Isaiah 47:1-7

The Humiliation of Babylon

1 “Go down and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon. Sit on the ground without a throne, O Daughter of the Chaldeans! ^[a] For you will no longer be called tender or delicate.

2 Take millstones and grind flour; remove your veil; strip off your skirt, bare your thigh, and wade through the streams.

3 Your nakedness will be uncovered and your shame will be exposed. I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.”

4 Our Redeemer—the LORD of Hosts is His name— is the Holy One of Israel.

5 “Sit in silence and go into darkness, O Daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called the queen of kingdoms.

6 I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.

7 You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.

Isaiah 47:1-7 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] That is, the Babylonians; also in verse 5