Isaiah 47:1-8

1 “Come down, virgin daughter of Babylon, and sit in the dust. For your days of sitting on a throne have ended. O daughter of Babylonia, never again will you be the lovely princess, tender and delicate.

2 Take heavy millstones and grind flour. Remove your veil, and strip off your robe. Expose yourself to public view.

3 You will be naked and burdened with shame. I will take vengeance against you without pity.”

4 Our Redeemer, whose name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, is the Holy One of Israel.

5 “O beautiful Babylon, sit now in darkness and silence. Never again will you be known as the queen of kingdoms.

6 For I was angry with my chosen people and punished them by letting them fall into your hands. But you, Babylon, showed them no mercy. You oppressed even the elderly.

7 You said, ‘I will reign forever as queen of the world!’ You did not reflect on your actions or think about their consequences.

8 “Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure. You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other. I will never be a widow or lose my children.’

Isaiah 47:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 47

This chapter is a prophecy of the destruction of Babylon, and of the Chaldeans, and declares the causes of it. The mean, low, ignominious, and miserable condition Babylon and the Chaldeans should be brought into by the Lord, the Redeemer of his people, is described, Isa 47:1-5, the causes of it are their cruelty to the Jews, Isa 47:6, their pride, voluptuousness, and carnal security, Isa 47:7,8 their sorceries and enchantments, and trust in their own wisdom, Isa 47:9,10, wherefore their destruction should come suddenly upon them, and they should not be able to put it off, Isa 47:11, their magic art, and judiciary astrology, which they boasted of, by them they could neither foresee nor withstand their ruin, which would be of no avail unto them, Isa 47:12-14, nor their merchants either, Isa 47:15.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Chaldea; also in 47:5 .
• [b]. Hebrew Bare your legs; pass through the rivers.