Isaiah 47
ืืฉืขืืื ืคืจืง ืืดื
Section: ื ืืืืื ยท ื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืื | Book: Isaiah | Chapter: 47 of 66 | Day: 194 of 742
Date: August 24, 2026
ืงืืืื ืขื ืื ืดื
Isaiah 47 is a sustained taunt-song over the fall of Babylon, cast in the rhythms of a qinah (ืงืื ื, dirge) but inverted into mockery. The chapterโs power lies in its central personification: Babylon is a pampered queen, the โvirgin daughter of Babylonโ (ืืชืืืช ืืช ืืื), ordered down from her throne to sit in the dust. Metzudat David explains that she is called a virgin because until now no nation had ever conquered her and brought her under anotherโs dominion, just as Isaiah earlier addressed the โvirgin daughter of Tzidonโ (chapter 23); Radak adds that descending to the dust means she will retain no kingship even in her own land, for the city itself will lie desolate. The opening verses pile on the humiliations of a great lady reduced to slavery: she must take the hand mill and grind meal, strip off her veil, bare her leg and wade through rivers into captivity. Radak connects the grinding to the fate of prisoners, like Shimshon โgrinding in the prison house,โ while Rashi reads the millstones as the hard yoke of servitude to the kings of Media and Persia. The delicate one (ืจืื ืืขื ืืื), whose softness Radak traces to a life of luxury, will never again be called โmistress of kingdomsโ (ืืืจืช ืืืืืืช).
At the heart of the chapter stands its measure-for-measure theology, stated explicitly in verse 6. God Himself declares that He was angry with His people and gave them into Babylonโs hand โ the exile was divine judgment, not Babylonian prowess. Babylonโs sin was the manner of her execution: โyou showed them no mercy; even upon the aged you made your yoke exceedingly heavy.โ Rashi comments that she laid her yoke on elders who could not bear hard labor, and Radak states the principle directly: all this punishment comes upon you because of Israel. The nation that showed no compassion to captives will herself sit as a captive, silent and in darkness. The taunt is punctuated in verse 4 by a sudden doxology โ โOur Redeemer, Hashem Tzevaot is His name, the Holy One of Israelโ โ which Rashi reads as the prophetโs own voice: all of this the Holy One does in order to redeem us from there. Babylonโs humiliation and Israelโs redemption are two sides of a single act.
Babylonโs deepest offense, however, is theological arrogance. Twice she says in her heart, โani veโafsi odโ (ืื ื ืืืคืกื ืขืื) โ โI am, and there is none but meโ (verses 8 and 10). The phrase deliberately echoes and parodies Godโs own refrain in the surrounding chapters, โI am Hashem and there is none elseโ (ืื ื ืโ ืืืื ืขืื, chapter 45). Rashi glosses veโafsi od as โthere is none outside of me,โ the very claim that belongs to God alone; a mortal empire has arrogated the language of divine uniqueness. Her twin boasts โ โI shall not sit as a widow or know bereavementโ โ are decoded by Metzudat David: widowhood is the death of the king, bereavement the exile of the populace. Both, the prophet answers, will come โin a moment, in one dayโ (ืจืืข ืืืื ืืื), and Radak anchors the prophecy in history: on that very night Belshazzar was slain and Daryavesh the Mede received the kingdom, as recorded in Sefer Daniel. The pampered one who dwelt in security, saying โno one sees me,โ discovers that her secret wickedness was seen all along.
The final movement (verses 9-15) is a polemic against the pride of Chaldean wisdom โ the sorceries (ืืฉืคืื), spells (ืืืจืื), and astrology on which Babylonโs confidence rested. The prophet issues a sarcastic challenge: stand up with the enchantments you have labored at since your youth, โperhaps you will be able to profitโ; Metzudat David and Radak both note that this is spoken in derision (ืืจื ืืขื). Let the โscanners of heavenโ (ืืืืจื ืฉืืื), the star-gazers who announce month by month what is coming, now save you. Rashi observes pointedly that the text says they foretell โof what will comeโ (ืืืฉืจ ืืืืื) โ only fragments of the future, never the whole, like chirping birds who do not know the meaning of their own sounds. The astrologers prove to be straw consumed by fire, unable to save even themselves, leaving behind not so much as a coal to warm oneself by. The chapter closes with total abandonment: the merchants and wise men of her youth each wander off on his own way, and โthere is none to save you.โ Within the consolation sectionโs larger arc, this collapse is not an end in itself but a precondition: with the mistress of kingdoms dethroned and her diviners exposed, the road is clear for the call of the next chapter โ go out from Babylon โ and for Israelโs return.
ืคืจืง ืืดื ยท Chapter 47
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1
Hebrew:
ืจึฐืึดึฃืโื ืึผืฉืึฐืึดึฃื ืขึทืึพืขึธืคึธึืจ ืึผึฐืชืึผืึทืชึ ืึผึทืชึพืึผึธืึถึื ืฉืึฐืึดืึพืึธืึธึฅืจึถืฅ ืึตืืึพืึผึดืกึผึตึื ืึผึทืชึพืึผึทืฉืึฐืึผึดึืื ืึผึดึฃื ืึนึคื ืชืึนืกึดึืืคึดืึ ืึดืงึฐืจึฐืืึผึพืึธึืึฐ ืจึทืึผึธึื ืึทืขึฒื ึปืึผึธึฝืื
English:
Get down, sit in the dust,Fair Maiden Babylon;Sit, dethroned, on the ground,O Fair Chaldea;Nevermore shall they call youThe tender and dainty one.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 2
Hebrew:
ืงึฐืึดึฅื ืจึตืึทึืึดื ืึฐืึทึฃืึฒื ึดื ืงึธึืึทื ืึผึทืึผึดึจื ืฆึทืึผึธืชึตึงืึฐ ืึถืฉืึฐืคึผึดืึพืฉืึนึืึถื ืึผึทืึผึดืึพืฉืึืึนืง ืขึดืึฐืจึดึฅื ื ึฐืึธืจึฝืึนืชื
English:
Grasp the hand mill and grind meal.Remove your veil,Strip off your train, bare your leg,Wade through the rivers.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 3
Hebrew:
ืชึผึดืึผึธืึ ืขึถืจึฐืึธืชึตึืึฐ ืึผึทึฅื ืชึผึตืจึธืึถึื ืึถืจึฐืคึผึธืชึตึืึฐ ื ึธืงึธึฃื ืึถืงึผึธึื ืึฐืึนึฅื ืึถืคึฐืึผึทึืข ืึธืึธึฝืืย {ืค}
English:
Your nakedness shall be uncovered,And your shame shall be exposed.I will take vengeance,And let no one intercede.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 4
Hebrew:
ืึผึนืึฒืึตึื ืึผ ืึฐืึนืึธึฅื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืฉืึฐืึืึน ืงึฐืึืึนืฉื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตึฝืื
English:
Our Redeemerโwhose name is GOD of HostsโIs the Holy One of Israel.aAnd let no one intercede. / Our Redeemerโwhose name is GOD of Hostsโ / Is the Holy One of Israel Meaning of Heb. uncertain; emendation yields โAnd not be appeased, / Says our Redeemer, whose name is GOD of Hosts, / The Holy One of Israel.โ
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 5
Hebrew:
ืฉืึฐืึดึฅื ืืึผืึธึื ืึผืึนึฅืึดื ืึทืึนึืฉืึถืึฐ ืึผึทืชึพืึผึทืฉืึฐืึผึดึืื ืึผึดึฃื ืึนึคื ืชืึนืกึดึืืคึดืึ ืึดืงึฐืจึฐืืึผึพืึธึืึฐ ืึผึฐืึถึืจึถืช ืึทืึฐืึธืึฝืึนืชื
English:
Sit silent; retire into darkness,O Fair Chaldea;Nevermore shall they call youMistress of Kingdoms.
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 6
Hebrew:
ืงึธืฆึทึฃืคึฐืชึผึดื ืขึทืึพืขึทืึผึดึื ืึดืึผึทึืึฐืชึผึดืึ ื ึทืึฒืึธืชึดึื ืึธืึถืชึผึฐื ึตึื ืึผึฐืึธืึตึืึฐ ืึนืึพืฉืึทึคืึฐืชึผึฐ ืึธืึถืึ ืจึทืึฒืึดึืื ืขึทืึพืึธืงึตึื ืึดืึฐืึผึทึฅืึฐืชึผึฐ ืขึปืึผึตึืึฐ ืึฐืึนึฝืื
English:
I was angry at My people,I defiled My heritage;I put them into your hands,But you showed them no mercy.Even upon the aged you madeYour yoke exceedingly heavy.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 7
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึนึฃืืึฐืจึดึื ืึฐืขืึนืึธึื ืึถืึฐืึถึฃื ืึฐืึธึืจึถืช ืขึทึฃื ืึนืึพืฉืึทึฅืึฐืชึผึฐ ืึตึืึผึถืึ ืขึทืึพืึดืึผึตึืึฐ ืึนึฅื ืึธืึทึืจึฐืชึผึฐ ืึทืึฒืจึดืืชึธึฝืึผืย {ืค}
English:
You thought, โI shall always beThe mistress still.โYou did not take these things to heart,You gave no thought to the end of it.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 8
Hebrew:
ืึฐืขึทืชึผึธึื ืฉืึดืึฐืขึดืึพืึนึคืืช ืขึฒืึดืื ึธืึ ืึทืึผืึนืฉืึถึฃืึถืช ืึธืึถึืึทื ืึธืึนึฝืึฐืจึธืึ ืึผึดืึฐืึธืึธึืึผ ืึฒื ึดึื ืึฐืึทืคึฐืกึดึฃื ืขึืึนื ืึนึคื ืึตืฉืึตืึ ืึทืึฐืึธื ึธึื ืึฐืึนึฅื ืึตืึทึืข ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝืึฐืึฝืึนืื
English:
And now hear this, O pampered oneโWho dwell in security,Who think to yourself,โI am, and there is none but me;I shall not become a widowOr know loss of childrenโโ
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 9
Hebrew:
ืึฐืชึธืึนึฉืื ึธืึฉ ืึผึธึจืึฐ ืฉืึฐืชึผึตืึพืึตึฅืึผึถื ืจึถึืึทืข ืึผึฐืึฅืึนื ืึถืึธึื ืฉืึฐืึฃืึนื ืึฐืึทืึฐืึนึื ืึผึฐืชึปืึผึธืึ ืึผึธึฃืืึผ ืขึธืึทึืึดืึฐ ืึผึฐืจึนึฃื ืึผึฐืฉืึธืคึทึืึดืึฐ ืึผึฐืขืืฆึฐืึทึฅืช ืึฒืึธืจึทึืึดืึฐ ืึฐืึนึฝืื
English:
These two things shall come upon you,Suddenly, in one day:Loss of children and widowhoodShall come upon you in full measure,Despite your many enchantmentsAnd all your countless spells.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 10
Hebrew:
ืึทืชึผึดืึฐืึฐืึดึฃื ืึฐืจึธืขึธืชึตึืึฐ ืึธืึทืจึฐืชึผึฐึ ืึตึฃืื ืจึนืึธึื ึดื ืืืึฐืึธืชึตึฅืึฐ ืึฐืึทืขึฐืชึผึตึืึฐ ืึดึฃืื ืฉืืึนืึฐืึธึืชึถืึฐ ืึทืชึผึนืืึฐืจึดึฃื ืึฐืึดืึผึตึืึฐ ืึฒื ึดึื ืึฐืึทืคึฐืกึดึฅื ืขึฝืึนืื
English:
You were secure in your wickedness;You thought, โNo one can see me.โIt was your skill and your scienceThat led you astray.And you thought to yourself,โI am, and there is none but me.โ
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 11
Hebrew:
ืึผืึธึงื ืขึธืึทึฃืึดืึฐ ืจึธืขึธึื ืึนึคื ืชึตึฝืึฐืขึดืึ ืฉืึทืึฐืจึธึืึผ ืึฐืชึดืคึผึนึคื ืขึธืึทึืึดืึฐึ ืึนืึธึื ืึนึฅื ืชืึผืึฐืึดึื ืึผึทืคึผึฐืจึธึืึผ ืึฐืชึธืึนึจื ืขึธืึทึงืึดืึฐ ืคึผึดืชึฐืึนึื ืฉืึนืึธึื ืึนึฅื ืชึตืึธึฝืขึดืื
English:
Evil is coming upon youThat you will not know how to charm away;bcharm away Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Emendation yields โbribe.โ Disaster is falling upon youThat you will not be able to appease;Coming upon you suddenlyIs ruin of which you know nothing.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 12
Hebrew:
ืขึดืึฐืึดืึพื ึธึคื ืึทืึฒืึธืจึทึืึดืึฐึ ืึผืึฐืจึนึฃื ืึผึฐืฉืึธืคึทึืึดืึฐ ืึผึทืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืึธืึทึืขึทืชึผึฐ ืึดื ึผึฐืขืึผืจึธึืึดืึฐ ืืึผืึทึื ืชึผืึผืึฐืึดึฅื ืืึนืขึดึืื ืืึผืึทึฅื ืชึผึทืขึฒืจึฝืึนืฆึดืื
English:
Stand up, with your spells and your many enchantmentsOn which you labored since youth!Perhaps youโll be able to profit,Perhaps you will find strength.cwill find strength Taking สปaraแนฃ as a variant of สปaแนฃar; cf. 2 Chron. 20.37.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 13
Hebrew:
ื ึดืึฐืึตึืืช ืึผึฐืจึนึฃื ืขึฒืฆึธืชึธึืึดืึฐ ืึทืขึทืึฐืืึผึพื ึธึจื ืึฐืืึนืฉืึดืืขึปึืึฐ (ืืืจื) [ืึนืึฐืจึตึฃื] ืฉืึธืึทึืึดื ืึทืึนืึดืืึ ืึผึทืึผึฃืึนืึธืึดึืื ืึฝืึนืึดืขึดืืึ ืึถืึณืึธืฉืึดึืื ืึตืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืึธืึนึืืึผ ืขึธืึธึฝืึดืึฐื
English:
You are helpless, despite all your art.Let them stand up and help you now,The scannersdscanners Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of heaven, the star-gazers,Who announce, month by month,Whatever will come upon you.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 14
Hebrew:
ืึดื ึผึตึจื ืึธืึคืึผ ืึฐืงึทืฉืึ ืึตึฃืฉื ืฉืึฐืจึธืคึธึืชึทื ืึนืึพืึทืฆึผึดึฅืืืึผ ืึถืชึพื ึทืคึฐืฉืึธึื ืึดืึผึทึฃื ืึถืึธืึธึื ืึตืืึพืึผึทืึถึฃืึถืช ืึทืึฐืึธึื ืึืึผืจ ืึธืฉืึถึฅืึถืช ื ึถืึฐืึผึฝืึนื
English:
See, they are become like straw,Fire consumes them;They cannot save themselvesFrom the power of the flame;This is no coal for warming oneself,No fire to sit by!
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 15
Hebrew:
ืึผึตึฅื ืึธืืึผึพืึธึืึฐ ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ืึธืึธึืขึทืชึผึฐ ืกึนืึฒืจึทึฃืึดืึฐ ืึดื ึผึฐืขืึผืจึทึืึดืึฐ ืึดึคืืฉื ืึฐืขึถืึฐืจืึนึ ืชึผึธืขึืึผ ืึตึืื ืืึนืฉืึดืืขึตึฝืึฐืย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
English:
This is what they have profited youโThe traders you dealt with since youthโThey have all wandered off on separate paths,There is none to save you.
โถCommentaries (1)