Isaiah 13:5
Isaiah 13:5 in Multiple Translations
They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the LORD and the weapons of His wrath— to destroy the whole country.
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even Jehovah, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
They come from a far country, from the farthest part of heaven, even the Lord and the instruments of his wrath, with destruction for all the land.
They are coming from distant lands, from beyond the far horizons—the Lord and the weapons of his fury—coming to destroy the whole country.
They come from a farre countrey, from the end of the heauen: euen the Lord with the weapons of his wrath to destroy the whole land.
They are coming in from a land afar off, From the end of the heavens, Jehovah and the instruments of His indignation, To destroy all the land.
They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
To them that come from a country afar off, from the end of heaven: tile Lord and the instruments of his wrath, to destroy the whole land.
They come from countries that are far away, from the most remote places [IDM] on the earth. They are like [SIM] weapons that Yahweh will use to punish the people with whom he is very angry, and to destroy the entire country of Babylonia.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 13:5
BAB
Word Study
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Isaiah 13:5 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
בָּאִ֛ים
מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ
מֶרְחָ֖ק
מִ/קְצֵ֣ה
הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם
יְהוָה֙
וּ/כְלֵ֣י
זַעְמ֔/וֹ
לְ/חַבֵּ֖ל
כָּל
הָ/אָֽרֶץ
בָּאִ֛ים
bôwʼ
H935
Lebo
V-Qal
מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
מֶרְחָ֖ק
merchâq
H4801
distance
N-ms
מִ/קְצֵ֣ה
qâtseh
H7097
end
Prep | N-cs
הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם
shâmayim
H8064
heaven
Art | N-mp
יְהוָה֙
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
וּ/כְלֵ֣י
kᵉlîy
H3627
article/utensil
Conj | N-mp
זַעְמ֔/וֹ
zaʻam
H2195
indignation
N-ms | Suff
לְ/חַבֵּ֖ל
châbal
H2254
to pledge
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
הָ/אָֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Art | N-cs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 13:5
בָּאִ֛ים
bôwʼ
H935
"Lebo"
V-Qal
This verb means to go or come, and is used in many contexts, such as entering a place or approaching someone, as seen in the book of Genesis. It can also mean to abide or apply, and is translated in various ways in the KJV Bible. This term is related to the name Lebo Hamath.
Definition: A shortened name of Lebo Hamath complined withcha.mat (חֲמָת "Hamath" H2574) This name means to go in, enter
Usage: Occurs in 2307 OT verses. KJV: abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. See also: Genesis 2:19; Genesis 32:7; Exodus 1:19.
מֵ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
מֶרְחָ֖ק
merchâq
H4801
"distance"
N-ms
Merchaq means a distant place or far country, often used to describe a location that is far away. It can also imply a sense of remoteness or separation. This word is used in the Bible to describe geographical distance.
Definition: distant place, distance, far country
Usage: Occurs in 17 OT verses. KJV: (a-, dwell in, very) far (country, off). See also H1023 (בֵּית הַמֶּרְחָק). See also: Psalms 138:6; Isaiah 33:17; Proverbs 25:25.
מִ/קְצֵ֣ה
qâtseh
H7097
"end"
Prep | N-cs
In the book of Joshua, this word refers to an end or border of a territory. It can also mean the edge or brink of something. This concept is used to describe the boundaries of the Promised Land.
Definition: 1) end, extremity 1a) end, mouth, extremity 1b) border, outskirts 1c) the whole (condensed term for what is included within extremities) 1d) at the end of (a certain time) Also means: qe.tseh (קֵ֫צֶה "end" H7097B)
Usage: Occurs in 87 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] after, border, brim, brink, edge, end, (in-) finite, frontier, outmost coast, quarter, shore, (out-) side, [idiom] some, ut(-ter-) most (part). See also: Genesis 8:3; Judges 7:19; Psalms 19:5.
הַ/שָּׁמָ֑יִם
shâmayim
H8064
"heaven"
Art | N-mp
The Hebrew word for heaven or sky, it refers to the visible universe and the abode of God. It is often used in the Bible to describe the dwelling place of celestial bodies.
Definition: 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible heavens, sky 1a1) as abode of the stars 1a2) as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc 1b) Heaven (as the abode of God) Aramaic equivalent: sha.ma.yin (שָׁמַ֫יִן "heaven" H8065)
Usage: Occurs in 395 OT verses. KJV: air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s). See also: Genesis 1:1; 1 Samuel 2:10; Job 28:21.
יְהוָה֙
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
וּ/כְלֵ֣י
kᵉlîy
H3627
"article/utensil"
Conj | N-mp
This Hebrew word refers to any object or tool, like a utensil or a piece of furniture. It is used to describe a wide range of items, from musical instruments to weapons. It emphasizes the object's purpose or function.
Definition: 1) article, vessel, implement, utensil 1a) article, object (general) 1b) utensil, implement, apparatus, vessel 1b1) implement (of hunting or war) 1b2) implement (of music) 1b3) implement, tool (of labour) 1b4) equipment, yoke (of oxen) 1b5) utensils, furniture 1c) vessel, receptacle (general) 1d) vessels (boats) of paper-reed
Usage: Occurs in 276 OT verses. KJV: armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, [phrase] furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, [idiom] one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, [phrase] psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, [phrase] whatsoever. See also: Genesis 24:53; 1 Samuel 14:13; Ezra 8:26.
זַעְמ֔/וֹ
zaʻam
H2195
"indignation"
N-ms | Suff
This word refers to intense anger or fury, often used to describe God's displeasure with sin. In Deuteronomy 9:19, it is used to describe God's indignation towards the Israelites for worshiping a golden calf. It is a strong feeling of anger or rage.
Definition: anger, indignation
Usage: Occurs in 22 OT verses. KJV: angry, indignation, rage. See also: Psalms 38:4; Jeremiah 50:25; Psalms 69:25.
לְ/חַבֵּ֖ל
châbal
H2254
"to pledge"
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a
This verb means to be in labor or to twist in pain, like a woman giving birth. It can also mean to corrupt or destroy something. In the KJV, it is translated in various ways, including 'travail' or 'corrupt'.
Definition: 1) to bind 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to bind 2) to take a pledge, lay to pledge 2a) (Qal) to hold by a pledge, take in pledge, hold in pledge 2b) (Niphal) to give a pledge, become pledged
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, band, bring forth, (deal) corrupt(-ly), destroy, offend, lay to (take a) pledge, spoil, travail, [idiom] very, withhold. See also: Exodus 22:25; Proverbs 20:16; Psalms 7:15.
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הָ/אָֽרֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Art | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
Study Notes — Isaiah 13:5
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 13:5 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 13:5
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 13:5
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 13:5
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 13:5
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
- Sermons on Isaiah 13:5
Context — The Burden against Babylon
3I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have even summoned My warriors to execute My wrath and exult in My triumph.
4Listen, a tumult on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations gathered together! The LORD of Hosts is mobilizing an army for war.
5They are coming from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens— the LORD and the weapons of His wrath— to destroy the whole country.
6Wail, for the Day of the LORD is near; it will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man’s heart will melt.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 51:20–46 | “You are My war club, My weapon for battle. With you I shatter nations; with you I bring kingdoms to ruin. With you I shatter the horse and rider; with you I shatter the chariot and driver. With you I shatter man and woman; with you I shatter the old man and the youth; with you I shatter the young man and the maiden. With you I shatter the shepherd and his flock; with you I shatter the farmer and his oxen; with you I shatter the governors and officials. Before your very eyes I will repay Babylon and all the dwellers of Chaldea for all the evil they have done in Zion,” declares the LORD. “Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, you who devastate the whole earth, declares the LORD. I will stretch out My hand against you; I will roll you over the cliffs and turn you into a charred mountain. No one shall retrieve from you a cornerstone or a foundation stone, because you will become desolate forever,” declares the LORD. “Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her— Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts. Prepare the nations for battle against her— the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the lands they rule. The earth quakes and writhes because the LORD’s intentions against Babylon stand: to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant. The warriors of Babylon have stopped fighting; they sit in their strongholds. Their strength is exhausted; they have become like women. Babylon’s homes have been set ablaze, the bars of her gates are broken. One courier races to meet another, and messenger follows messenger, to announce to the king of Babylon that his city has been captured from end to end. The fords have been seized, the marshes set on fire, and the soldiers are terrified.” For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is trampled. In just a little while her harvest time will come.” “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me; he has crushed me. He has set me aside like an empty vessel; he has swallowed me like a monster; he filled his belly with my delicacies and vomited me out. May the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon,” says the dweller of Zion. “May my blood be on the dwellers of Chaldea,” says Jerusalem. Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry. Babylon will become a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals, an object of horror and scorn, without inhabitant. They will roar together like young lions; they will growl like lion cubs. While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with male goats. How Sheshach has been captured! The praise of all the earth has been seized. What a horror Babylon has become among the nations! The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves. Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no son of man passes through. I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall. Come out of her, My people! Save your lives, each of you, from the fierce anger of the LORD. Do not let your heart grow faint, and do not be afraid when the rumor is heard in the land; for a rumor will come one year— and then another the next year— of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler. |
| 2 | Matthew 24:31 | And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 50:9 | For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed. |
| 4 | Isaiah 5:26 | He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come! |
| 5 | Isaiah 24:1 | Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants— |
| 6 | Jeremiah 50:3 | For a nation from the north will come against her; it will make her land a desolation. No one will live in it; both man and beast will flee.” |
| 7 | Jeremiah 51:11 | Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD— vengeance for His temple. |
| 8 | Isaiah 13:17 | Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. |
Isaiah 13:5 Summary
Isaiah 13:5 tells us that God is coming with His weapons of wrath to destroy a whole country, which can be a scary thought. But it's also a reminder that God is powerful and just, and He will judge those who do wrong, as seen in Psalm 7:11. This verse is calling us to be aware of God's power and to turn to Him in humility and repentance, much like the call to repentance in Matthew 4:17. By understanding God's wrath, we can better appreciate His mercy and love, and live our lives in a way that honors Him.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean when it says 'the LORD and the weapons of His wrath' in Isaiah 13:5?
This phrase refers to God's judgment and the instruments He uses to carry out His wrath, as seen in Isaiah 13:5, similar to how He used plagues to judge Egypt in the book of Exodus, such as Exodus 12:12.
Who are the ones coming from 'faraway lands' in Isaiah 13:5?
The verse suggests that these are agents of God's judgment, possibly angelic or human, coming to execute God's wrath, much like the armies God summoned in Joel 3:9-10 to fulfill His purposes.
What does 'the ends of the heavens' signify in this context?
This phrase likely refers to the farthest reaches of the created universe, emphasizing the universal scope of God's power and judgment, similar to how Psalm 103:22 describes God's dominion over all His works.
Is this verse speaking of a historical event or a future judgment?
While Isaiah 13:5 can be applied to historical judgments, such as the fall of Babylon, its themes of divine wrath and universal judgment also resonate with end-time prophecies, like those found in Revelation 19:11-21, suggesting a fulfillment that may extend beyond historical events to eschatological realities.
Reflection Questions
- How does the concept of God's wrath, as mentioned in Isaiah 13:5, challenge or affirm my current understanding of God's character?
- In what ways can I prepare myself for the Day of the Lord, knowing that it will come with destruction from the Almighty, as warned in Isaiah 13:6?
- What are the 'weapons of His wrath' that God might use in judgment, and how should this knowledge impact my life and priorities?
- How can I balance the message of God's judgment with the message of His love and mercy, as seen in other parts of Scripture like John 3:16?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 13:5
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven,.... The east, as Kimchi observes; the Targum is, from the ends of the earth; the furthermost parts of it, as Persia and Media were: the former is
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 13:5
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
From the end of heaven; from the ends of the earth under heaven, as ; which is not to be understood strictly and properly, but popularly and hyperbolically, as such expressions are commonly used in sacred and profane authors. And yet in some respects this might be truly said of Persia, which on the south side was bounded by the main ocean; as for the same reason Sheba, a part of Arabia, is called the utmost parts of the earth, . The weapons of his indignation; the Medes and Persians, who were but a rod in God’ s hand, and the instruments of his anger, as was said of the Assyrian, . To destroy the whole land, to wit, of Babylon, of which he is now speaking.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
Isaiah 13:5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, [even] the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.Ver. 5. They come from a far country.] Heb., From a land of longinquity. Even the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation.] ’Oπολομαχους, "Vessels of wrath," the Septuagint render them; but in another sense, then, the apostle useth that expression concerning reprobates designed to destruction. To destroy the whole land.] Or, The whole world, for so the Chaldees, in the pride of their empire, styled it. The Romans did the like. The Turks do the same at this day, such is their ambition.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
(5) They come from a far country . . .—The same phrase is used of Cyrus in Isaiah 46:11, and in Isaiah 39:3 of Babylon itself in relation to Jerusalem. The “end of heaven” represents the thoughts of Isaiah’s time, the earth as an extended plain, and the skies rising like a great vault above. The phrase represents (Deuteronomy 4:32; Psalms 19:6), as it were, the ultima Thule of discovery. For the “whole land,” the Hebrew noun hovers, as often elsewhere, between the meanings of “earth,” or “country.” The LXX. favours the former meaning.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
Verse 5. They come from a far country] The word מארץ meerets is wanting in one MS. and in the Syriac: "They come from afar." From the end of heaven] Kimchi says, Media, "the end of heaven," in Scripture phrase, means, the EAST.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 13:5
5. The host is now seen in motion, advancing under the guidance of Jehovah to its appointed goal. the whole land] Rather, the whole earth. The judgment is directed against the Babylonian Empire, which from the writer’s point of view was practically co-extensive with the civilised world.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 13:5
They come - That is, ‘Yahweh and the weapons of his indignation’ - the collected armies come. The prophet sees these assembled armies with Yahweh, as their leader, at their head.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 13:5
5. From a far country… end of heaven — A region but dimly definite to the mind, so very distant is it, extending out to the lowest horizon. The prophet sees the mustering hosts actually coming from the remotest point of sight.
Sermons on Isaiah 13:5
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Saved Through the Fire) 13 - God's True Message by Milton Green | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the concept of the day of the Lord, where God will judge and punish all nations based on their actions. He warns that whatever one gives out |
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God's Agency in War by A.W. Pink | A.W. Pink emphasizes God's sovereignty and agency in the affairs of nations, particularly in times of war and judgment. He argues that just as God punished nations in the Old Testa |
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The Rapture of the Saints by John Hunter | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead by Jesus. He emphasizes that resurrection is the work of Christ and that the same power that |
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(Through the Bible) Isaiah 11-15 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher discusses various biblical passages and themes. He emphasizes the power and authority of God, who has the ability to destroy cities and open prison doo |
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Will You Follow the Lamb, or Quit the Field Like Gideon’s Thousands? by Hans R. Waldvogel | The sermon transcript discusses the importance of obtaining and striving for the word of God. The speaker emphasizes the need to diligently study the Bible, wait upon God, and walk |
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Schau Auf Jesus (6) (German) by George Verwer | In the sermon, the speaker describes a vision he had of Jesus riding on a white horse with a golden deck and crown, symbolizing his total lordship. The speaker also mentions hearin |
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The Great Gathering by J.C. Ryle | J.C. Ryle emphasizes the profound significance of the gathering of true Christians at the return of Christ, contrasting it with the temporary and often sorrowful nature of earthly |