The Humbling of Babylon the Mistress
Isaiah 47:1-15
Isa.47.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- רדי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- ושבי: CONJ+VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- על: PREP
- עפר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בתולת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שבי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- לארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- כסא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- כשדים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- תוסיפי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- יקראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- רכה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- וענגה: CONJ+ADJ,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 3:16-17 (thematic): Both passages address proud 'daughters' who are to be humiliated; Isaiah 3 warns the haughty women of Zion that the Lord will strip away their finery—paralleling Babylon's fall from luxury to dust in Isa. 47:1.
- Jeremiah 50:1–3 (thematic): An oracle against Babylon that, like Isa. 47, announces Babylon's coming humiliation and overthrow; both personify the empire as a female figure facing punishment and loss of status.
- Ezekiel 16:48–52 (allusion): Ezekiel's extended city-as-woman metaphor (judgment on an urban 'daughter' for pride and debauchery) parallels Isaiah's portrayal of Babylon as a pampered woman brought low.
- Lamentations 1:1 (structural): Lamentations opens with the image of a city 'sitting solitary' and bereft of former honor—a structural/thematic parallel to the command for Babylon's daughter to 'sit on the ground' and lose her throne.
Alternative generated candidates
- Sit down and take your place in the dust, virgin daughter, daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground—there is no throne, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called 'delicate' or 'dainty.'
- Come down and sit in the dust, virgin daughter, daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground—there is no throne, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no longer be called delicate or pampered.
Isa.47.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קחי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- רחים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וטחני: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- קמח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גלי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- צמתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2f
- חשפי: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- גלי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- שוק: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עברי: ADJ,m,sg
- נהרות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 3:16-17 (verbal): Both passages depict the humiliation of proud women/city—removal of ornaments and exposure of body parts (shameful unveiling) as a sign of divine judgment.
- Ezekiel 16:37-39 (thematic): Ezekiel personifies Jerusalem as a woman who is stripped, exposed and made to bear reproach; parallels Isaiah’s use of sexualized imagery and public humiliation for a judged city.
- Ezekiel 23:29-31 (thematic): Ezekiel’s account of adulterous cities being humiliated and delivered into the hands of foreigners resonates with Isaiah’s command to disrobe and suffer public shame before enemies.
- Lamentations 1:8 (verbal): Lamentations speaks of a city ‘seen naked’ and despised for its disgrace—language of exposed nakedness and public contempt echoes Isaiah’s call to uncover and be shamed.
Alternative generated candidates
- Take the millstones and grind meal; unbind your hair, uncover the sash, bare the thigh—pass over the rivers.
- Take millstones and grind meal; uncover your braid, strip off your veil, lift up the hem, pass through the rivers.
Isa.47.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- תגל: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- ערותך: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- גם: ADV
- תראה: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- חרפתך: NOUN,f,sg,construct
- נקם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אקח: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- אפגע: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- אדם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Nahum 3:5 (verbal): Uses the image of exposing a city's nakedness and lifting skirts over the face — closely parallels Isaiah 47:3's language of uncovered nakedness and public shame.
- Ezekiel 16:37-39 (thematic): God punishes Jerusalem by exposing her shame and bringing revengers; thematically parallels Isaiah's motif of divine humiliation and vengeance on a proud city.
- Deuteronomy 32:35 (verbal): Contains the declaration 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay' (אִלּוּנִי נָקָם/נקם אקח) — a direct verbal/theological parallel to Isaiah's claim 'נקם אקח'.
- Romans 12:19 (quotation): New Testament citation of Deuteronomy's 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' echoing the same divine claim to enact justice and connecting Isaiah's language to later theological usage.
Alternative generated candidates
- Uncover your nakedness, expose your shame; I will take vengeance—I will show no pity.
- Reveal your nakedness—your shame will also be seen; I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one.
Isa.47.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- גאלנו: NOUN,m,sg,suff1pl
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- צבאות: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- שמו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- קדוש: ADJ,m,sg
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 54:5 (verbal): Combines the titles 'the Lord Almighty' (LORD of hosts) and 'the Holy One of Israel' with the role of Redeemer—closely parallels the ascription in Isa 47:4.
- Isaiah 43:14 (quotation): Uses the formula 'the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel'—a direct verbal parallel identifying YHWH as Redeemer and Holy One.
- Isaiah 63:16 (verbal): Speaks of God as 'our Redeemer from of old,' echoing the application of 'Redeemer' to the LORD in Isa 47:4.
- Jeremiah 50:34 (thematic): In the oracle against Babylon God is called 'their Redeemer' and 'the LORD of hosts,' a thematic parallel linking divine titles and judgment of Babylon as in Isa 47:4.
Alternative generated candidates
- Our Redeemer is the LORD of hosts; his name is the Holy One of Israel.
- Our Redeemer—Jehovah of hosts is his name—the Holy One of Israel.
Isa.47.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- שבי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- דומם: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- ובאי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- בחשך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בת: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- כשדים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- כי: CONJ
- לא: PART_NEG
- תוסיפי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- יקראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- גברת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ממלכות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
Parallels
- Isaiah 47:7-8 (verbal): Immediate continuation of the oracle against Babylon: the city's proud claim to be 'mistress' and invulnerable is answered by prophetic humiliation and silence—same address and theme of dethronement.
- Jeremiah 51:7-9 (thematic): Jeremiah portrays Babylon's drinking and stupor and announces its downfall; like Isaiah 47:5 it foresees the loss of Babylon's power and prestige as ruler over nations.
- Revelation 17:1-5, 17:18 (verbal): The beast-woman 'Babylon' is described as a great city that 'reigns over the kings of the earth,' echoing Isaiah's depiction of Babylon as a proud 'mistress of kingdoms' who will be humbled.
- Psalm 137:8-9 (thematic): The psalm addresses 'daughter of Babylon' and calls for retribution, reflecting the theme of Babylon's fall and loss of status found in Isaiah 47:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- Sit down, be silent, and enter into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called mistress of kingdoms.
- Sit silent, go into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no longer be called Mistress of Kingdoms.
Isa.47.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- קצפתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,NA,sg
- על: PREP
- עמי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+1s
- חללתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,NA,sg
- נחלתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,NA,sg
- ואתנם: CONJ
- בידך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- שמת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- רחמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- זקן: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- הכבדת: VERB,hiph,perf,2,m,sg
- עלך: PREP,2,m,sg
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Judges 2:14 (thematic): God's anger results in Israel being 'sold' or delivered into the hands of enemies—parallel to 'I was angry with my people... and gave them into your hand.'
- Isaiah 10:5-7 (thematic): God uses a foreign power as an instrument of judgment on his people; the passage frames the conqueror as sent by divine wrath, similar to Isaiah 47's language of anger and handing over.
- Jeremiah 25:9-11 (thematic): Yahweh declares he will summon Babylon to bring judgment on the nations and give them over to exile—echoing the theme of God handing his people into the hand of a foreign power.
- Lamentations 2:1-3 (verbal): Portrays Yahweh's fierce anger against Zion and a lack of pity ('he has not pitied'), resonating with Isaiah 47:6's language of divine wrath, profaning the heritage, and absence of mercy.
Alternative generated candidates
- I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage and gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; upon the aged you laid a heavy yoke.
- I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage and gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; you laid a heavy yoke on the aged among them.
Isa.47.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמרי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- לעולם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אהיה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- גברת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- לא: PART_NEG
- שמת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- לבך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- זכרת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אחריתה: NOUN,f,sg,suff
Parallels
- Isaiah 47:8 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same oracle: repeats the Babylonian boastful claim of permanence and the failure to consider or remember its final downfall.
- Ezekiel 28:2–8 (thematic): Prophecy against a proud ruler (Tyre): boasts of invulnerability and deification, coupled with a failure to regard future judgment—same motif of arrogant self-security followed by ruin.
- Daniel 4:30–31 (thematic): Nebuchadnezzar's proud proclamation about the greatness and permanence of Babylon; the narrative then brings humbling and loss—parallels the theme of presumptuous confidence and ignored consequences.
- Proverbs 16:18 (thematic): Proverbial warning that pride precedes destruction—captures the moral principle behind Babylon’s boastful ‘I shall be mistress/forever’ and its neglected latter end.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you said, 'I will be a lady forever'; you did not set these things in your heart; you did not remember your latter end.
- And you said, "I will be mistress forever"—you did not set these things in your heart; you did not remember your latter end.
Isa.47.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- שמעי: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- זאת: DEM,f,sg
- עדינה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- היושבת: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,sg
- לבטח: ADV
- האמרה: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,sg
- בלבבה: NOUN,m,sg,cs+3f
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- ואפסי: CONJ+ADV
- עוד: ADV
- לא: PART_NEG
- אשב: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,sg
- אלמנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ולא: CONJ
- אדע: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,_,sg
- שכול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 47:10-11 (structural): Immediate context: continues the theme that Babylon’s confidence and claims of security (‘I am, and none besides me’) and reliance on her own wisdom will be overturned by judgment and humiliation.
- Daniel 4:30 (verbal): Nebuchadnezzar’s proud speech about Babylon (‘Is not this great Babylon...?’) parallels the city-ruler’s self-sufficiency and boastful security that precedes divine humbling.
- Proverbs 16:18 (thematic): Proverbial principle that pride precedes destruction echoes Isaiah’s depiction of Babylon’s arrogant assurance of safety and immunity from loss, which provokes impending ruin.
- Ezekiel 16:37-39 (allusion): Ezekiel’s portrayal of Jerusalem’s shame and the reversal of her former pride (lovers gathered, exposed and disgraced) parallels the motif of a once-secure, boastful city reduced to widowhood and loss.
- Revelation 18:7 (thematic): The judgment-language against the great city that glorifies itself and claims prosperity mirrors Isaiah’s oracle against Babylon’s arrogant claim of perpetual security and immunity from widowhood/loss.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now therefore hear this, you who dwell securely and say in your heart, 'I, and there is none besides me; I shall not sit a widow, nor shall I know the loss of children.'
- Now therefore hear this, you who dwell securely, who say in your heart, "I am, and there is none besides me; I shall never be a widow, nor know the loss of children."
Isa.47.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותבאנה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- שתי: NUM,card,f,du
- אלה: DEM,pl,abs
- רגע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ביום: PREP
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- שכול: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואלמן: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כתמם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- ברב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כשפיך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,2,f,sg
- בעצמת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,constr
- חבריך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,2,f,sg
- מאד: ADV
Parallels
- Rev.18:7-8 (allusion): Revelation 18 echoes Isaiah's oracle against Babylon — proud city claiming queenly status is suddenly humiliated and destroyed 'in one day' (or 'in one hour'/'in one day' parallels), reflecting the same theme of abrupt judgment and loss of power.
- Isa.13:6-8 (verbal): Isaiah 13 uses the same imagery of sudden terror and distress 'like a woman in labor' and depicts a swift, overwhelming calamity — language and motifs parallel the abrupt devastation and helplessness in Isa.47:9.
- Nah.3:5-7 (thematic): Nahum taunts a fallen city with themes of sudden ruin, exposure, humiliation and loss of status (stripping, captives, no recovery), paralleling Isaiah's picture of a proud city overwhelmed and shamed.
- Deut.28:25 (thematic): Deuteronomy's curses include sudden defeat, panic and rout before enemies ('you shall flee seven ways before them'), echoing the motif of unexpected collapse and helplessness found in Isa.47:9.
Alternative generated candidates
- Two calamities shall come upon you at once, in a single day—loss of children and widowhood; they shall come upon you in full measure, despite the multitude of your charms and the strength of your spells.
- But these two calamities came to you in a single day—loss of children and widowhood; they came upon you in full measure because of the multitude of your spells and the great power of your sorceries.
Isa.47.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותבטחי: VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- ברעתך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs+2f
- אמרת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- אין: PART,neg
- ראני: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg+1s
- חכמתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2ms
- ודעתך: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- היא: PRON,dem,3,f,sg
- שובבתך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2f
- ותאמרי: VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- בלבך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+2f
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- ואפסי: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עוד: ADV
Parallels
- Isaiah 45:5 (allusion): Antithetical echo: Isaiah 47 records Babylon’s boastful self-sufficiency (‘I am, and there is none besides me’), which stands in ironic contrast to God’s declaration ‘I am the LORD, and there is no other.’
- Ezekiel 28:2–3 (verbal): The proud language of the ruler (‘because your heart is proud… you say, “I am a god”’) parallels Babylon’s arrogant self-assertion and claimed wisdom in Isaiah 47:10.
- Daniel 5:20–23 (thematic): Belshazzar’s and Nebuchadnezzar’s narratives about lifted-up hearts and subsequent humiliation mirror the theme of national arrogance in Isaiah 47 and its resultant judgment.
- Isaiah 10:13 (thematic): The Assyrian boast (‘I will ascend to heaven… I will make myself like the Most High’) reflects the same prideful self-exaltation that Isaiah 47:10 indicts.
- Proverbs 16:18 (thematic): The proverb ‘Pride goes before destruction’ summarizes the moral pattern underlying Isaiah 47:10: arrogant confidence and claimed wisdom lead to downfall.
Alternative generated candidates
- You trusted in your wickedness and said, 'No one sees me'; your wisdom and knowledge led you astray. You said in your heart, 'I, and there is none besides me.'
- You trusted in your wickedness and said, "No one sees me." Your wisdom and your knowledge have misled you; you said in your heart, "I and none besides."
Isa.47.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- רעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תדעי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- שחרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותפל: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- הוה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- לא: PART_NEG
- תוכלי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- כפרה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ותבא: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- עליך: PREP+2ms
- פתאם: ADV
- שואה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- תדעי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 44:25 (thematic): Like 47:11, Isaiah 44 depicts God frustrating diviners and rendering soothsayers powerless—the prophecy that enchantments and magical arts cannot avert the Lord’s purposes.
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (thematic): Deuteronomy condemns divination, soothsaying and related practices as abominations; this background helps explain Isaiah’s charge that Babylon’s charms and diviners will not save her.
- Zephaniah 1:18 (thematic): Zephaniah declares that neither silver nor gold can atone or deliver in the day of the Lord’s wrath, echoing Isaiah 47:11’s assertion that no means of atonement or protection will avert the coming calamity.
- Psalm 49:7-8 (thematic): The psalm insists that no ransom can redeem a life—paralleling Isaiah’s claim that Babylon will have no atonement or purchase to avert disaster when God’s judgment falls.
Alternative generated candidates
- A calamity will come upon you that you cannot avert; sudden ruin will fall on you—you will not be able to make atonement; disaster will come unawares.
- A disaster you did not foresee will come upon you; sudden ruin will fall on you—you will find no means of atonement; a sudden desolation shall come upon you, of which you are unaware.
Isa.47.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- עמדי: PREP+1cs
- נא: PART
- בחבריך: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- וברב: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כשפיך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- באשר: CONJ
- יגעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- מנעוריך: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:2,f,sg
- אולי: ADV
- תוכלי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
- הועיל: VERB,hifil,perf,3,m,sg
- אולי: ADV
- תערוצי: VERB,qal,impf,2,f,sg
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 18:10–12 (thematic): Condemns divination, sorcery, and occult practices — the same category of activities Isaiah 47 condemns as futile and detestable.
- Isaiah 47:13–14 (structural): Immediate continuation of the oracle against Babylon: the astrologers and enchanters cannot save her — a direct extension of v.12’s challenge to sorcery.
- Isaiah 44:25 (verbal): Speaks of God frustrating diviners and making wise men foolish, using similar language and theme of divine overthrow of occult expertise.
- Daniel 2:10–11 (thematic): Accounts of Babylonian magicians, astrologers, and Chaldeans failing to reveal or interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream — parallels the impotence of Babylon’s wise men in Isaiah 47.
Alternative generated candidates
- Stand now with your enchanters and with the many spells with which you labored from your youth—perhaps you may profit, perhaps you may terrify.
- Stand now with your spells and with the multitude of your enchantments, in which you labored from your youth; perhaps you may profit, perhaps you may frighten.
Isa.47.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- נלאית: VERB,qal,perf,2,f,sg
- ברב: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עצתיך: NOUN,f,sg,cs
- יעמדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- נא: PART
- ויושיעך: VERB,hif,impf,3,m,sg
- הברי: NOUN,m,pl,def
- שמים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- החזים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בכוכבים: PREP
- מודיעם: VERB,hif,impf,3,m,sg
- לחדשים: PREP
- מאשר: PREP+REL
- יבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- עליך: PREP+2ms
Parallels
- Isaiah 47:12 (structural): Immediate context in the same oracle condemning reliance on many counsels and occult arts; continues the taunt against Babylon’s astrologers and counselors (same speech-unit).
- Isaiah 44:25 (thematic): God is portrayed as frustrating the signs of false prophets and making diviners fools—themeually opposing the supposed power of astrologers cited in Isa.47:13.
- Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (thematic): Law forbids divination, augury and soothsaying; provides the legal/theological background for Isaiah’s rejection of star-watchers and those who predict the new moons.
- Daniel 2:27-28 (thematic): Daniel contrasts human astrologers/wise men with God’s ability to reveal mysteries—an implicit rebuttal to claims like those in Isa.47:13 that star-readers can know the future.
- Jeremiah 23:25-27 (thematic): Jeremiah condemns prophets who prophesy lies and counterfeit visions, similar to Isaiah’s denunciation of those who ‘see visions’ and predict what will come.
Alternative generated candidates
- You are wearied by many counsels; let them stand and save you: those who read the heavens, who watch the stars, who declare the new moons what shall come upon you.
- You are exhausted by your many counsels; let them stand and save you—the stargazers who peer at the heavens, who mark the months by the constellations to announce what will come upon you.
Isa.47.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- הנה: PART
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- כקש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- שרפתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- לא: PART_NEG
- יצילו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- נפשם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
- מיד: PREP
- להבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אין: PART,neg
- גחלת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לחמם: PREP+VERB,qal,inf+PRON,3,m,pl
- אור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לשבת: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- נגדו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 5:24 (verbal): Uses the same image of fire consuming stubble/chaff to depict utter destruction; language and metaphor closely parallel Isaiah 47:14's portrayal of helpless burning.
- Matthew 3:12 (thematic): John the Baptist speaks of burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire — the judgment-by-fire motif and the image of worthless chaff/stubble destroyed echo Isaiah 47:14.
- Nahum 1:10 (verbal): Describes the enemy as being devoured 'as stubble' and wholly consumed by fire — a closely related image of swift, total destruction with no rescue.
- Zephaniah 1:18 (thematic): Declares that neither wealth nor strength will deliver people on the day of the Lord when the earth is consumed by his fire — parallels Isaiah 47:14's theme of powerlessness before consuming fire and lack of refuge.
Alternative generated candidates
- Behold, they are like stubble—the fire will burn them; they will not deliver themselves from the power of the flame. There is no coal to warm at, no fire to sit before.
- Behold, they are like stubble; the fire has burned them—no life is rescued from the flame; there is no coal to warm oneself, no fire to sit before.
Isa.47.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כן: ADV
- היו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יגעת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- סחריך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2f
- מנעוריך: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+2f
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לעברו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3m
- תעו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אין: PART,neg
- מושיעך: NOUN,m,sg,abs,2,sg
Parallels
- Isaiah 46:1-7 (thematic): Like Isa. 47:15’s declaration that none will save Babylon, Isa. 46 emphasizes that idols and supposed protectors cannot rescue those who trust in them.
- Ezekiel 7:19 (verbal): Ezek. 7:19 speaks of silver and gold being unable to deliver in the day of wrath—echoing Isa. 47:15’s theme that no ally or resource will save the doomed city.
- Psalm 118:8 (thematic): Psalm 118:8 (‘It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man’) parallels the warning in Isa. 47:15 against relying on human helpers who will not save.
- Jeremiah 17:5 (thematic): Jer. 17:5 (‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man…’) echoes the judgment motif in Isa. 47:15 that those who trusted in human allies will find no savior.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus shall those be to you with whom you labored—your traders from your youth; each one shall wander to his own way; there will be no savior for you.
- Such are those with whom you labored from your youth—each shall go off to his own way; none will be your savior.
Come down and sit in the dust, virgin, daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground—there is no throne, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
Take the millstones and grind flour; uncover your braid, undo the veil, lift up the skirt—pass through the rivers.
Expose your nakedness, make bare your shame— I will take vengeance, and I will show no pity.
Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name—the Holy One of Israel.
Sit mute and go into darkness, daughter of the Chaldeans; for you shall no more be called mistress of kingdoms.
I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage and gave them into your hand. You showed them no mercy; you made the aged among them heavy to you. And you said, “I shall be a lady forever.” You did not set this to your heart; you did not remember the end of it. Now therefore hear this, you who live secure, who say in your heart, “I and no other; I will never sit a widow, nor shall I know bereavement.” But these two things will come to you in a single day—desolation and devastation. In a moment they shall come upon you: loss of children and widowhood; with full measure they shall come upon you, despite all your many spells and the great power of your enchantments.
You trusted in your wickedness and said, “None sees me.” Your wisdom and your knowledge have led you astray; and you said in your heart, “I, and besides me there is none.”
A calamity will come upon you that you cannot charm away; a ruin will fall upon you that you cannot atone for; sudden destruction will come upon you that you did not perceive.
Stand now with your spells and the many enchanters you have labored with from your youth—perhaps they will avail, perhaps they will inspire terror.
You are wearied by many counsels; let them stand and save you—those who watch the heavens, who read the stars and announce by the new moons what shall come upon you.
Behold, they are like stubble; fire will burn them— they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. There is no coal to warm one, no fire to sit before it. So shall be those with whom you have labored from your youth: each of them turns to his own way; there is no one to save you.