Yeshayah 14:4-23

4 That thou shalt take up this mashal against Melech Bavel, and say, How hath the nogesh (oppressor) ceased! How hast fury ceased!

5 Hashem hath broken the matteh (rod) of the resha’im (wicked), and the shevet (sceptre) of the moshlim (rulers).

6 Which struck the peoples in wrath with makkat bilti sarah (a continual stroke), which ruled the Goyim in anger, with unrestrained aggression.

7 Kol ha’aretz is at rest, and is quiet; they break forth into rinnah (joyful shouts).

8 Indeed, the cypress trees rejoice over thee, and the cedars of Levanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no hakoret ([forest] cutter) is come up against us.

9 Sheol from beneath is astir for thee to meet thee at thy coming; it stirreth up the refa’im for thee, even all the attudei aretz (he-goat world leaders); it hath raised up from their kise’ot (thrones) all the melachim of the Goyim.

10 Kullam (all of them) shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? Art thou become like unto us?

11 Thy ga’on (pomp, pride) is brought down to Sheol, and the noise of thy nevalim (harps); the rimmah (graveworm) is spread out under thee, and the tola’at (worm) covers thee.

12 How art thou fallen from Shomayim, O Heilel Ben Shachar (Bright One of the Dawn, Day Star, Lucifer)! How art thou cast down to the earth, thou, which hast laid low the Goyim!

13 For thou hast said in thine lev, I will ascend into Shomayim, I will exalt my kisse above the kokhavim (stars) of El (G-d); I will sit also upon the har mo’ed (mount of assembly), on yarketei Tzafon (on the heights of Tzafon);

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like Elyon (the Most High).

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the bor (pit).

16 They that see thee shall gaze at thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the ish (man) that made ha’aretz to tremble, that did shake mamlechot (kingdoms);

17 That made the tevel (world) like a midbar (desert), and overthrew the towns thereof; that would not release his prisoners to go home?

18 Kol melachim (all kings) of the Goyim, even all of them, lie in kavod, every one in his own bais (house, i.e., tomb).

19 But thou art cast out of thy kever like a rejected netzer (branch, see Mt 2:23); and your raiment is those that are slain, thrust through with a cherev, that go down to the stones of the bor (pit); as a peger (corpse) trodden under feet.

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in kevurah (burial), because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people; the zera of ra’im (evildoers) shall never be renowned.

21 Prepare the matbe’ach (slaughterhouse) for his banim for the avon (iniquity) of their avot; that they do not rise, nor inherit eretz, nor cover the surface of the tevel (earth) with towns.

22 For I will rise up against them, saith Hashem Tzva’os, and I will cut off from Bavel the shem, and she’ar (remainder), and offspring, and posterity, saith Hashem.

23 I will also make it a possession for the hedgehog, and swamps of mayim; and I will sweep it with the mat’ate (broom) of shmad (destruction), saith Hashem Tzva’os.

Yeshayah 14:4-23 Meaning and Commentary

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.