Isaiah 14:17

17 that setted the world desert, and destroyed the cities thereof, and opened not the prison to the bound men of him? (who turned the world into a desert, and destroyed its cities, and never opened his prison to release his bound?/to release his prisoners?)

Isaiah 14:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 14:17

[That] made the world as a wilderness
Both by destroying the inhabitants of it, and by laying waste cities, towns, villages, fields, vineyards, gardens, and all places improved and cultivated, wherever he came, as it follows: and destroyed the cities thereof;
as the Assyrian kings had done, some of which are mentioned in ( Isaiah 10:9 ) ( Isaiah 37:11-13 Isaiah 37:18 ) : [that] opened not the house of his prisoners;
the prison house, in, which they were held; or,

``the gate to his prisoners,''

as the Targum; or rather the words may be rendered, "that opened not to his prisoners", that they might go "home"; or as De Dieu, in short, yet fully, expresses it, "that did not dismiss his prisoners home"; he not only cruelly and inhumanly put many to the sword, but such as surrendered, and were taken captives, he detained them in prison, and would not loose their bonds, but let them die there; which was an instance of great cruelty and inhumanity.

Isaiah 14:17 In-Context

15 Nevertheless thou shalt be drawn down to hell, into the depth of the pit.

16 They that shall see thee, shall be bowed down to thee, and shall behold thee. (And they shall say,) Whether this is the man, that troubled [the] earth, that shook together realms? (And they shall say, Is this the man, who troubled the earth, who shook the kingdoms?)

17 that setted the world desert, and destroyed the cities thereof, and opened not the prison to the bound men of him? (who turned the world into a desert, and destroyed its cities, and never opened his prison to release his bound?/to release his prisoners?)

18 All the kings of heathen men, all slept in glory, a man in his house. (All the kings of the heathen, they all slept in glory, each man in his own house, or in his own tomb.)

19 But thou art cast out of thy sepulchre, as an unprofitable stock, as defouled with rot; and wrapped with them that be slain with sword, and went down to the foundament of the pit. As a rotten carrion (Like a rotten corpse),