Isaiah 13:16

16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated.

Isaiah 13:16 in Other Translations

16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

16 Their infants will be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished.

16 Their little children will be dashed to death before their eyes. Their homes will be sacked, and their wives will be raped.

16 Babies smashed on the rocks while mothers and fathers watch, Houses looted, wives raped.

16 Their children will be smashed [to death] before their eyes; their houses will be looted, and their wives raped.

Isaiah 13:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 13:16

Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their
eyes
Upon the ground, or against the wall, as was foretold should be, ( Psalms 137:8 Psalms 137:9 ) and in way of retaliation for what they did to the Jews, ( 2 Chronicles 36:17 ) and this was to be done "before their eyes", in the sight of the inhabitants, which must make it the more distressing and afflicting; and, as Kimchi observes, this phrase is to be applied to the following clauses: their houses shall be spoiled;
plundered of the substance, wealth, and riches in them, by the Persian soldiers: and their wives ravished;
by the same, and both before their eyes, and after that slain, in like manner as they had ravished the women in Zion, ( Lamentations 5:11 ) .

Isaiah 13:16 In-Context

14 Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, they will all return to their own people, they will flee to their native land.

15 Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword.

16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives violated.

17 See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold.

18 Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants, nor will they look with compassion on children.

Cross References

• 1. ver 18; S Numbers 16:27; S 2 Kings 8:12; Psalms 137:9
• 2. S Genesis 34:29; S Hosea 13:16