Oracle Concerning Philistia and Promise to Zion
Isaiah 14:28-32
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Isa.14.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בשנת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- מות: VERB,qal,infabs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אחז: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- המשא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 6:1 (verbal): Shares the same dateline formula—"In the year that the king died..." (Isaiah 6:1: "In the year that King Uzziah died") — a close verbal/structural parallel for dating a prophetic vision.
- Isaiah 7:1 (thematic): Another Isaianic dateline framing events in the time of Ahaz ("in the days of Ahaz"); both verses situate oracles by reference to Ahaz's reign and its crises.
- Micah 1:1 (thematic): Micah's opening gives a historical setting "in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah," linking prophetic activity to the same royal period referenced in Isa. 14:28.
- 2 Kings 16:20 (structural): A historical notice of King Ahaz's death and burial; provides the chronological/historical anchor that Isa. 14:28 uses as its dateline.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the year of King Ahaz’s death this oracle was pronounced.
- In the year of King Ahaz's death this burden was.
Isa.14.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- אל: NEG
- תשמחי: VERB,qal,juss,2,f,sg
- פלשת: NOUN,prop,f,sg
- כלך: PRON,quant,2,f,sg
- כי: CONJ
- נשבר: VERB,nifal,perf,3,m,sg
- שבט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מכך: PREP+DEM
- כי: CONJ
- משרש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נחש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- צפע: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ופריו: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- שרף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מעופף: PTC,qal,act,m,sg
Parallels
- Numbers 21:6-9 (verbal): Speaks of God sending 'fiery serpents' among the people and the bronze serpent—directly echoes the image of fiery/flying serpents as instruments of judgment.
- Deuteronomy 32:33 (verbal): Uses serpent/asp imagery—'their wine is the venom of serpents'—similar language of venomous serpents and destructive offspring.
- Psalm 58:4-5 (verbal): Describes wicked persons as having the venom of a serpent and the deaf cobra’s bite, paralleling the motif of poisonous serpents and their deadly effect.
- Genesis 3:15 (thematic): Introduces the motif of enmity and offspring between humans and the serpent; Isaiah’s 'root of the serpent' picks up the theme of serpent lineage producing further trouble.
- Genesis 49:17 (thematic): Jacob’s characterization of Dan as a serpent/adder reflects the broader Israelite tradition of using serpent imagery for a nation or line that strikes unexpectedly, comparable to Isaiah’s prophetic taunt.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, for the rod that struck you is broken; from the root of the snake a viper has come forth, and its offspring is a flying, fiery serpent.
- Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, for the rod that struck you is broken; for from the root of the serpent a viper will come forth, and its offspring a flying fiery serpent.
Isa.14.30 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ורעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,pl
- בכורי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- דלים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואביונים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- לבטח: ADV
- ירבצו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- והמתי: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- ברעב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שרשך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- ושאריתך: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs+2ms
- יהרג: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 72:4 (verbal): Speaks of a ruler who vindicates the poor and crushes the oppressor; parallels Isaiah 14:30’s contrast between the security of the needy and the destruction of the oppressor.
- Isaiah 10:2-3 (thematic): Condemns those who pervert justice and seize from the poor—background for Isaiah’s denunciation of imperial oppression and promise that the needy will be protected.
- Amos 8:4-6 (thematic): Accuses merchants and leaders who trample the needy and exploit the poor; echoes the motif that social injustice brings divine judgment while the oppressed are avenged or secured.
- Micah 2:1-2 (thematic): Denounces schemers who covet fields and seize homes from the poor; parallels Isaiah’s portrayal of wrongdoing against the needy that results in ruin for the perpetrators and relief for the oppressed.
Alternative generated candidates
- The poor among the people shall graze; the needy shall lie down in safety; but your root and your remnant shall be cut off by famine.
- Woe—your firstborn, the poor and the needy, shall lie down in safety; those cut off by famine will be your root, and your remnant shall be slain.
Isa.14.31 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הילילי: VERB,piel,imp,2,f,sg
- שער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- זעקי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- עיר: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- נמוג: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- פלשת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss2ms
- כי: CONJ
- מצפון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עשן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- בודד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- במועדיו: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons,poss3ms
Parallels
- Isaiah 14:29 (structural): Immediate context: the same oracle against Philistia—both verses call for Philistine mourning and announce coming disaster (continuation of the same prophetic unit).
- Isaiah 3:26 (verbal): Uses the motif of gates/city lamenting at calamity (gates wail, cities cry out), paralleling the summons to wail and cry in Isa.14:31.
- Jeremiah 1:14 (verbal): Speaks of disaster coming 'from the north'—the same geographic image used in Isa.14:31 to explain the invading force and ensuing ruin.
- Zephaniah 2:4-7 (thematic): Pronounces judgment on the Philistine cities (Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron), echoing Isa.14:31’s theme of Philistine devastation and exile.
- Ezekiel 25:15-17 (thematic): Oracle against the Philistines announcing divine retribution and removal of the Philistine presence—parallels Isa.14:31’s judgment motif against Philistia.
Alternative generated candidates
- Wail, O gate; cry out, O city; melt away, all you Philistines, for smoke comes from the north, and none is left at its appointed time.
- Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all Philistia, for from the north a smoke comes, and there will be none spared at their appointed time.
Isa.14.32 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומה: CONJ+PRON,int
- יענה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- מלאכי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- גוי: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- יסד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ציון: NOUN,prop,f,sg,abs
- ובה: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- יחסו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עניי: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss,1,sg
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Psalm 102:16 (verbal): Uses nearly the same idea/phrase that the LORD has built up/Zion is established, paralleling Isaiah's claim that the LORD has founded Zion.
- Joel 3:17 (thematic): Declares the LORD dwelling in Zion and making Jerusalem his holy dwelling—echoes Isaiah's assurance of God's establishment of Zion and its security.
- Zechariah 8:3 (thematic): God's promise to return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem resonates with Isaiah's motif of YHWH establishing Zion for his people.
- Psalm 9:9 (thematic): Describes the LORD as a refuge for the oppressed/poor, reflecting Isaiah's note that the poor of his people will take refuge in Zion.
- Micah 4:6-7 (thematic): Speaks of the LORD gathering the lame and outcast to Zion and restoring a remnant—parallels the social/eschatological promise that the needy will find shelter in Zion.
Alternative generated candidates
- How then shall one answer the messengers of the nations?—“The LORD has founded Zion, and in her the poor of his people will take refuge.”
- How then will the envoys of the nations answer? The LORD will establish Zion, and the afflicted of his people will take refuge in it.
In the year that King Ahaz died, this oracle came.
Do not rejoice, all Philistia, that the rod that struck you is broken; for from the root of the serpent a viper shall go forth, and its offspring a flying, fiery serpent.
The firstborn of the poor shall graze, and the needy shall lie down secure; but by famine I will slay your root, and your remnant I will cut off.
Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all Philistia! For from the north comes smoke, and there is none left alone in its encampments.
What answer can the messengers of the nations make? For the LORD has established Zion, and in her the poor of his people will take refuge.