Isaiah 47 3

Isaiah 47:3 kjv

Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

Isaiah 47:3 nkjv

Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your shame will be seen; I will take vengeance, And I will not arbitrate with a man."

Isaiah 47:3 niv

Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame uncovered. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one."

Isaiah 47:3 esv

Your nakedness shall be uncovered, and your disgrace shall be seen. I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.

Isaiah 47:3 nlt

You will be naked and burdened with shame.
I will take vengeance against you without pity."

Isaiah 47 verses

Isaiah 47 3 Meaning

Isaiah 47:3 declares God's decisive and unsparing judgment upon Babylon. Her glory, power, and prestige, which had covered her pride and cruelties, will be stripped away, exposing her utterly to public humiliation and disgrace. God Himself will personally exact vengeance, and in doing so, He will act not with human-like weakness, pity, or negotiation, but with absolute divine and unyielding justice, allowing no one to intercede or mitigate her deserved punishment.

Isaiah 47 3 Context

Isaiah chapter 47 is a prophetic oracle against Babylon, often personified as a proud, luxurious "daughter of the Chaldeans" or "lady of kingdoms." This chapter portrays a dramatic reversal of fortunes: the dominant world power that had oppressed many nations, including Judah, is depicted as being humbled to the dust. From a queen who commanded respect and showed no mercy, she is cast down to the status of a menial slave, stripped of her garments, made to grind millstones, cross rivers, and face utter public shame. The chapter highlights Babylon's excessive pride, self-security ("I am, and there is no one besides me"), cruelty, and reliance on idolatry, sorcery, and astrology, which ultimately prove useless in her day of judgment. Verse 3 directly continues the theme of humiliation, announcing the complete and inescapable public exposure and divine vengeance that will befall her, countering her prior boasts of unassailable status. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled when the Persian empire under Cyrus conquered Babylon.

Isaiah 47 3 Word analysis

• Your nakedness (Hebrew: ʿerwāh, עֶרְוָה): Refers to spiritual and social nakedness, not merely physical. It signifies extreme vulnerability, disgrace, humiliation, and the exposure of one's private, shameful parts. In the biblical worldview, "nakedness" can imply sin, disgrace, or a state of destitution and total lack of protection or honor. It’s often linked to the consequence of illicit actions or abandonment by divine favor. The removal of covering exposes her deepest shame and vulnerabilities.

• shall be uncovered (Hebrew: tiggaleh, תִגָּלֶה): From the root gālāh (גָלָה), meaning "to uncover," "reveal," "exile." The passive voice emphasizes that this uncovering will happen to Babylon; it is not her own choice but an imposed act of divine judgment. Her hidden iniquities, cruelties, and reliance on false gods will be brought to light before the world.

• your shame (Hebrew: ḥerpâ, חֶרְפָּה): Means "reproach," "disgrace," "insult," "dishonor." It parallels "nakedness" and intensifies the sense of public humiliation. While ʿerwāh might hint at inherent or private shame, ḥerpâ emphasizes the outward, visible disgrace and the taunting it invites.

• also shall be seen (Hebrew: gam tērāʾeh, גַּם תֵּרָאֶה): The adverb "also" (gam) reinforces the severity by adding to the initial statement. "Shall be seen" (tērāʾeh, passive of rāʾāh, "to see") underscores the public nature of Babylon's downfall. It will be an undeniable, observed spectacle. Her previously hidden transgressions and newfound helplessness will be visible for all nations to behold, mocking her former pride.

• I will take vengeance (Hebrew: ʾeqqaḥ nāqām, אֶקַּח נָקָם): This phrase signifies God's direct, personal, and absolute commitment to retribution. ʾeqqaḥ (from lāqaḥ, "to take, seize") with nāqām ("vengeance, retribution") indicates a deliberate and just act of repayment for wrongs committed. God takes it upon Himself to bring justice, underscoring His sovereignty over nations and His protection of His people.

• and I will not meet you as a man (Hebrew: welōʾ ʾefgaʿ ʾîš, וְלֹא אֶפְגַּע אִ֥ישׁ): This is a pivotal phrase.

  • ʾefgaʿ (from pāgaʿ, פָגַע) has a range of meanings: "to meet," "encounter," "intervene," "fall upon," or even "to intercede." In this context, combined with "not," it powerfully conveys God's resolute refusal to show leniency, compassion, or to be swayed. It means He will not come to her in an approachable, appeasable, or reconciliatory manner.
  • ʾîš (אִ֛ישׁ) meaning "man," emphasizes the distinction between divine justice and human characteristics. God will not act like a frail, limited, or compassionate human who might be pleaded with, change their mind, or show weakness. His judgment will be utterly divine, unwavering, and uncompromising, free from human sentimentality or error. He will not intercede for her, nor will He meet her on terms that she could possibly negotiate or appeal to.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Your nakedness shall be uncovered, your shame also shall be seen": This double-barreled statement intensifies the theme of utter public degradation. It speaks of a complete stripping away of every covering—of power, luxury, self-dignity, and divine favor—revealing her iniquity and vulnerability for all the world to witness. It highlights the reversal of fortune, where the oppressor will become an object of scorn.
  • "I will take vengeance, and I will not meet you as a man": This declares the irresistible force and uncompromising nature of divine judgment. The emphasis is on God's personal involvement and the absolute, unyielding quality of His retribution. No human mediation, no plea for mercy, no amount of appeasement will turn back His resolve. His judgment is wholly sovereign and decisive, distinct from any changeable or limited human action.

Isaiah 47 3 Bonus section

The prophecy in Isaiah 47 often presents Babylon in contrast to Israel, whom she mercilessly enslaved. Where Babylon showed no mercy, she will receive none. This chapter, especially this verse, establishes a foundational biblical truth: empires and human powers are transient and ultimately accountable to the God of Israel. Their boasted invincibility and self-reliance are mere illusions against the backdrop of divine omnipotence. The public nature of Babylon's shame also serves as a global witness to God's justice and faithfulness to His covenant promises. The precise Hebrew wording emphasizes the reversal of fortunes: the "daughter of Chaldeans" who forced Judah into exile will herself suffer public degradation. The prophetic language can be understood as applying to any proud and oppressive power that forgets its creaturely limits and lifts itself against God or His people.

Isaiah 47 3 Commentary

Isaiah 47:3 encapsulates the severe and inescapable judgment awaiting Babylon due to her pride and cruelty against God's people. The imagery of her "nakedness uncovered" and "shame seen" is a profound metaphor for complete loss of dignity, power, and prestige. Babylon, accustomed to ruling with imperial pomp, will be publicly humiliated and utterly stripped of all her adornments, much like a slave being prepared for arduous labor (as the surrounding verses describe). This signifies not only her physical defeat but also the exposure of her spiritual bankruptcy and the futility of her idolatrous practices. The declaration "I will take vengeance" underscores God's active and just response to the oppression His people endured. The phrase "and I will not meet you as a man" is crucial. It asserts God's divine transcendence in judgment; He will not approach Babylon with human limitations, weakness, or capacity for negotiation, leniency, or remorse. There will be no intercession or pity; only a full, unmitigated application of His righteous wrath. This highlights God's sovereignty over history and nations, demonstrating that His justice will prevail despite the temporary triumph of oppressors.