Isaiah 48 14

Isaiah 48:14 kjv

All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

Isaiah 48:14 nkjv

"All of you, assemble yourselves, and hear! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; He shall do His pleasure on Babylon, And His arm shall be against the Chaldeans.

Isaiah 48:14 niv

"Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The LORD's chosen ally will carry out his purpose against Babylon; his arm will be against the Babylonians.

Isaiah 48:14 esv

"Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans.

Isaiah 48:14 nlt

Have any of your idols ever told you this?
Come, all of you, and listen:
The LORD has chosen Cyrus as his ally.
He will use him to put an end to the empire of Babylon
and to destroy the Babylonian armies.

Isaiah 48 verses

Isaiah 48 14 meaning

This verse serves as a divine challenge and a declaration. It first summons an audience, implicitly including both Israel and the nations/idols, to witness God's unique prophetic ability. It then presents a rhetorical question, highlighting that only the God of Israel has truly declared future events, unlike the powerless idols. Finally, it reveals that an agent, described as "he whom the Lord loves" (Cyrus the Great, in context), will execute God's sovereign plan against Babylon and the Chaldeans, demonstrating Yahweh's unmatched power and foresight.

Isaiah 48 14 Context

Isaiah 48 concludes a major section (chapters 40-48) often referred to as "The Book of Comfort" or "Second Isaiah." This part of Isaiah speaks directly to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, around 540-539 BC. Chapter 48 specifically confronts Israel's stubbornness and idolatry while reinforcing God's unique identity as the sole, sovereign deity. The preceding verses in chapter 48 accuse Israel of being rebellious and unfaithful, performing rituals but not genuinely trusting God. The core message revolves around God's ability to declare the future before it happens, in stark contrast to the pagan gods and their practitioners of divination, which were prevalent in Babylonian culture. This verse (48:14) specifically transitions to God's solution: the rise of a powerful foreign ruler, Cyrus, who will overthrow Babylon, an event declared by God long in advance and serving as irrefutable proof of His sole deity and unmatched foresight. This directly counters Babylonian beliefs that their gods controlled destiny or that their diviners could genuinely reveal the future.

Isaiah 48 14 Word analysis

• Assemble (הִקָּבְצ֣וּ - Hiqqåvĕtzû): An imperative, plural command, meaning "gather yourselves." It signifies a formal summoning, like for a courtroom or a significant announcement. This urgent call extends to all—the exiles, other nations, and by implication, the mute idols who are unable to speak or declare.

• all of you: Emphasizes the universal scope of the summons, making the divine challenge inescapable for all.

• and listen! (וְשִׁמְעוּ֒ - veshimeʿû): Also an imperative, "hear ye." It calls for attentive reception, urging the audience not just to be present but to understand the profound theological claim about to be made.

• Which of these: Refers to the previously mentioned idols and their worshipers. This sets up a rhetorical challenge to prove their prophetic power.

• has foretold these things?: Challenges the pagan gods to demonstrate knowledge of future events, specifically the imminent fall of Babylon and the agent responsible. This directly critiques Babylonian divination.

• The LORD's chosen one (אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֲהֵב֖וֹ - asher YHVH ahevo): Literally "he whom the Lord loves" or "he concerning whom the Lord loves." While "love" often denotes deep affection in a covenant sense, here it primarily signifies divine election, favor, and specific selection for a particular mission. Contextually, this refers to Cyrus the Great, king of Persia.

• will carry out his purpose: Highlights the direct execution of God's sovereign will (חֶפְצוֹ֙ - ḥefṣō, meaning "His desire," "His will," or "His purpose"). This specific action is not an accident but a meticulously planned event in God's agenda.

• on Babylon: Names the target of God's judgment and the chosen agent's mission. Babylon was the current oppressor of Israel, the epitome of pride and idolatry.

• and his arm: Refers to the 'chosen one's' power and strength (א - ûzĕrōʿô). An arm symbolizes active strength and effective force in Hebrew thought. This is the means by which God's purpose is enacted.

• will be against the Chaldeans: Chaldeans is another, often interchangeable, term for the Babylonians, emphasizing their ethnic and geographic identity. The judgment will be thorough and targeted.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Assemble, all of you, and listen!": This tripartite command establishes God's absolute authority and demand for attention, initiating a judicial-like proceeding where God presents His case.
  • "Which of these has foretold these things?": A powerful polemic against idolatry. It emphasizes God's unique ability for predictive prophecy, which none of the numerous Babylonian deities or human diviners could match regarding such significant geopolitical shifts.
  • "The LORD's chosen one will carry out his purpose on Babylon": This is a direct declaration of God's active intervention through an unlikely, non-Israelite agent (Cyrus) to fulfill His predetermined will for judgment against an empire that had proudly defied Him.
  • "and his arm will be against the Chaldeans": Reiteration and clarification, emphasizing the decisive and effective action of the chosen agent, implicitly backed by divine power, against the enemy of God's people.

Isaiah 48 14 Bonus section

The reference to "the LORD's chosen one" or "he whom the LORD loves" (אֲשֶׁר יְהוָה אֲהֵב֖וֹ) is significant because while Cyrus is clearly identified as this instrument, the Hebrew term for "love" here (ahav) speaks more to God's selective favor for a divine assignment than necessarily a covenantal, redemptive love. God often expresses love and choice in various ways for different purposes. This verse underscores the radical monotheism of Yahweh, where even powerful pagan kings are mere tools in His hands, devoid of independent agency regarding God's overarching historical plans. It challenges any humanistic view of history and asserts that world events ultimately serve the purposes of the God of Israel.

Isaiah 48 14 Commentary

Isaiah 48:14 stands as a critical declaration of divine sovereignty and prophetic reliability. In a theological debate against the pervasive idolatry of Babylon, Yahweh, the God of Israel, directly challenges any other deity or diviner to produce true foresight concerning momentous global events. The verse specifically refers to the imminent fall of Babylon, an event of immense political and spiritual significance for the exiled Israelites. The "one whom the LORD loves" is a reference to Cyrus the Great (as made explicit in Isa 44:28; 45:1), a pagan king, whom God strategically raises and directs as His instrument. This highlights God's unique control over all nations and history, bending even powerful, unbelieving rulers to His will. God's "purpose" is the driving force, demonstrating His unwavering plan for justice against oppressors and eventual deliverance for His people. This prophetic act is not merely a prediction but a declaration of intentional divine action, proving that only Yahweh can declare "these things" and then execute them through chosen agents, leaving no room for the self-glorification of idols or human systems.

• Practical example: Just as God used Cyrus to free Israel, He can use unexpected individuals or events (even secular powers or difficult circumstances) to fulfill His purposes in our lives or the world, reminding us to trust His sovereign hand above all human predictions or powers.