Isaiah 13:5

5 They are coming from a far country, From the ¹farthest horizons, The LORD and His instruments of ²indignation, To ³destroy the whole land.

Isaiah 13:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 13:5

They come from a far country, from the end of heaven
The east, as Kimchi observes; the Targum is, from the ends of the earth; the furthermost parts of it, as Persia and Media were: the former is bounded on the south side by the main ocean; and the latter, part of it by the Caspian sea; and between Babylon and these kingdoms lay the large kingdom of Assyria; so that this army might be truly said to come from a far country: [even] the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation;
the Medes and Persians, who were the instruments of his wrath and vengeance against Babylon; just as Assyria is called the rod of his anger, ( Isaiah 10:5 ) with these he is said to come, because this army was of his gathering, mustering, ordering, and directing, in his providence; the end and design of which was, to destroy the whole land;
not the whole world, as the Septuagint render it; but the whole land of Chaldea, of which Babylon was the metropolis. The Targum is,

``to destroy all the wicked of the earth.''

Isaiah 13:5 In-Context

3 I have commanded My consecrated ones, I have even called My mighty warriors, My proudly exulting ones, To execute My anger.

4 A sound of tumult on the mountains, Like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, Of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts is mustering the army for battle.

5 They are coming from a far country, From the farthest horizons, The LORD and His instruments of indignation, To destroy the whole land.

6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is near! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.

7 Therefore all hands will fall limp, And every man's heart will melt.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 5:26; Isaiah 7:18
• 2. Isaiah 10:5
• 3. Isaiah 24:1

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "end of heaven"