Isaiah 13:16
Isaiah 13:16 in Multiple Translations
Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.
Their infants also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be rifled, and their wives ravished.
Their young children will be broken up before their eyes; their goods will be taken away, and their wives made the property of others.
Their little children will be dashed to pieces as they watch, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be raped.
Their children also shall be broken in pieces before their eyes: their houses shall be spoiled, and their wiues rauished.
And their sucklings are dashed to pieces before their eyes, Spoiled are their houses, and their wives lain with.
Their infants also will be dashed in pieces before their eyes. Their houses will be ransacked, and their wives raped.
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be plundered, and their wives ravished.
Their infants shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes: their houses shall be pillaged, and their wives shall be ravished.
Their little children will be dashed to pieces on the rocks while their parents watch; their enemies will steal everything valuable from their houses and will rape their wives.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 13:16
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 13:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֥ם
יְרֻטְּשׁ֖וּ
לְ/עֵֽינֵי/הֶ֑ם
יִשַּׁ֨סּוּ֙
בָּֽתֵּי/הֶ֔ם
וּ/נְשֵׁי/הֶ֖ם
תשגלנה
תִּשָּׁכַֽבְנָה
וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֥ם
ʻôwlêl
H5768
infant
Conj | N-mp | Suff
יְרֻטְּשׁ֖וּ
râṭâsh
H7376
to dash in pieces
V-Pual-Imperf-3mp
לְ/עֵֽינֵי/הֶ֑ם
ʻayin
H5869
eye
Prep | N-cd | Suff
יִשַּׁ֨סּוּ֙
shâçaç
H8155
to plunder
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp
בָּֽתֵּי/הֶ֔ם
bayith
H1004
place
N-mp | Suff
וּ/נְשֵׁי/הֶ֖ם
ʼishshâh
H802
woman
Conj | N-fp | Suff
תשגלנה
shâgal
H7693
to ravish
V-Niphal-Imperf-3fp
תִּשָּׁכַֽבְנָה
shâkab
H7901
to lie down
V-Niphal-Imperf-3fp
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 13:16
וְ/עֹלְלֵי/הֶ֥ם
ʻôwlêl
H5768
"infant"
Conj | N-mp | Suff
This word refers to a young child or infant, often describing a baby or toddler. It is used in the Bible to describe the early stages of life.
Definition: child, boy
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: babe, (young) child, infant, little one. See also: 1 Samuel 15:3; Jeremiah 44:7; Psalms 8:3.
יְרֻטְּשׁ֖וּ
râṭâsh
H7376
"to dash in pieces"
V-Pual-Imperf-3mp
This word means to break or smash something into pieces, like dashing a vase on the floor. It is used to describe violent or destructive actions.
Definition: 1) to dash to pieces 1a) (Piel) to dash in pieces 1b) (Pual) to be dashed in pieces
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: dash (in pieces). See also: 2 Kings 8:12; Hosea 10:14; Isaiah 13:16.
לְ/עֵֽינֵי/הֶ֑ם
ʻayin
H5869
"eye"
Prep | N-cd | Suff
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : eye 1) eye 1a) eye 1a1) of physical eye 1a2) as showing mental qualities 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 828 OT verses. KJV: affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). See also: Genesis 3:5; Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 28:67.
יִשַּׁ֨סּוּ֙
shâçaç
H8155
"to plunder"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3mp
This word is about taking something that does not belong to you, often by force, like in a battle. It is used in the Bible to describe the actions of enemies, such as in Jeremiah 23:1 and Ezekiel 38:12.
Definition: 1) to plunder, spoil 1a) (Qal) to plunder 1b) (Niphal) to be plundered, be rifled Also means: sha.as (שָׁאַס "to spoil" H7601)
Usage: Occurs in 5 OT verses. KJV: rifle, spoil. See also: Judges 2:14; Psalms 89:42; Isaiah 13:16.
בָּֽתֵּי/הֶ֔ם
bayith
H1004
"place"
N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for house refers to a dwelling place, including a family home, temple, or even the human body. It appears in various contexts, such as the temple in Jerusalem or the household of a family. In the Bible, it is often used to describe a place of worship or a family's living space.
Definition: nm place, origin, between
Usage: Occurs in 1712 OT verses. KJV: court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). See also: Genesis 6:14; Exodus 8:5; Numbers 1:45.
וּ/נְשֵׁי/הֶ֖ם
ʼishshâh
H802
"woman"
Conj | N-fp | Suff
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
תשגלנה
shâgal
H7693
"to ravish"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3fp
This Hebrew word means to forcefully take someone, often referring to a violent act. It appears in the Bible as a translation of 'lie with' or 'ravish'.
Definition: 1) to violate, ravish 1a) (Qal) to violate, ravish 1b) (Niphal) to be ravished 1c) (Pual) to be ravished
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: lie with, ravish. See also: Deuteronomy 28:30; Jeremiah 3:2; Isaiah 13:16.
תִּשָּׁכַֽבְנָה
shâkab
H7901
"to lie down"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3fp
To lie down can mean to rest, sleep, or have sexual relations, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible. It can also mean to relax or be at rest.
Definition: : lay_down/lie_with 1) to lie down 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lie, lie down, lie on 1a2) to lodge 1a3) to lie (of sexual relations) 1a4) to lie down (in death) 1a5) to rest, relax (fig) 1b) (Niphal) to be lain with (sexually) 1c) (Pual) to be lain with (sexually) 1d) (Hiphil) to make to lie down 1e) (Hophal) to be laid
Usage: Occurs in 194 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, cast down, (lover-)lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay. See also: Genesis 19:4; 1 Kings 11:43; Psalms 3:6.
Study Notes — Isaiah 13:16
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 13:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 13:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 13:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 13:16
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 13:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
- Sermons on Isaiah 13:16
Context — The Burden against Babylon
14Like a hunted gazelle, like a sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land.
15Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword.
16Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.
17Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. 18Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nahum 3:10 | Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains. |
| 2 | Hosea 10:14 | the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children. |
| 3 | Psalms 137:8–9 | O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us. Blessed is he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks. |
| 4 | Isaiah 13:18 | Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children. |
| 5 | Zechariah 14:2 | For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city. |
| 6 | Lamentations 5:11 | Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah. |
Isaiah 13:16 Summary
[Isaiah 13:16 describes a terrible scene of destruction and violence, where babies are hurt and families are torn apart. This is a picture of what happens when people reject God and live in sin, as warned in Deuteronomy 28:15 and Jeremiah 6:19. God wants us to turn away from sin and follow Him, so we can avoid this kind of judgment and live in peace and love, as promised in John 3:16 and Romans 8:1.]
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does God allow such brutal violence against infants and families in Isaiah 13:16?
This verse is a prophecy of God's judgment on a wicked nation, and it serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of sin, as seen in Psalms 55:23 and Jeremiah 6:15.
Is God responsible for the evil actions described in Isaiah 13:16?
While God is sovereign over all things, He does not condone or cause evil actions, as stated in James 1:13-14; instead, He allows human choices and consequences to unfold, sometimes using them to accomplish His purposes, as seen in Isaiah 10:5-7.
How can we reconcile the love of God with the violent imagery in Isaiah 13:16?
The Bible teaches that God's love and justice are not mutually exclusive, but rather, they work together to bring about righteousness, as seen in Isaiah 61:8 and Romans 11:22; God's judgment on sin is a necessary aspect of His love for humanity.
What does this verse teach us about the importance of repentance and seeking God's mercy?
Isaiah 13:16 serves as a warning to turn away from sin and seek God's mercy, as encouraged in Matthew 4:17 and 2 Peter 3:9, lest we face the devastating consequences of God's judgment.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about the nature of God's judgment, and how should it impact my personal relationship with Him?
- In what ways can I apply the warning of Isaiah 13:16 to my own life, seeking to avoid the consequences of sin and instead walk in obedience to God?
- How can I balance the seemingly contradictory attributes of God's love and justice, as seen in this verse and throughout the Bible?
- What role does repentance play in avoiding the kind of judgment described in Isaiah 13:16, and how can I cultivate a heart of repentance in my own life?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 13:16
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes,.... Upon the ground, or against the wall, as was foretold should be, Psalms 137:8 and in way of retaliation for what they did to the
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 13:16
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished. (Psalms 137:8-9.)
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes, as a just recompence for the like cruelty acted by them upon the Jews, , which also was foretold, .
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
Isaiah 13:16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.Ver. 16. Their children shall be dashed in pieces, &c.] As had been prayed and prophesied long before and this was but lex talionis. See 2 Chronicles 36:17 Lamentations 5:11. Their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.] As those three commandments, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, are ranked together in the law, so they are commonly violated together in the lawless violence of war.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
(16) Their children also shall be dashed.—Better, their sucklings. The words of the prediction seem to have been in the minds of the exiles in Babylon when they uttered their dread beatitude on those who were to be the ministers of a righteous vengeance (Psalms 137:9). Outrages such as these were then, as they have been ever since, the inevitable accompaniments of the capture of a besieged city.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 13:16
16. That the capture of Babylon should be marked by the atrocities here spoken of was no doubt to be expected from the character of the Medes (Isaiah 13:17 f.), but no such crimes appear to have stained the actual victory of Cyrus. According to Babylonian records he took possession of the city peacefully. (Records of the Past, New SeR.V. 144 ff.) Cf. Psalms 137:9; Nahum 3:10; Hosea 13:16; 2 Kings 8:12. The last half of the verse is repeated in Zechariah 14:2.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 13:16
Their children also shall be dashed to pieces - This is a description of the horrors of the capture of Babylon; and there can be none more frightful and appalling than that which is here presented.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 13:16
16. Their children — Whose children? Either those of foreigners, or of foreigners and natives, according as slaughter was seen to be restricted or general.
Sermons on Isaiah 13:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Prophecy - What Lies Ahead? by Oswald J. Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the four major events that will occur in connection with the capture of the city of Jerusalem. These events include the capture itself, the L |
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Dvd 33 the Theocratic Kingdom by Art Katz | This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding the mystery of Israel's restoration and its inseparable connection to the establishment of God's rule on earth through a lite |
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Be Alert for the Lords Return by Zac Poonen | This sermon delves into the relevance of the Bible in current times, focusing on the prophetic nature of Zechariah 14 and other passages regarding the second coming of Christ. It e |
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What Lies Ahead by Oswald J. Smith | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the 14th chapter of the book of Zechariah, which is divided into four sections. The first section focuses on the capture of the city of Jerusa |
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Thy Kingdom Come by David Gardner | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the urgency of the message and the responsibility of the watchmen to warn the people. He believes that the world is on the brink of momentous |
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Eternity to Eternity 12 Genesis 1:24 by Joseph Balsan | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of experiencing the new birth in order to find true happiness. He references the 67th Psalm, which speaks about those who feig |
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The Gentiles in Relation to the Coming of the Lord. by William Kelly | William Kelly preaches about the future events prophesied in the Bible, focusing on the restoration and blessings of Israel, the defeat of the nations gathered against Jerusalem, t |