Isaiah 47:1 kjv
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: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
Isaiah 47:1 nkjv
"Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called Tender and delicate.
Isaiah 47:1 niv
"Go down, sit in the dust, Virgin Daughter Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, queen city of the Babylonians. No more will you be called tender or delicate.
Isaiah 47:1 esv
Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
Isaiah 47:1 nlt
"Come down, virgin daughter of Babylon, and sit in the dust.
For your days of sitting on a throne have ended.
O daughter of Babylonia, never again will you be
the lovely princess, tender and delicate.
Isaiah 47 1 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Isaiah 47:1 | "Come down, sit in the dust; O virgin daughter of Babylon..." | Gen 3:19 |
Isaiah 47:1 | "...sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of Chaldeans..." | Job 40:4 |
Isaiah 47:1 | "...for you shall no more be called tender and delicate." | Jer 3:23 |
Isaiah 47:2 | "Take millstones and grind meal; put on sackcloth; make your breast bare, uncover..." | Ex 30:18 |
Isaiah 47:2 | "...bare your legs, pass through the rivers." | 2 Sam 10:4 |
Isaiah 47:3 | "Let your nakedness be uncovered, yes, your shame be seen..." | Eze 23:29 |
Isaiah 47:3 | "I will take vengeance, and I will not pit myself against a mortal." | Rom 12:19 |
Isaiah 47:4 | "As for our Redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." | Ps 74:2, 74:14, 89:18 |
Isaiah 47:5 | "Sit, O daughter of Babylon; be silent, and go into darkness..." | Lam 5:16 |
Isaiah 47:5 | "...for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms." | 1 Sam 15:30 |
Isaiah 47:8 | "Therefore hear this, you decadent one, You who dwell carelessly..." | Zeph 1:12 |
Isaiah 47:9 | "These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day..." | 1 Cor 15:52 |
Isaiah 47:10 | "You felt secure in your wickedness; you said, 'No one sees me.'" | Ps 10:11 |
Isaiah 47:11 | "But evil shall come upon you which you will not know how to charm away..." | Gal 6:7 |
Isaiah 47:11 | "...and a calamity shall fall upon you which you will not be able to avert." | 1 Thess 5:3 |
Isaiah 47:14 | "Behold, they are all like stubble; the fire has consumed them..." | Ps 83:13 |
Isaiah 47:15 | "Thus shall your acquaintances each go their own way; no one shall save you." | Jer 51:45 |
Isaiah 47:17 | "For the LORD of hosts has purposed to break it down, to bring down the craftsmen..." | Eze 26:7-12 |
Isaiah 48:5 | "For I knew that you were stubborn, and your neck is an iron sinew..." | Deut 31:27 |
Isaiah 48:6 | "You have heard; now see all this. And will you not declare it?" | John 3:32 |
Isaiah 47 verses
Isaiah 47 1 Meaning
Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of Chaldea; for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
Isaiah 47 1 Context
Isaiah chapter 47 pronounces judgment on Babylon. It portrays the mighty city as a proud and luxurious queen who will be brought down to utter humiliation and servitude. The chapter details the reasons for this judgment: Babylon's oppressive treatment of God's people, its idolatry, and its arrogance in thinking itself invincible. This prophecy was given during a time when Assyria was the dominant power, and it looked ahead to Babylon's future rise and subsequent fall, which was a significant event in ancient Near Eastern history. The chapter serves as a stark warning against pride and reliance on human strength rather than God.
Isaiah 47 1 Word Analysis
Go down (yarid): Implies a loss of status, descent from a high position.
Sit (shev): An act of dwelling or residing, here indicating a position of lowliness.
Dust (aphar): Symbolizes mourning, humiliation, and being reduced to nothing.
Virgin daughter (bat beytulah): Represents purity, undefiled status, and a formerly pristine condition. The use of "virgin" emphasizes the purity that Babylon is about to lose through defilement and destruction.
Babylon (Bavel): Refers to the great Mesopotamian city, a symbol of worldly power, luxury, and opposition to God.
Sit on the ground (shev al ha'aretz): A posture of deep mourning and degradation, stripping away all symbols of royalty.
Without a throne (beli kisse): Explicitly signifies the loss of all authority, power, and regal position.
Daughter of Chaldeans (bat-kasdim): Refers to the inhabitants and people of Babylon, highlighting their ethnic and geographical origin. Chaldea was the region of southern Mesopotamia where Babylon was located.
No more shall they call you (lo yasaf yiqare): A definitive statement of a change in identity and status.
Tender (a’manah): Suggests gentleness, delicate pampering, and luxury.
Delicate (rakah): Implies softness, effeminacy, and pampered ease. These terms depict the luxurious and seemingly unassailable lifestyle Babylon enjoyed.
Group Analysis: "Come down...sit on the ground without a throne": This entire phrase captures the essence of Babylon's catastrophic fall from power. It paints a vivid picture of a queen, accustomed to opulence and rule, being cast down into the dirt, stripped of all regalia and respect. It signifies not just political defeat but a complete social and spiritual demotion. The contrast between her former high status and her new lowly state is stark.
Group Analysis: "virgin daughter... no more be called tender and delicate": This highlights the irreversible nature of Babylon's downfall. Her former perceived innocence and cherished status are permanently lost. She will no longer be treated or considered as something precious and carefully maintained, but rather as something broken and discarded.
Isaiah 47 1 Bonus Section
The imagery of a "virgin daughter" being brought low can also speak to a broader theme of how spiritual or national purity is lost through sin and corruption. Babylon's external magnificence masked an inner corruption, leading to its downfall. This prophetic declaration about Babylon served as a foreshadowing for future empires that might rely on their own might and forget God, emphasizing that true security is found in righteousness and faithfulness to the Lord. The language of being "tender and delicate" contrasts sharply with the harsh realities of conquest and captivity that Babylon inflicted on others.
Isaiah 47 1 Commentary
This verse marks the beginning of Babylon's denunciation. God declares that the proud, luxurious city will be forced into the lowest state of degradation. Babylon, depicted as a queenly virgin, will lose her throne, her status, and her perceived invincibility. The divine declaration targets not just military defeat but a complete loss of identity and former glory, emphasizing that her sins and arrogance have earned her this severe judgment. The humiliation is total; she will be brought down from her lofty position to sit in the dust, the ultimate symbol of shame and ruin.