Isaiah 47:14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 47:7-15

Babylon, now doomed to ruin, is here justly upbraided with her pride, luxury, and security, in the day of her prosperity, and the confidence she had in her own wisdom and forecast, and particularly in the prognostications and counsels of the astrologers. These things are mentioned both to justify God in bringing these judgments upon her and to mortify her, and put her to so much the greater shame, under these judgments; for, when God comes forth to take vengeance, glory belongs to him, but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:14

Behold, they shall be as stubble, the fire shall burn them ,.... That is, these astrologers and diviners shall be like stubble; weak as that, as the Targum; they shall be no more able to stand before the fire of divine wrath, or before the judgments of God, by the hands of the Medes and Persians, than stubble can stand before a consuming fire: they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame ; from those dreadful calamities that shall come upon them like flames of fire; and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 47:1-15

A SONG OF TRIUMPH OVER THE FALL OF BABYLON . The song divides itself into four strophes, or stanzas—the first one of four verses ( Isaiah 47:1-4 ); the second of three ( Isaiah 47:5-7 ); the third of four ( Isaiah 47:8-11 ); and the fourth also of four ( Isaiah 47:12-15 ). The speaker is either Jehovah (see Isaiah 47:3 , ad fin. ) or "a chorus of celestial beings" (Cheyne), bent on expressing their sympathy with Israel read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 47:1-15

The fall of ancient states a warning to modern ones. History has been defined as "philosophy teaching by examples." It is only on the supposition that there are lessons to be learnt from them that historical inquiries or historical records can be regarded as of any value or importance. In a certain sense it is no doubt true to say that "history never repeats itself." The exact circumstances, even of those historical events which most nearly resemble each other, are always in many respects... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 47:1-15

The fall of Babylon. This is a scoffing song at the overthrow of Babylon. It is divided into four nearly equal stanzas. Luxury, ambition, and the practice of magic—the one sin worse than the others—were prevalent at Babylon. Each of these is lashed in the first three stanzas. There is a climax, the scorn of the prophet reaching its highest point in the last stanza (Ewald). Spiritually considered, the picture may represent the course of "this present world" in its godless pride. I. ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 47:14

Behold, they shall be as stubble (comp. Isaiah 5:24 ; Isaiah 40:24 ; Isaiah 41:2 ). A favourite metaphor with Isaiah for extreme weakness and incapacity of resistance. In Isaiah 5:24 it is connected, as here, with fire. No doubt in Palestine, as elsewhere, an accidental fire from time to time caught hold of a stubble-field, and speedily reduced it to a mass of blackened ashes. The threat here is that God's wrath shall similarly sweep over Babylon. They shall not deliver themselves... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 47:14

Behold, they shall be as stubble - They shall be no more able to resist the judgments which are coming upon the city, than dry stubble can resist the action of the fire. A similar figure is used in Isaiah 1:31 (see the notes at that verse). Compare also Isaiah 29:6; Isaiah 30:30, where fire is a symbol of the devouring judgments of God.They shall not deliver themselves - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘Their souls.’ The meaning is, that they would be unable to protect themselves from the calamities which... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 47:12-15

Isaiah 47:12-15. Stand now with thine enchantments Persist in these practices. Wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth From the beginning of thy kingdom. For the Chaldeans in all ages were famous, or rather infamous, for the study and practice of these arts. Thou art wearied in thy counsels Thou hast spent thy time and strength in going from one to another, in trying all manner of experiments, and all to no purpose. Let now the astrologers, &c., stand up To succour thee, or to... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 47:1-15

Judgment on Babylon (47:1-15)The great nation Babylon is likened to a beautiful and vain young lady who is now disgraced. She once lived in luxury, but now she is made to sit in the dirt, forced to work like a slave girl, stripped of her beautiful clothing and made to walk around naked (47:1-3). God’s judgment on Babylon brings freedom to Israel (4).Pride is the reason for Babylon’s downfall. God’s desire was to use Babylon to punish Israel, but Babylon has gone beyond the limits God set and... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 47:14

themselves = their souls. Hebrew. nephesh. read more

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