Isaiah 47:12 kjv
Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
Isaiah 47:12 nkjv
"Stand now with your enchantments And the multitude of your sorceries, In which you have labored from your youth? Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you will prevail.
Isaiah 47:12 niv
"Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries, which you have labored at since childhood. Perhaps you will succeed, perhaps you will cause terror.
Isaiah 47:12 esv
Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror.
Isaiah 47:12 nlt
"Now use your magical charms!
Use the spells you have worked at all these years!
Maybe they will do you some good.
Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.
Isaiah 47 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 47:12 | "Stand fast now with your enchantments and with the multitude of your sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if, peradventure, thou mayest prevail, if thou mayest cause confusion." | Isa 47:12 |
| Jeremiah 10:2 | "Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them." | Jer 10:2 (Hear then about meaningless divinations) |
| Isaiah 44:25 | "That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;" | Isa 44:25 (God makes diviners foolish) |
| Jeremiah 14:14 | "Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake I unto them: they prophesy unto thee a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." | Jer 14:14 (Prophets prophesy lies) |
| Ezekiel 21:21 | "For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver." | Ezek 21:21 (Practices of divination) |
| Deuteronomy 18:10 | "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer." | Deut 18:10 (Forbidden practices) |
| Galatians 5:20 | "(Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;) idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies," | Gal 5:20 (Witchcraft listed as sin) |
| Revelation 21:8 | "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." | Rev 21:8 (Sorcerers excluded from God's kingdom) |
| Psalm 119:118 | "Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood." | Ps 119:118 (Deceitful nature of error) |
| Jeremiah 51:46 | "And be sore moved, lest your heart faint, and ye fear the report that shall be heard in the land: for it shall come with the one end of the year with devastation, and with the other the devastation." | Jer 51:46 (Fear at report of destruction) |
| Isaiah 8:19 | "And when they shall say unto you, Seek ye unto them that have familiar spirits and unto wizards that peep and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?" | Isa 8:19 (Warning against seeking familiar spirits) |
| 2 Chronicles 33:6 | "And he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger." | 2 Chron 33:6 (Manasseh's wicked practices) |
| Job 5:12 | "He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise." | Job 5:12 (God frustrates schemes) |
| Psalm 33:10 | "The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect." | Ps 33:10 (God nullifies plans) |
| Isaiah 46:1 | "Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast." | Isa 46:1 (Idols are useless burdens) |
| Daniel 2:27 | "Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, No wise men, enchanters, magicians, sorcerers, or the diviners can show unto the king the mystery which the king hath demanded," | Dan 2:27 (Magicians can't reveal mysteries) |
| Isaiah 5:21 | "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!" | Isa 5:21 (Wisdom in one's own eyes) |
| Isaiah 29:14 | "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." | Isa 29:14 (Wisdom of the wise will perish) |
| Jeremiah 10:3-4 | "For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not." | Jer 10:3-4 (Vanity of idols) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:20 | "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" | 1 Cor 1:20 (God makes worldly wisdom foolish) |
Isaiah 47 verses
Isaiah 47 12 Meaning
This verse describes the inability of Babylonian sorcerers and stargazers to save their city from the impending doom that God has decreed. Their familiar spirits and magic will prove useless against the overwhelming power of God's judgment.
Isaiah 47 12 Context
Isaiah chapter 47 depicts the downfall of Babylon. God has judged this powerful empire for its pride, cruelty, and idolatry. In this verse, God addresses Babylon directly, challenging its reliance on its sorceries and enchantments. Historically, Babylonian religion heavily featured astrology, divination, and other forms of occult practices. These were believed to provide guidance and power. Isaiah highlights the ultimate futility of such practices when faced with divine judgment, emphasizing that these relied-upon methods will fail to save them from the inevitable consequences of their actions. The immediate context is God's declaration of judgment against Babylon, described as a proud and idolatrous nation that inflicted much suffering on His people.
Isaiah 47 12 Word Analysis
- Stand fast (עִמְדוּ - 'imdu): This imperative verb means "stand," "remain," or "continue standing." It is used here as a challenge, urging Babylon to maintain its position with its supposed sources of strength.
- now (עַתָּה - 'atta): This adverb indicates the present time, emphasizing the immediacy of the divine judgment.
- with (בְּ - bə): A preposition indicating accompaniment or means.
- your enchantments (בְּלָחַשִׁים - bəlaḥašīm): The plural of "blaḥaš," referring to incantations, spells, or mutterings, often associated with sorcery. This word suggests secret or whispered magical formulas.
- and with (וּבְ - ūḇə): Connecting the next set of practices.
- the multitude (בְּרֹב - bərōḇ): "In the abundance of" or "with the great number of." It highlights the quantity and diversity of their magical practices.
- of your sorceries (קִסְמֹתַיִךְ - qisomōtayīḵ): The plural of "qesem," meaning divination, sorcery, or magic. This refers to the practices of foretelling the future or exerting control through magical means. The feminine possessive suffix indicates it belongs to Babylon.
- wherein (אֲשֶׁר־בָּם - 'ašər-bām): "In which" or "concerning which."
- thou hast laboured (עָמַלְתְּ - 'āmalt): The perfect tense of "'amal," meaning "to toil," "to work hard," or "to be weary." This points to the long-standing and intensive efforts Babylon invested in these occult practices.
- from thy youth (מִנְּעוּרַיִךְ - minnə‘ūrayīḵ): "From your youth." This signifies that Babylon has been devoted to these practices since its early beginnings.
- if, peradventure (אוּלַי - 'ulay): This introduces a conditional statement, expressing doubt or uncertainty, "perhaps" or "maybe."
- thou mayest prevail (תּוּכְלִי לְהוֹעִיל - tûḵlī ləhō‘īl): "You will be able to be of advantage" or "you will be able to benefit." The verb "yā‘al" suggests effectiveness or usefulness.
- if (אִם־ - 'im): A conjunction introducing another condition.
- thou mayest cause confusion (תּוֹכִיחִי - tôḵîḥî): This Hebrew word (from the root "yākaḥ") has a range of meanings, including "to prove," "to argue," "to rebuke," or "to demonstrate." In this context, it likely means "to convince" or "to bring to confusion/utterance" in a futile way, implying they might attempt to reveal or explain away their impending doom but will fail. Another interpretation, from "ḥāwaš," is "to cause confusion" or "to vex." Considering the context of useless efforts, the idea of bringing a "confusion" that they might benefit from, or "prove" themselves against the judgment, fits the ironical challenge.
Words Group Analysis:
- "enchantments and sorceries": These terms cover a range of Babylonian occult practices, including incantations and divination, highlighting their reliance on the supernatural but the wrong kind.
- "laboured from thy youth": This emphasizes the long-standing, dedicated, and deep-rooted nature of Babylon's engagement with these practices, making their failure even more stark.
- "if, peradventure, thou mayest prevail, if thou mayest cause confusion": This phrase conveys God's sarcastic challenge. He expresses doubt about their ability to succeed, mocking their misplaced confidence in their magical skills to overcome His judgment.
Isaiah 47 12 Bonus Section
The emphasis on "labouring from thy youth" speaks to the deep-seated, ingrained nature of idolatry and reliance on self-effort rather than on God. This is a recurring theme in Scripture, where nations and individuals often turn to forbidden practices out of a lack of faith and trust in God's providence. The verse implicitly contrasts the futility of Babylon's sorceries with the ultimate power and sovereignty of God, who alone controls the destiny of nations and individuals. This serves as a powerful reminder that no human endeavor, especially those rooted in rebellion against God, can ultimately succeed against His plan.
Isaiah 47 12 Commentary
God sarcastically tells Babylon to stand firm using its magical skills because they have diligently practiced them since their youth. He challenges them, asking if perhaps their multitude of enchantments and sorceries might prove useful or even beneficial in the face of divine judgment. This verse exposes the utter helplessness and vanity of human attempts to avert God's decreed punishment through occult means. Babylon's extensive reliance on magic, divination, and astrology, while a significant part of its culture, offered no real protection. Instead, these practices are shown to be empty and powerless against the sovereign will of the Almighty. Their wisdom and power, as they perceived it, were ultimately a delusion, unable to deliver them from the judgment God had ordained.