Isaiah 47:1-6

Babylon’s Fall

1 Come down and sit on [the] dust, virgin daughter of Babylon! Sit on the ground without a throne, daughter of Chaldea! For {they shall no longer call} you tender and delicate.

2 Take [the] pair of mill stones and grind flour! Uncover your veil, strip off [your] skirt, uncover [your] thigh, pass through [the] rivers!

3 Your nakedness shall be exposed; indeed, your shame shall become visible. I will take vengeance and I will not {spare} a person.

4 Our redeemer, Yahweh of hosts [is] his name, the holy one of Israel.

5 Sit silently and go into the darkness, daughter of Chaldea, for {they shall no longer call} you mistress of kingdoms.

6 I was angry with my people; I profaned my inheritance, and I gave them into your hand. You did not {give} them mercy; on [the] aged you made your yoke very heavy.

Isaiah 47:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 47

This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of Babylon, and of the Chaldeans, and declares the causes of it. The mean, low, ignominious, and miserable condition Babylon and the Chaldeans should be brought into by the Lord, the Redeemer of his people, is described, Isa 47:1-5, the causes of it are their cruelty to the Jews, Isa 47:6, their pride, voluptuousness, and carnal security, Isa 47:7,8 their sorceries and enchantments, and trust in their own wisdom, Isa 47:9,10, wherefore their destruction should come suddenly upon them, and they should not be able to put it off, Isa 47:11, their magic art, and judiciary astrology, which they boasted of, by them they could neither foresee nor withstand their ruin, which would be of no avail unto them, Isa 47:12-14, nor their merchants either, Isa 47:15.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "you shall not add they shall call to"
• [b]. Literally "plead with"
• [c]. Literally "you shall not add they shall call to"
• [d]. Literally "set up"