Isaiah 47 1

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 verses

Isaiah 47 1 Meaning

Isaiah 47:1 pronounces a divine judgment upon Babylon, personifying it as a "virgin daughter" once proud and unviolated, now commanded to descend from its lofty position into dust and humiliation. It foretells a drastic reversal of fortune, where Babylon, previously known for its luxury and power, will lose its throne, comfort, and delicate existence, facing abject defeat and servitude. The verse sets the stage for a dramatic depiction of its downfall and loss of former glory.

Isaiah 47 1 Context

Isaiah 47 is part of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), where God reassures His people, Israel, through prophecies of judgment against their oppressors and ultimate restoration for them. This chapter specifically details the impending fall of Babylon, which would become the dominant world power after Assyria and the captor of Judah. This prophecy was delivered centuries before Babylon's zenith and its eventual conquest by Cyrus the Great of Persia in 539 BC. The immediate context of chapter 47 is a dramatic oracle against Babylon, personifying it to describe its fall from ultimate power and luxury to utter humiliation. It directly challenges Babylon's self-assured belief in its invincibility and highlights the impotence of its gods and reliance on divination, contrasting it with the supreme power of Yahweh. The entire chapter uses highly emotive and ironic language to emphasize the complete and irreversible destruction of the arrogant empire, a clear demonstration of God's sovereignty over all nations and history.

Isaiah 47 1 Word analysis

• Come down (רְדִ֤י - redhi): An imperative verb, commanding an action. It signifies a dramatic descent, a fall from a high position of power and status to a lowly state. It is not merely physical movement but a reversal of fortune.
• and sit (שְׁבִ֥י - shevi): Also an imperative. To "sit" in this context is not to rest but to take a posture of abject defeat, mourning, and deep humiliation.
• in the dust (בָּעָפָ֖ר - ba'aphar): The particle 'ba' means 'in' or 'on.' 'Aphār' refers to fine earth, dust, or ashes. Symbolically, sitting in dust/ashes represents ultimate lowliness, penitence, mourning, and severe distress (e.g., Job 2:8; Jonah 3:6).
• O virgin (בְּתוּלַת - bethulath): A striking and ironic epithet. 'Bethulah' literally means a "virgin" or "maiden." Applied to a city or nation, it typically implies its untouched, unconquered, or inviolable status, representing its purity or unmarred glory. Here, it sarcastically highlights Babylon's self-perception of invincibility, which is about to be shattered. The city that boasted of never being violated is about to be humiliated.
• daughter of Babylon (בַּת־ בָּ֑בֶל - bath-Bavel): A common Hebrew idiom to personify a city or nation as a female entity, often representing its inhabitants or collective identity.
• sit (שְׁבִ֥י - shevi): Repeated for emphasis on the forced, humiliating posture.
• on the ground (עַל־ אֶ֕רֶץ - 'al-eretz): Similar to 'in the dust,' this emphasizes a return to a state of baseness, loss of any raised platform or authority. 'Eretz' means land, earth, or ground.
• without a throne (אֵ֥ין כִּסֵּ֖א - ein kissē'): 'Ein' means 'no' or 'without.' 'Kissē'' is a "throne" or "seat of authority." This directly signifies the loss of royalty, power, dominion, and sovereignty. Babylon will no longer rule.
• O daughter (בַּת־ - bath-): Repetition of the idiom for personification.
• of the Chaldeans (כַּשְׂדִּֽים - Kasdim): Another name for the inhabitants of Babylon or the region of Mesopotamia where Babylon was located, often specifically referring to its ruling elite and dominant ethnic group known for their wisdom and astrology.
• for you shall no longer be called (כִּי לֹא תוֹסִ֨יפִי קְרֹא־ - kī lō tōsíphī qərō’): 'Kī' introduces the reason for the command. 'Lo tosiphi qero' means "you shall no longer add to be called," signifying a permanent cessation of her former identity or description.
• tender (רַכָּה֙ - rakkāh): "Soft," "delicate," "feeble." Implies a life of luxury, ease, and comfort, unaccustomed to hardship.
• and delicate (וַעֲנֻגָּֽה - va'anugah): "Luxurious," "spoiled," "pleasure-loving." Denotes someone pampered, living in soft surroundings, indulging in delights. Together, 'rakkāh va'anugah' paints a picture of extreme indulgence and privilege.

Words-Group analysis:

• "Come down and sit in the dust... sit on the ground without a throne": This phrase complex delivers a triple blow of humiliation. "Coming down" implies falling from high status. "Sitting in the dust/ground" is the ultimate posture of mourning and defeat, signifying the lowest possible state. "Without a throne" specifically denies the symbols and reality of power, rule, and authority. The repeated commands intensify the certainty and severity of the judgment.
• "O virgin daughter of Babylon... O daughter of the Chaldeans": The dual appellation reinforces the identity of the condemned nation and adds a layer of bitter irony. Calling Babylon a "virgin" mocks its unearned pride and sense of invulnerability, emphasizing how stark its downfall will be for a nation previously 'unviolated.' This also signifies its collective pride and identity now being utterly shamed.
• "for you shall no longer be called tender and delicate": This concluding clause explains why the fall is happening and what it entails. Babylon's days of ease, comfort, and luxury are permanently over. This identity, cultivated through immense wealth and dominance, will be forcibly stripped away. It emphasizes the complete reversal of its privileged existence.

Isaiah 47 1 Bonus section

The "virgin" descriptor could also imply that Babylon had not previously endured the experience of having its ruling city conquered by foreign armies in the same way other ancient cities had, which made it arrogant. The prophecy acts as a theological statement, not merely a political one. It demonstrates that Yahweh, the God of Israel, not only foresaw the rise and fall of this immense empire but was actively orchestrating it. This served to provide immense comfort and hope to the Israelites, who would later experience Babylonian captivity, assuring them that their oppressor, no matter how powerful, was still subject to God's ultimate plan and would face judgment. This fall, from its 'virginity' to servitude, makes the future impact on Judah easier to bear, as they knew God was ultimately in control and would deliver justice.

Isaiah 47 1 Commentary

Isaiah 47:1 delivers a potent message of divine judgment against Babylon, painted with striking imagery of humiliation. The prophetic utterance shatters Babylon's self-perception of impregnable power and everlasting luxury. The command to "come down" from its exalted state to "sit in the dust" signifies a complete loss of its majestic throne and privileged existence. The irony of addressing Babylon as a "virgin daughter" is pivotal; it mocks the empire's pride and conviction of never having been conquered or violated, revealing that this untouched status is about to be violently removed. No longer will it enjoy the titles "tender and delicate," but will face hardship, servitude, and the stripping away of its cherished comforts. This verse succinctly encapsulates the reversal of fortune orchestrated by God, serving as a powerful declaration of His absolute sovereignty over human empires, bringing down the proud and elevating the humble.