Yeshayah 47:6

6 I was angry with My people, I have profaned Mine nachalah, and given them into thine yad; thou didst show them no rachamim (mercy); upon the zaken (ancient, old) hast thou very heavily laid thy ol (yoke).

Yeshayah 47:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 47:6

I was wroth with my people
The people of Israel, for their sins and transgressions, particularly their idolatries. Here begin the reasons and causes of the destruction of Babylon, and the first mentioned is their cruelty to the people of God; for though he was angry with them himself, yet he resented their being ill used by them: I have polluted mine inheritance;
the Jews, who, as they were his people, were his portion and inheritance, as he was theirs: these he is said to pollute, by suffering the Heathen to enter into the land, and defile their city and sanctuary, and carry them captive into an unclean and idolatrous country: and given them into thine hand;
to correct and chastise, but in measure, not to kill and destroy: whereas thou didst show them no mercy;
used them very cruelly, and exceeded the commission given: upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke;
whose age should have commanded reverence and respect, and whose weakness and infirmities called for compassion; but nothing of this kind was shown; they were not spared because of age, but had insupportable burdens laid upon them; and if not they, then much less young men; see ( Lamentations 5:12 ) .

Yeshayah 47:6 In-Context

4 Go’aleinu, Hashem Tzva’os Shmo, Kadosh Yisroel.

5 Sit thou silent, and get thee into choshech, O Bat Kasdim (Chaldeans); for thou shalt no more be called, Geveret Mamlachot (The Lady of Kingdoms).

6 I was angry with My people, I have profaned Mine nachalah, and given them into thine yad; thou didst show them no rachamim (mercy); upon the zaken (ancient, old) hast thou very heavily laid thy ol (yoke).

7 And thou saidst, I shall be a Geveret ad l’olahm (Lady forever): so that thou didst not lay these things to thy lev, neither didst remember her [Babylon’s] acharit (latter end, i.e. future destruction).

8 Therefore hear now this, O adinah (voluptuous, wanton one) that dwellest lavetach (carelessly, in security), that sayest in her lev, I am, and none else besides me; I shall not live as an almanah, neither shall I know shechol (the loss of children, bereavement);