan's fall |
| Revelation 12:7-9 | "Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they no longer had a place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him." | Cosmic conflict |
| Ezekiel 28:14 | "You were an anointed guardian cherub, I placed you there. You were on God’s holy mountain, you walked among the fiery stones." | Description of pride |
| Jeremiah 51:34 | "'He has swallowed me whole, like a monster,' cries out Babylon; 'he has put me out of my distress, he has swallowed me whole.'" | Babylon's demise |
| Psalm 73:18-20 | "Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly they are destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!" | Fate of the wicked |
| Job 20:4-5 | "'For you know that this has been the decree of God, the inheritance appointed to you by God long ago.' 'The triumph of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless lasts only a moment.'" | Transitory joy of wicked |
| Isaiah 14:16 | "Those who see you will stare at you and ponder your fate: 'Is this the man who made the whole earth tremble, who shook the kingdoms?'" | Disbelief at downfall |
| Proverbs 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." | Principle of pride |
| Matthew 23:12 | "'The greatest among you will be your servant.'" | Humility contrasted |
| 2 Peter 2:4 | "For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment:" | 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 the judgment of the great Day." | Rebellious angels |
| Revelation 18:10, 17 | "'They will stand far in the distance, because of their fear for Babylon’s torment, and they will exclaim: “‘Woe to you, great city, Babylon, strong city! In one hour your doom has come!’"; "'In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' Every shipmaster, every passerby, every sailor, and all who do business by sea will stand far in the distance.'" | Commercial mourning |
| Zechariah 11:1, 5 | "'Open your doors, Lebanon, that fire may devour your cedars.'"; "For the buyers slaughter them and go unpunished, and those who sell them say, 'Praise the LORD, for with my wealth I am rich!' and their own shepherds do not pity them." | Shepherd metaphor |
| Psalm 82:6-7 | "'I said, “You are gods; you are all children of the Most High.” But you will die like mere mortals; you will fall like every prince.'" | Divine judgment |
| Romans 1:21-23 | "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. They claimed to be wise, but they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like immortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." | Foolishness of idolatry |
| Isaiah 47:1 | "'Descend from the throne and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon...'" | Humiliation |
| Daniel 4:30 | "the king spoke, saying, “Is this not the great Babylon, which I myself have built by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?”" | Nebuchadnezzar's pride |
| Genesis 11:4, 6, 9 | "'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves...'; "And the LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them."; "It is called Babel—because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.”" | Tower of Babel |
| Matthew 6:24 | "'No one can serve two masters...'" | Allegiance |
Isaiah 14 verses
Isaiah 14 4 Meaning
This verse proclaims the downfall of the King of Babylon, comparing his reign to that of the morning star (Lucifer or Venus), which appears brilliant but ultimately vanishes. The judgment signifies a complete destruction and loss of his dominion and glory.
Isaiah 14 4 Context
Isaiah 14 is a prophecy primarily concerning the King of Babylon. It speaks of his arrogance, his ambition to ascend above God, and his eventual downfall and humiliation. The chapter's historical context points to the pride and oppression characteristic of Babylonian rulers, particularly Nebuchadnezzar. The audience would have understood this as a judgment against a powerful earthly kingdom that embodied defiance against divine authority. The reference to the "morning star" (Helel ben Shachar) is often interpreted allegorically as well, extending to spiritual rebellion and the ultimate defeat of Satan.
Isaiah 14 4 Word Analysis
Sha'al (שׁאל): "Lift up," "ask." In this context, it implies an attempt to rise or ascend to a higher position, challenging divine authority.
Lah (לה): "To yourself," "for yourself." This highlights the selfish ambition and self-exaltation of the subject.
Ba-Shamayim (בשמים): "In the heavens," "in the sky." Refers to the highest place, a position of divine power and authority.
Kisse (כסא): "Throne." Represents the seat of power and rulership.
Kokhav (כוכב): "Star." Specifically, it refers to Venus, often associated with brightness and prominence, the morning star.
Kokhavei (כוכבי): "Stars of." Plural of kokhav, indicating multiple stars, or emphasizing the preeminence.
El (אל): "God," "Gods." The reference is to the Most High God, whose authority is being challenged.
Ezhgeh (אשב): "I will sit." Expresses intent and determination to usurp a place of honor and authority.
Bitzah (ביצה): "In the sides," "in the remotest parts," "in the remotest regions." It signifies occupying the northern parts of the heavens, often associated with divine assembly or councils.
Sha'al lekhah 'al-mishlotei el (שאל לך על משלות אל): This phrase combines the ideas of personal ambition ("lift up to yourself") with the audacious goal of ruling ("upon the dominion of God"). It underscores a rebellion that aims to usurp God's very authority and rule.
Kokhav miqcol kokhavei el ezhgeh (כוכב מיקצל כוכבי אל אשגה): This signifies a desire to place oneself higher than or equal to the highest celestial bodies designated by God, thus positioning oneself among or above divine powers.
Isaiah 14 4 Bonus Section
The imagery of the morning star (Helel ben Shachar) is potent. Venus, when visible before dawn, is exceptionally bright, making it a natural symbol for something dazzling and appearing to hold a prominent place. This makes its comparison to the prideful king's attempt to rise above all others deeply symbolic. The specific mention of sitting "in the remotest parts of the north" ("bitzah ba-tzaphon" - not directly in this verse but implied in similar prophetic contexts and the overall judgment against spiritual pride) often referred to the mythical dwelling place of gods or the seat of divine council, amplifying the audacious claim of divine-like status. This chapter is foundational for understanding spiritual pride and its catastrophic consequences.
Isaiah 14 4 Commentary
This verse vividly captures the essence of ultimate rebellion against God. The subject, often understood as a symbol of pride and usurpation, desires to elevate itself to God's sovereign position. The aspiration is not merely earthly power, but a celestial usurpation, aiming to sit on the throne of God in the heavenly assembly. This echoes the spiritual pride seen in the fall of Lucifer, a profound lesson on the dangers of self-exaltation versus humble submission to divine authority. The complete downfall is promised as a consequence of such presumptuous ambition, ensuring that all who witness it will recognize God’s supreme power.