Isaiah 14

“For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden…” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.” The line’s distinctive content terms include broken, LORD, rulers. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, continual, hindereth. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.” The line’s distinctive content terms include break, earth, quiet. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up…” Naming Lebanon and Since keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief…” Naming Hell keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover…” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst…” Naming Lucifer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Naming High keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust…” The line’s distinctive content terms include abominable, branch, carcase. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor…” Naming Prepare keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of…” The line’s distinctive content terms include besom, bittern, destruction. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include earth, hand, nations. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden.” Naming Ahaz keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.