Isaiah 13:12

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.

American Standard Version (1901)

I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.

Bible in Basic English

I will make men so small in number, that a man will be harder to get than gold, even the best gold of Ophir.

Free Bible Version

I will make people scarcer than pure gold, rarer than the gold of Ophir.

Geneva Bible 1599

I will make a man more precious then fine golde, euen a man aboue the wedge of golde of Ophir.

King James (Authorized) Version

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

One Unity Resource Bible

I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.

Translation for Translators

And because I will cause most people to die, people will be harder to find than gold, harder to find than fine gold from Ophir in Arabia.

Unlocked Literal Bible

I will make men more rare than fine gold and mankind harder to find than the pure gold of Ophir.

Noah Webster Bible

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

World English Bible

I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.

Young's Literal Translation

I make man more rare than fine gold, And a common man than pure gold of Ophir.

Context

The Burden against Babylon

¹¹I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. ¹²I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.

Sermons

(The Word for Today) Isaiah 13:12 - Part 2

Chuck Smith

4.5K

Summary

This verse in Isaiah describes the judgment that will come upon Babylon, a powerful nation that had exalted itself above God. Despite their pride and arrogance, they will be brought low by the Lord. The verse serves as a reminder that no earthly kingdom or power can stand against the sovereignty and judgment of God. It underscores the importance of humility and obedience before the Almighty, as He alone is worthy of honor and praise.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

I will make a man more precious than fine gold-wedge of Ophir - The Medes and Persians will not be satisfied with the spoils of the Babylonians. They seek either to destroy or enslave them; and they will accept no ransom for any man - either for אנוש enosh, the poor man, or for אדם adam, the more honorable person. All must fall by the sword, or go into captivity together; for the Medes, (Isa 13:17), regard not silver, and delight not in gold.

John Gill Bible Commentary

I will make a man more precious than fine gold,.... Which may denote either the scarcity of men in Babylon, through the slaughter made of them; so things that are scarce and rare are said to be precious, Sa1 3:1 or the resolution of the Medes to spare none, though ever so much gold were offered to them, they being not to be bribed therewith, Isa 13:17 or that such should be the fear of men, that they would not be prevailed upon to take up arms to defend themselves or their king, whatever quantity of gold, even the best, was proposed unto them, a man was not to be got for money: even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir; which designs the same thing in different words. The Targum gives another sense of the whole, paraphrasing it thus, "I will love them that fear me more than gold, of which men glory; and those that keep the law more than the fine gold of Ophir;'' understanding it of the Israelites, that were in Babylon when it was taken, and who were precious and in high esteem with the Medes and Persians, more than gold, and whose lives they spared. Jarchi interprets it particularly of Daniel, and of the honour that was done him by Belshazzar, upon his reading and interpreting the writing on the wall, Dan 5:29. This is interpreted by the Jews also of the King Messiah; for in an ancient writing (g) of theirs, where having mentioned this passage, it is added, this is the Messiah, that shall ascend and be more precious than all the children of the world, and all the children of the world shall worship and bow before him. Some take "Phaz", the word for fine gold, to be the name of a place from whence it came, and therefore was so called; and that the kingdom of Phez, in Africa, has its name from hence; and Ophir is taken to be Peru in America; though others place it in India; and the Arabic version renders it, "a man shall be more precious than a little stone that is" brought "from India"; and the Septuagint version is, "than a stone in", or "of sapphire". (g) Zohar in Gen. fol. 71, 1.

Isaiah 13:12

The Burden against Babylon

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.

American Standard Version (1901)

I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.

Bible in Basic English

I will make men so small in number, that a man will be harder to get than gold, even the best gold of Ophir.

Free Bible Version

I will make people scarcer than pure gold, rarer than the gold of Ophir.

Geneva Bible 1599

I will make a man more precious then fine golde, euen a man aboue the wedge of golde of Ophir.

King James (Authorized) Version

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

One Unity Resource Bible

I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.

Translation for Translators

And because I will cause most people to die, people will be harder to find than gold, harder to find than fine gold from Ophir in Arabia.

Unlocked Literal Bible

I will make men more rare than fine gold and mankind harder to find than the pure gold of Ophir.

Noah Webster Bible

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

World English Bible

I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.

Young's Literal Translation

I make man more rare than fine gold, And a common man than pure gold of Ophir.

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Isaiah 13:12

Verse

Context

The Burden against Babylon

Sermons

Summary

Commentary

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Isaiah 13:12

The Burden against Babylon

(The Word for Today) Isaiah 13:12 - Part 2

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes