The big picture
Isaiah 13 opens in verse 1 with “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I…”, and closes in verse 22 with “And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, anger, houses, land, Babylon. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 22Isaiah 13:1-8
1–8: The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
Isaiah 13:1–8 opens with “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.” and reaches “And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 13 develops its own movement around LORD, anger, houses, land, Babylon, with particular weight carried by LORD, hand, noise.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.” Naming Amoz and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD , and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy…” The line’s distinctive content terms include country, destroy, heaven. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 13:1-8
King James Version1The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
2Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
3I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.
4The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.
5They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD , and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
6Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
7Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt:
8And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
Isaiah 13:9-16
9–16: Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce…
Isaiah 13:9–16 opens with “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land…” and reaches “Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 13 develops its own movement around LORD, anger, houses, land, Babylon, with particular weight carried by anger, cause, fierce.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include arrogancy, cause, cease. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Isaiah 13:9-16
King James Version9Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
14And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.
15Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.
16Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.
Isaiah 13:17-22
17–22: Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard…
Isaiah 13:17–22 opens with “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold…” and reaches “And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 13 develops its own movement around LORD, anger, houses, land, Babylon, with particular weight carried by beasts, generation, houses.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 13:17-22
King James Version17Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
18Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
19And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
21But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
22And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 13:1 begins with “The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 13:13 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.”
The final note
Isaiah 13:22 leaves the reader with “And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, anger, houses, land, Babylon, beasts help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Abram pursue peace?
He names their kinship and offers a practical separation without insisting on first choice.
What can Lot see that Abram cannot yet possess?
Lot sees fertile land; Abram receives a promise of land and descendants still to come.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.