Isaiah 14:16

16 They that shall see thee, shall be bowed down to thee, and shall behold thee. (And they shall say,) Whether this is the man, that troubled [the] earth, that shook together realms? (And they shall say, Is this the man, who troubled the earth, who shook the kingdoms?)

Isaiah 14:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 14:16

They that see thee
These are the words of the dead, speaking of the living, who when they should see the carcass of the king of Babylon lying on the ground, shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee;
whether it is he or not, not knowing at first sight who he was, the alteration being so great; he that was but just now on his throne of glory, with all the ensigns of majesty about him, and on him, now cast to the earth, deprived of life, besmeared with blood, and so disfigured as scarcely to be known; these phrases are used to express the great change made in him, and in his state and condition: [saying];
scarce believing what they saw, and as wondering at the sudden and strange alteration, and yet in an insulting manner: [Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble:
the inhabitants of it, when they heard of his coming against them, with his numerous and conquering army, dreading that he would do to them as he had done to others, destroy their cities, rob them of their substance, put them to the sword, or carry them captive, or make them tributary: that did shake kingdoms;
depose their kings, and set up others; alter their constitution, change their form of government, and added their kingdoms to his own.

Isaiah 14:16 In-Context

14 I shall ascend on the highness of (the) clouds; I shall be like the Highest.
15 Nevertheless thou shalt be drawn down to hell, into the depth of the pit.
16 They that shall see thee, shall be bowed down to thee, and shall behold thee. (And they shall say,) Whether this is the man, that troubled [the] earth, that shook together realms? (And they shall say, Is this the man, who troubled the earth, who shook the kingdoms?)
17 that setted the world desert, and destroyed the cities thereof, and opened not the prison to the bound men of him? (who turned the world into a desert, and destroyed its cities, and never opened his prison to release his bound?/to release his prisoners?)
18 All the kings of heathen men, all slept in glory, a man in his house. (All the kings of the heathen, they all slept in glory, each man in his own house, or in his own tomb.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.