For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse describes an apocalyptic "Day of the Lord" where the very cosmos rebels against its Creator. The "constellations" (literally "fools" or "rebels" in Hebrew) aren't just stars; they represent ancient powers or perhaps mythological figures that are now rendered powerless, their defiance swallowed by God's judgment.
For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a prophecy detailing the impending judgment of God on Babylon. Isaiah describes a cataclysmic "day of the Lord" where natural and cosmic lights will be extinguished, symbolizing the utter devastation and loss of hope that will accompany Babylon's fall. This vivid imagery underscores the totality of the destruction that awaits the proud and wicked city, emphasizing that no earthly power or celestial body can intervene.
Imagine looking up at the night sky, only to find the stars are gone. Isaiah 13:10 paints a picture of a world plunged into darkness, not by night, but by divine judgment. What does this celestial blackout signify?
Nature's Sympathy in Judgment
The imagery of the sun, moon, and stars being extinguished is a powerful literary device used throughout Scripture to depict immense catastrophe. When God brings judgment, the very fabric of creation seems to react.
The Hebrew word for 'constellations' in this verse carries a surprising meaning: 'fool' or 'rebel.' What does this peculiar translation tell us about the ancient understanding of the stars and their role in judgment?
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From Brilliance to Folly
The specific term used for constellations, kesil, literally means 'fool' or 'fat one.' This has led to various interpretations:
While the imagery is stark, was Isaiah predicting a literal astronomical event? Or is there a deeper, symbolic meaning at play when the lights go out over Babylon?
The Metaphor of Calamity
While some ancient texts and commentators suggest literal eclipses or cosmic disturbances, the overwhelming consensus is that Isaiah uses this dramatic imagery metaphorically to describe the catastrophic fall of Babylon.
Understand the original words
kokab · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to the celestial bodies often associated with the ordered creation established by God. Their dimming represents a reversal of creation order or the overwhelming nature of God’s judgment, signifying that even the physical heavens bow to His authority.
This prophecy against Babylon, though delivered by Isaiah centuries earlier, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem, where the 'day of the Lord' brings darkness and devastation as a consequence of sin.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah receives his prophetic commission
Isaiah begins his prophetic ministry during a period of regional instability, focusing on Judah's spiritual and political future.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, scattering its people and serving as a stark warning to Judah.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieks Jerusalem, a terrifying event that Isaiah and King Hezekiah faced.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian deportation of Judeans
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah, taking skilled workers and nobility, including Daniel, into exile.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and exiling most of the remaining population.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the Jewish return from exile.
This passage echoes the celestial imagery of Isaiah, describing the sun turning to darkness and the moon to blood as precursors to the 'great and terrible day of the Lord,' highlighting a recurring prophetic theme of cosmic upheaval during divine judgment.
Matthew 24:29Jesus directly quotes and alludes to this type of prophetic imagery, stating that 'the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light' after the tribulation, linking this ancient prophecy to eschatological events and the end times.
Ezekiel 32:7-8Similar to Isaiah's prophecy against Babylon, Ezekiel describes the darkening of the sun and moon and the dimming of the stars as a sign of judgment against Pharaoh of Egypt, demonstrating how this cosmic imagery was used to signify the fall of powerful nations.
Revelation 6:12-13This apocalyptic vision describes the sun becoming black as sackcloth and the moon becoming like blood, with stars falling from the sky, directly mirroring Isaiah's imagery and applying it to the cosmic disturbances accompanying the opening of the sixth seal.
cambridgeIsaiah 13:10: "For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine."
10 . “The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light,” Amos 5:18 . the constellations thereof ] The Heb. word ( kěsîl ) is used in the singular in Amos 5:8 ; Job 9:9 ; Job 38:31 , of a particular constellation, probably Orion (but according to another tradition, the star Canopus). Its meaning, ‘fool’ or…
wesleyIsaiah 13:10: "For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine."
13:10 Constellations - Which consist of many stars, and therefore give a greater sight. Darkened - All things shall look darkly and dismally; men shall have no comfort or hope. Going forth - As soon as he rises. As soon as they have any appearance or hope of amendment, they shall be instantly disappointe…
This verse describes an apocalyptic "Day of the Lord" where the very cosmos rebels against its Creator. The "constellations" (literally "fools" or "rebels" in Hebrew) aren't just stars; they represent ancient powers or perhaps mythological figures that are now rendered powerless, their defiance swallowed by God's judgment.
This passage is part of a prophecy detailing the impending judgment of God on Babylon. Isaiah describes a cataclysmic "day of the Lord" where natural and cosmic lights will be extinguished, symbolizing the utter devastation and loss of hope that will accompany Babylon's fall. This vivid imagery underscores the totality of the destruction that awaits the proud and wicked city, emphasizing that no earthly power or celestial body can intervene.
This passage is part of a prophecy detailing the impending judgment of God on Babylon. Isaiah describes a cataclysmic "day of the Lord" where natural and cosmic lights will be extinguished, symbolizing the utter devastation and loss of hope that will accompany Babylon's fall. This vivid imagery underscores the totality of the destruction that awaits the proud and wicked city, emphasizing that no earthly power or celestial body can intervene.
"For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light." — This verse describes an apocalyptic "Day of the Lord" where the very cosmos rebels against its Creator. The "constellations" (literally "fools" or "rebels" in Hebrew) aren't just stars; they represen…
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Last reviewed October 2026