Isaiah 47:5 kjv
Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.
Isaiah 47:5 nkjv
"Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; For you shall no longer be called The Lady of Kingdoms.
Isaiah 47:5 niv
"Sit in silence, go into darkness, queen city of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms.
Isaiah 47:5 esv
Sit in silence, and go into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called the mistress of kingdoms.
Isaiah 47:5 nlt
"O beautiful Babylon, sit now in darkness and silence.
Never again will you be known as the queen of kingdoms.
Isaiah 47 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prophecies of Babylon's Downfall and Humiliation | ||
| Isa 13:19-20 | "...Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms...will be overthrown by God...never inhabited..." | Babylon's complete desolation. |
| Isa 14:4 | "...take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased..." | Rejoicing over the end of Babylon's tyranny. |
| Jer 50:23 | "How the hammer of the whole earth has been broken and shattered! How Babylon has become..." | Metaphor for Babylon's unparalleled destruction. |
| Jer 51:13 | "...O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come..." | Babylon's wealth and location no longer protective. |
| Hab 2:8 | "...because you have plundered many nations..." | Justification for judgment due to Babylon's greed. |
| Zeph 2:15 | "...This is the exultant city that lived securely...What a desolation she has become..." | Parallel to Nineveh's pride and fall. |
| The Reversal of Fortune for the Arrogant | ||
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | General principle demonstrated by Babylon. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For not from the east or from the west...but God is the judge; he puts down one and lifts up another." | God's sovereignty over exaltation and debasement. |
| Luke 1:52 | "He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate..." | Magnificat's theme of divine reversal. |
| Job 5:11 | "He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety." | God lifts up the oppressed, humbling oppressors. |
| Humiliation & Desolation as Punishment | ||
| Isa 14:11 | "Your pomp is brought down to Sheol...maggots are your bed, worms your covering." | Imagery of ultimate degradation. |
| Lam 2:10 | "The elders of daughter Zion sit on the ground in silence; they have thrown dust on their heads..." | Shared imagery of silent mourning/humiliation. |
| Isa 2:10 | "Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord..." | Call for hiding in terror, similar to "go into darkness." |
| Rev 18:22 | "...and the sound of millstones will never be heard in you again...neither any craftsman..." | Prophetic silence signifying total economic ruin. |
| God's Sovereignty Over Nations | ||
| Dan 2:21 | "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings..." | God's absolute control over kingdoms. |
| Dan 4:17 | "...the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whom he will..." | Affirmation of God's dominion over world powers. |
| Isa 40:23 | "He brings princes to nothing and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness." | God's power to nullify earthly authorities. |
| Deliverance and Comfort for God's People | ||
| Isa 40:1-2 | "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God...that her warfare is ended..." | Contextual promise of comfort for Israel, linking to Babylon's fall. |
| Isa 52:1-2 | "Awake, awake, O Zion; put on your strength...shake off your dust..." | Call for Israel to rise from its oppressed state. |
| Jer 30:10-11 | "Then fear not, O Jacob my servant...I am with you to save you..." | Assurance of deliverance from captivity. |
| Echoes in New Testament Judgment | ||
| Rev 18:7-8 | "As she glorified herself and lived in luxury...Therefore her plagues will come in a single day..." | Echo of Babylon's pride ("lady of kingdoms") and sudden judgment. |
| Rev 18:23 | "...and no light of a lamp will shine in you any longer..." | Parallel to "go into darkness." |
Isaiah 47 verses
Isaiah 47 5 Meaning
Isaiah 47:5 is a prophetic declaration of the utter downfall and humiliation of Babylon, personified as the "daughter of the Chaldeans." Once the undisputed imperial power and mistress of numerous kingdoms, Babylon is commanded to abandon its former glory and descend into silence and darkness, signifying deep mourning, isolation, desolation, and loss of influence. This verse highlights a dramatic reversal of fortune orchestrated by God, removing Babylon's self-proclaimed status and showcasing divine judgment against its arrogance and oppressive rule. It marks the end of its dominion, an identity stripped away.
Isaiah 47 5 Context
Isaiah chapter 47 is a "taunt against Babylon," a major oracle of judgment. The verses leading up to verse 5 detail the ignominious fate awaiting Babylon, portraying it as a queen or mistress forced into servitude and public humiliation (e.g., grinding meal, revealing her legs as a slave, v. 2-3). God declares that He is the avenger (v. 4) who is orchestrating this reversal. This specific verse emphasizes the profound shift from a position of unrivaled power and self-glorification to utter silence and darkness. Historically, this prophecy foretold the fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire to Cyrus the Great and the Persians in 539 BCE, which occurred while many Jews were still in exile. Culturally, Babylon was renowned for its immense wealth, military might, and the perception of its gods and leaders as invincible. The "Chaldeans" were the ruling dynasty. The prophecy directly challenges Babylon's arrogant belief in its perpetual dominance and implicitly asserts the supremacy of Yahweh over all earthly powers and false gods, offering comfort and vindication to the exiled people of Israel. It directly polemicizes against the prevalent idolatry and imperial hubris that defined Babylon.
Isaiah 47 5 Word analysis
- Sit in silence: (Hebrew: Yishbiy Dummah - יִשְׁבִי דוּמָּה)
- Sit (יִשְׁבִי - yishbiy): An imperative verb, a direct command, underscoring God's authoritative judgment. It means to dwell, to reside, but here implies taking a position of lament or solitude.
- In silence (דוּמָּה - dummah): An adverb, suggesting not merely being quiet, but being desolated, hushed in shame, unable to speak, lament, or boast. It evokes isolation, the cessation of public life, trade, and even the lament of mourning. It reflects a profound inner quiet born of national calamity and humiliation. This directly contradicts Babylon's former bustling activity and loud boasts.
- and go into darkness: (Hebrew: u'vo'iy bachoshek - וּבוֹאִי בַּחשֶׁךְ)
- and go (וּבוֹאִי - u'vo'i): Another imperative command, further reinforcing the mandatory nature of this fate.
- into darkness (בַּחשֶׁךְ - bakhoshek): Darkness metaphorically represents distress, sorrow, desolation, loss of vision, and despair. It symbolizes the loss of guidance, light, and prominence. Spiritually, it implies abandonment by their gods and loss of divine favor, plunging them into a state devoid of hope or clarity.
- O daughter of the Chaldeans: (Hebrew: Bat-Kasdim - בַּת־כַּשְׂדִּים)
- O daughter of the Chaldeans: This is a personification of Babylon itself. The "Chaldeans" were the dominant, aristocratic Semitic group in Babylonia who established the Neo-Babylonian Empire (626–539 BCE). Calling Babylon the "daughter" emphasizes its identity, character, and royal lineage directly tied to this ruling power, further making the subsequent humiliation personal and specific to the powerful dynasty that oppressed Judah.
- for thou shalt no more be called: (Hebrew: ki lo' tosifiy yiqarei - כִּי לֹא־תוֹסִיפִי יִקָּרֵא)
- for (כִּי - ki): Introduces the reason for the command to enter silence and darkness.
- thou shalt no more be called: Signifies a complete and permanent cessation of a title or status. This isn't just a temporary setback, but an enduring loss of identity and prestige. It represents God's authoritative redefinition of Babylon's very existence.
- The lady of kingdoms: (Hebrew: gĕveret mamlakot - גְּבֶרֶת מַמְלָכוֹת)
- The lady (גְּבֶרֶת - gĕveret): Meaning mistress, queen, sovereign lady. This was Babylon's self-perception and how it was perceived by other subjugated nations—a dominant, unchallengeable ruler.
- of kingdoms (מַמְלָכוֹת - mamlakot): Plural for "kingdoms," emphasizing its extensive empire and control over many vassal states. This phrase epitomizes Babylon's imperial arrogance and sense of unmatched supremacy. The prophecy utterly dismantles this exalted identity.
Isaiah 47 5 Bonus section
The concept of "silence" (dummah) here extends beyond mere quietude to a deep spiritual desolation and helplessness. It suggests that even the voices of Babylon's numerous gods will be silenced, unable to aid their devoted city. The transition into "darkness" not only means mourning and obscurity but also points to the lack of prophetic revelation or divine light that Babylon prided itself on having through its astrology and divination (Isaiah 47:13). This divine act signifies an abandonment, turning a once self-assured "lady" into a powerless figure cut off from any perceived or real source of strength. The deliberate word choice highlights the complete eradication of Babylon's cultural, religious, and political vitality, replacing its pomp with profound insignificance.
Isaiah 47 5 Commentary
Isaiah 47:5 delivers a powerful indictment against Babylon's pride, asserting God's ultimate sovereignty. The command to "sit in silence, and go into darkness" dramatically reverses Babylon's public, majestic identity. Formerly a vibrant, powerful hub, its future is prescribed as desolate and devoid of influence, a silent shadow of its past. This shift from "lady of kingdoms" —a title signifying unparalleled dominion and opulence—to one stripped of any honor, is the crux of God's judgment. It illustrates how divine justice can completely humble the proud and bring low the seemingly invincible, a theme consistent across the Bible regarding empires that forget their Creator. The verse assures exiled Israel that their oppressor's grand claims are hollow, and their suffering will lead to vindication by a God who controls all nations.