Isaiah 14

1 The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob.

2 Nations will take them and bring them to their own place. And Israel will take possession of the nations and make them male and female servants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.

3 On the day the LORD gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you,

4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury^[a] has ended!

5 The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers,

6 which in anger struck down peoples with unceasing blows, and in fury subdued nations with relentless aggression.

7 All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing.

8 Even the junipers and the cedars of Lebanon gloat over you and say, “Now that you have been laid low, no one comes to cut us down.”

9 The realm of the dead below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you— all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones— all those who were kings over the nations.

10 They will all respond, they will say to you, “You also have become weak, as we are; you have become like us.”

11 All your pomp has been brought down to the grave, along with the noise of your harps; maggots are spread out beneath you and worms cover you.

12 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.^[b]

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.

16 Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble,

17 the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”

18 All the kings of the nations lie in state, each in his own tomb.

19 But you are cast out of your tomb like a rejected branch; you are covered with the slain, with those pierced by the sword, those who descend to the stones of the pit. Like a corpse trampled underfoot,

20 you will not join them in burial, for you have destroyed your land and killed your people. Let the offspring of the wicked never be mentioned again.

21 Prepare a place to slaughter his children for the sins of their ancestors; they are not to rise to inherit the land and cover the earth with their cities.

22 “I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will wipe out Babylon’s name and survivors, her offspring and descendants,” declares the LORD.

23 “I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep her with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD Almighty.

24 The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.

25 I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.”

26 This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations.

27 For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

A Prophecy Against the Philistines

28 This prophecy came in the year King Ahaz died:

29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken; from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.

30 The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety. But your root I will destroy by famine; it will slay your survivors.

31 Wail, you gate! Howl, you city! Melt away, all you Philistines! A cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there is not a straggler in its ranks.

32 What answer shall be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.”

Isaiah 14 Commentary

Chapter 14

The destruction of Babylon, and the death of its proud monarch. (1-23) Assurance of the destruction of Assyria. (24-27) The destruction of the Philistines. (28-32)

Verses 1-23 The whole plan of Divine Providence is arranged with a view to the good of the people of God. A settlement in the land of promise is of God's mercy. Let the church receive those whom God receives. God's people, wherever their lot is cast, should endeavour to recommend religion by a right and winning conversation. Those that would not be reconciled to them, should be humbled by them. This may be applied to the success of the gospel, when those were brought to obey it who had opposed it. God himself undertakes to work a blessed change. They shall have rest from their sorrow and fear, the sense of their present burdens, and the dread of worse. Babylon abounded in riches. The king of Babylon having the absolute command of so much wealth, by the help of it ruled the nations. This refers especially to the people of the Jews; and it filled up the measure of the king of Babylon's sins. Tyrants sacrifice their true interest to their lusts and passions. It is gracious ambition to covet to be like the Most Holy, for he has said, Be ye holy, for I am holy; but it is sinful ambition to aim to be like the Most High, for he has said, He who exalts himself shall be abased. The devil thus drew our first parents to sin. Utter ruin should be brought upon him. Those that will not cease to sin, God will make to cease. He should be slain, and go down to the grave; this is the common fate of tyrants. True glory, that is, true grace, will go up with the soul to heaven, but vain pomp will go down with the body to the grave; there is an end of it. To be denied burial, if for righteousness' sake, may be rejoiced in, ( Matthew 5:12 ) . But if the just punishment of sin, it denotes that impenitent sinners shall rise to everlasting shame and contempt. Many triumphs should be in his fall. God will reckon with those that disturb the peace of mankind. The receiving the king of Babylon into the regions of the dead, shows there is a world of spirits, to which the souls of men remove at death. And that souls have converse with each other, though we have none with them; and that death and hell will be death and hell indeed, to all who fall unholy, from the height of this world's pomps, and the fulness of its pleasures. Learn from all this, that the seed of evil-doers shall never be renowned. The royal city is to be ruined and forsaken. Thus the utter destruction of the New Testament Babylon is illustrated, ( Revelation 18:2 ) . When a people will not be made clean with the besom of reformation, what can they expect but to be swept off the face of the earth with the besom of destruction?

Verses 24-27 Let those that make themselves a yoke and a burden to God's people, see what they are to expect. Let those that are the called according to God's purpose, comfort themselves, that whatever God has purposed, it shall stand. The Lord of hosts has purposed to break the Assyrian's yoke; his hand is stretched out to execute this purpose; who has power to turn it back? By such dispensations of providence, the Almighty shows in the most convincing manner, that sin is hateful in his sight.

Verses 28-32 Assurance is given of the destruction of the Philistines and their power, by famine and war. Hezekiah would be more terrible to them than Uzziah had been. Instead of rejoicing, there would be lamentation, for the whole land would be ruined. Such destruction will come upon the proud and rebellious, but the Lord founded Zion for a refuge to poor sinners, who flee from the wrath to come, and trust in his mercy through Christ Jesus. Let us tell all around of our comforts and security, and exhort them to seek the same refuge and salvation.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 102:13; Isaiah 49:10,13; Isaiah 54:7-8,10; Jeremiah 33:26; Zechariah 10:6
• 2. Genesis 18:19; 2 Chronicles 6:6; Isaiah 41:8; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 44:1; Isaiah 45:4; Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 65:9,22; Zechariah 1:17; Zechariah 2:12; Zechariah 3:2
• 3. Jeremiah 3:18; Jeremiah 16:15; Jeremiah 23:8
• 4. S Exodus 12:43; S Isaiah 11:10; Ezekiel 47:22; Zechariah 8:22-23; Ephesians 2:12-19
• 5. S Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 60:9
• 6. S Psalms 49:14; Isaiah 26:15; Isaiah 43:14; Isaiah 49:7,23; Isaiah 54:3
• 7. Psalms 149:8; Isaiah 45:14; Isaiah 49:25; Isaiah 60:12; Jeremiah 40:1
• 8. Isaiah 60:14; Isaiah 61:5; Jeremiah 30:16; Jeremiah 49:2; Ezekiel 39:10; Zephaniah 3:19; Zechariah 2:9
• 9. S Isaiah 11:10
• 10. S Job 3:17
• 11. S Exodus 1:14
• 12. Micah 2:4; Habakkuk 2:6
• 13. S Isaiah 13:1
• 14. S Isaiah 9:4
• 15. S Isaiah 10:15
• 16. S Psalms 125:3
• 17. S Psalms 110:2
• 18. Isaiah 10:14
• 19. S Psalms 47:3
• 20. S 2 Kings 15:29; Isaiah 47:6; Habakkuk 1:17
• 21. S Numbers 6:26; Jeremiah 50:34; Zechariah 1:11
• 22. Psalms 98:1; Psalms 126:1-3; Isaiah 12:6
• 23. S 1 Chronicles 16:33; S Psalms 65:13; Ezekiel 31:16
• 24. S 2 Kings 19:23; Isaiah 37:24
• 25. S Proverbs 30:16; Ezekiel 32:21
• 26. S Job 26:5
• 27. Zechariah 10:3
• 28. S Job 3:14
• 29. Ezekiel 26:20; Ezekiel 32:21
• 30. S Numbers 16:30; S Proverbs 30:16
• 31. Isaiah 5:12; Ezekiel 26:13; Amos 6:5
• 32. S Job 7:5; Job 24:20; Isaiah 51:8; Isaiah 66:24
• 33. S Job 21:26
• 34. Isaiah 34:4; Luke 10:18
• 35. 2 Peter 1:19; Revelation 2:28; Revelation 8:10; Revelation 9:1
• 36. Ezekiel 26:17
• 37. Daniel 5:23; Daniel 8:10; Obadiah 1:4; Matthew 11:23
• 38. Ezekiel 28:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:4
• 39. Psalms 82:1
• 40. Isaiah 37:24
• 41. S Job 20:6
• 42. S Genesis 3:5; S Numbers 24:16; Isaiah 10:13; Isaiah 47:8; Jeremiah 50:29; Jeremiah 51:53; Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4
• 43. Isaiah 13:6; Isaiah 45:7; Isaiah 47:11; Jeremiah 51:8,43
• 44. S Job 21:13
• 45. Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15
• 46. S Psalms 55:23; Ezekiel 31:16; Ezekiel 32:23
• 47. Jeremiah 50:23; Revelation 18:9
• 48. S Isaiah 2:19; Isaiah 13:13; Joel 3:16; Haggai 2:6,21
• 49. Isaiah 15:6; Joel 2:3
• 50. Psalms 52:7
• 51. Exodus 7:14; S 2 Kings 15:29; Jeremiah 50:33; Revelation 18:18
• 52. Job 21:32
• 53. Isaiah 22:16-18; Jeremiah 8:1; Jeremiah 36:30
• 54. Isaiah 34:3
• 55. S Isaiah 13:15
• 56. Jeremiah 41:7-9
• 57. S 1 Kings 21:19
• 58. S Job 18:19
• 59. S Isaiah 1:4
• 60. S Deuteronomy 32:26; Psalms 21:10
• 61. S Numbers 16:27
• 62. S Genesis 9:25; Exodus 20:5; S Leviticus 26:39
• 63. S Psalms 94:16
• 64. S Job 18:17; Psalms 109:13; Nahum 1:14
• 65. 2 Samuel 18:18; 1 Kings 14:10; Job 18:19; S Psalms 9:6; S Isaiah 13:18
• 66. S Leviticus 11:16-18; Isaiah 34:11-15; Zephaniah 2:14
• 67. S Isaiah 10:3; Jeremiah 25:12
• 68. Jeremiah 50:3; Jeremiah 51:62
• 69. Isaiah 45:23; Isaiah 49:18; Isaiah 54:9; Isaiah 62:8
• 70. Isaiah 19:12,17; Isaiah 23:8-9; Isaiah 25:1; Daniel 4:35
• 71. S Job 9:3; S Isaiah 7:7; Isaiah 46:10-11; Ezekiel 12:25; Acts 4:28
• 72. S Isaiah 10:5,12; Isaiah 37:36-38
• 73. S Isaiah 9:4
• 74. S Isaiah 10:27
• 75. Isaiah 23:9
• 76. Exodus 15:12; S Job 30:21
• 77. Jeremiah 49:20
• 78. S Exodus 14:21
• 79. S 2 Chronicles 20:6; Isaiah 43:13; Daniel 4:35
• 80. S Isaiah 13:1
• 81. S 2 Kings 15:7
• 82. S 2 Kings 16:1; 2 Kings 16:20
• 83. S Joshua 13:3; S 2 Kings 1:2; S 2 Chronicles 26:6
• 84. S Isaiah 11:8
• 85. S Deuteronomy 8:15
• 86. Isaiah 3:15; Isaiah 25:4
• 87. S Isaiah 7:21-22
• 88. Isaiah 8:21; Isaiah 9:20; Isaiah 51:19
• 89. Jeremiah 25:16; Zechariah 9:5-6
• 90. Ezekiel 25:15-17; Zephaniah 2:5
• 91. S Isaiah 13:6
• 92. S Isaiah 3:26
• 93. S Genesis 10:14
• 94. Isaiah 41:25; Jeremiah 1:14; Jeremiah 4:6; Jeremiah 6:1,22; Jeremiah 10:22; Jeremiah 13:20; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 46:20,24; Jeremiah 47:2; Jeremiah 50:41; Ezekiel 32:30
• 95. S Isaiah 5:27
• 96. Isaiah 37:9
• 97. S Psalms 51:18; Psalms 87:2,5; Isaiah 2:2; Isaiah 26:1; Isaiah 28:16; Isaiah 31:5; Isaiah 33:5,20; Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 51:21; Isaiah 54:11
• 98. S Isaiah 4:6; James 2:5

Footnotes

• [a]. Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint and Syriac; the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
• [b]. Or "of the north" ; Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 14

This chapter contains prophecies of the restoration of the Jews, of the fall of the king of Babylon, and the destruction of the Assyrian empire, and of the ruin of Palestine. The moving cause of the restoration of the Jews, and their settlement in their own land, is the distinguishing mercy of God towards them; the accomplishment of it, proselytes joined unto them; the means, people of other nations, who should bring them into it, and whom they should possess and rule over; and the consequence of it, rest from sorrow, fear, and hard bondage, Isa 14:1-3 upon which they are introduced as taking up a proverb, or a triumphant song, concerning the king of Babylon, wondering at his fall, and ascribing it to the Lord, Isa 14:4,5 representing the inhabitants of the earth, and great men of it, as at peace, and rest, and rejoicing, who before were continually disturbed, and smitten by him, Isa 14:6-8 introducing the dead, and those in hell, meeting him, and welcoming him into their regions, with taunts and jeers; upbraiding him with his weakness, shame, and disgrace he was come into; putting him in mind of his former pomp and splendour, pride, arrogance, and haughtiness, Isa 14:9-15 spectators are brought in, as amazed at the low, mean, and despicable condition he was brought into, considering what he had done in the world, in kingdoms and cities, but was now denied a burial, when other kings lay in their pompous sepulchres, Isa 14:16-20 and then it is foretold that that whole royal family should be cut off, and Babylon, the metropolis of his kingdom, should be utterly destroyed, Isa 14:21-23 all which was settled and fixed by the purpose of God, which could not be made void, Isa 14:24-27 and next follows a prophecy of the destruction of Palestine; the date of the prophecy is given Isa 14:28 the inhabitants of Palestine are bid not to rejoice at the death of one of the kings of Judah, since another should arise, who would be fatal to them, Isa 14:29 and while the Jews would be in safety, they would be destroyed by famine and war, Isa 14:30,31 from all which it would appear, and it might be told the messengers of the nations, or any inquiring persons, that Zion is of the Lord's founding, and under his care and protection, and that his people have great reason and encouragement to trust in him, Isa 14:32.