Isaiah 13:13

13 On this thing I shall trouble (the) heaven(s), and the earth shall be moved from his place (and the earth shall be moved from its place); for the indignation of the Lord of hosts, and for the day of wrath of his strong vengeance.

Isaiah 13:13 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 13:13

Therefore will I shake the heavens
Some think this was literally fulfilled at the taking of Babylon, when the heavens were shook with dreadful thunders and lightnings; as well as what is said above of the sun, moon, and stars, not giving their light; and so is likewise what follows, and the earth shall remove out of her place;
and that there was a violent shock by an earthquake at the same time; but rather all this is to be understood figuratively, as expressive of the great confusion men would then be in, it being as if all nature was convulsed, and heaven and earth were coming together, or rather dissolving: in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce
anger;
when that should be; or through it, or because of it, as the Septuagint, see ( Isaiah 13:6 Isaiah 13:9 ) compare with this ( Revelation 16:18-20 ) which expresses the destruction of mystical Babylon in much such language.

Isaiah 13:13 In-Context

11 And I shall visit on the evils of the world, and I shall visit against wicked men the wickedness of them; and I shall make the pride of unfaithful men for to rest, and I shall make low the boast of strong men. (And I shall punish the world for its evil/And I shall bring disaster upon the world, and I shall punish the wicked for their wickedness; and I shall make the pride of the unfaithful to cease, and I shall make low the boast of the strong.)
12 A man of full age shall be preciouser than gold, and a man shall be preciouser than pure gold and shining. (A person of great age, or maturity, shall be more precious, or more rare, than gold, yea, such a person shall be more precious than the pure gold of Ophir.)
13 On this thing I shall trouble (the) heaven(s), and the earth shall be moved from his place (and the earth shall be moved from its place); for the indignation of the Lord of hosts, and for the day of wrath of his strong vengeance.
14 And it shall be as a doe fleeing, and as a sheep, and none shall be that shall gather together; each man shall turn to his people, and all by themselves shall flee to their land. (And they shall be like a fleeing doe, or like sheep, and there shall be no one who shall gather them up; each man shall return to his own people, yea, everyone shall flee to their own land.)
15 Each man that is found, shall be slain; and each man that cometh above, shall fall down by sword. (Each person who is found, shall be killed; and each person who is taken captive, shall fall down by the sword.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.