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Isaiah 47

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 47 of 66

1 Go down and sit on the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the earth; a throne is not to the daughter of the Chaldeans, for they shall not again call you tender and delicate.

2 Take millstones and grind meal; uncover your veil; strip off the skirt; uncover the leg; pass over rivers.

3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered; yea, your shame shall be seen. I will take vengeance and I will not meet a man, says,

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Chapter Summary

Jehovah's judgment on Babylon and Chaldea, for their unmercifulness, pride, and overboldness, shall be irresistible.

Key Hebrew Words

כֶּ֫שֶׁף sorcery H3785 · TWOT 1051a
חֶ֫בֶר enchantment, spell H2267 · TWOT 598a
נָקָם vengeance H5359 · TWOT 1413a
גְּבֶ֫רֶת mistress, queen H1404 · TWOT 310e
שְׁכוֹל loss of children H7908 · TWOT 2385a
אַלְמֹן widowhood H489 · TWOT 104

People & Context

Jehovah

Israel's Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts, who takes vengeance and pronounces Babylon's downfall

Daughter of Babylon

Personified Babylon, proud queen brought down to the dust, stripped of her throne and called no more tender

Chaldeans

The Babylonian people, called 'mistress of kingdoms,' whose sorceries and astrologers cannot save them

Timeline

The Humiliation of Babylon

The virgin daughter of Babylon is commanded to sit in the dust, grind meal, and be stripped bare as punishment for showing no mercy to God's exiled people.

Isaiah 47:1-7
Sudden Ruin Despite Sorceries

Babylon's arrogant belief that she will never see widowhood is shattered as God decrees sudden ruin, loss of children, and disaster that her spells and stargazers cannot prevent.

Isaiah 47:8-15

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Word-for-word literal translation with Hebrew interlinear, Strong's numbers, and audio.

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