Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The chilling repetition of "found" and "caught" emphasizes that no one, whether trying to hide within the city or attempting to flee, will escape the impending doom. It paints a stark picture of a city under siege where every attempt to avoid the inevitable will only lead to capture.
Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a prophecy concerning the downfall of Babylon, describing the brutal conquest of the city by the Medes and Persians. It follows vivid imagery of cosmic upheaval and the coming "day of the Lord," a divine judgment against wickedness. The text emphasizes the indiscriminate and total destruction that will befall everyone within the city walls or caught trying to escape.
Imagine a city under siege, its walls breached, and chaos reigning. Where can anyone possibly find safety?
This verse paints a stark picture of the finality of judgment. Isaiah isn't just describing a military defeat; he's illustrating a complete and utter lack of escape for those caught in Babylon's downfall.
The Net of Judgment
It's a brutal scene, emphasizing that once God's judgment is set in motion against a people or a nation, there is no hiding place, no ally, no escape.
Who are the conquerors of Babylon? Are they just ordinary soldiers, or something more?
The commentaries highlight a crucial theological point: the invading army, in this case the Medes and Persians, are not acting on their own whim. Isaiah presents them as instruments in God's hand.
God's Instruments
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This perspective shifts the focus from human conflict to divine justice. The suffering of Babylon is not random violence, but a purposeful consequence ordained by God for their wickedness.
Understand the original words
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A sharp, piercing instrument used in warfare, representing the instrument of divine judgment upon the disobedient.
This prophecy, delivered by Isaiah centuries before the event, paints a vivid picture of the brutal conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians under Cyrus the Great. The verses describe the indiscriminate slaughter that occurred during the city's fall, highlighting the complete devastation and the end of Babylonian power.
c. 650 BC
Assyrian Empire begins to decline
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, which had dominated the region for centuries, entered a period of decline, leading to increased instability and opportunities for other powers like the Medes.
612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
A coalition of Babylonians and Medes conquered and destroyed the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, marking a significant shift in regional power and paving the way for the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon decisively defeated the Egyptian forces, securing Babylonian dominance over the Levant and establishing the Neo-Babylonian Empire as a major world power.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the First Temple, and exiled a significant portion of the Judean population to Babylon, fulfilling earlier prophecies and intensifying Babylonian influence.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great united the Medes and Persians, establishing a vast new empire that would soon challenge the dominance of Babylon.
539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon, marking the end of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and ushering in the Persian era. This event directly fulfills the prophecy in Isaiah 13.
This passage describes the brutal aftermath of Jerusalem's fall, detailing the systematic slaughter of its inhabitants, mirroring the indiscriminate violence prophesied in Isaiah 13:15.
Lamentations 2:21This lament over Jerusalem's destruction paints a vivid picture of the enemy sparing no one, even the very young, highlighting the utter devastation and helplessness described in Isaiah's prophecy.
Revelation 18:7-8In the New Testament, the judgment of a symbolic Babylon is described with similar language of sudden and complete destruction, including fire and death, showing a parallel theme of divine retribution against a wicked city.
Psalm 137:9This psalm, reflecting on the Babylonian exile, expresses a desire for vengeance against Babylon for the cruelty inflicted upon their children, directly referencing the violent fate described in Isaiah 13:15.
pooleIsaiah 13:15: "Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword."
That is found in Babylon, at the taking of it; the expectation whereof made them flee away with all speed.
wesleyIsaiah 13:15: "Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword."
13:15 Found - In Babylon, at the taking of it.
The chilling repetition of "found" and "caught" emphasizes that no one, whether trying to hide within the city or attempting to flee, will escape the impending doom. It paints a stark picture of a city under siege where every attempt to avoid the inevitable will only lead to capture.
This verse is part of a prophecy concerning the downfall of Babylon, describing the brutal conquest of the city by the Medes and Persians. It follows vivid imagery of cosmic upheaval and the coming "day of the Lord," a divine judgment against wickedness. The text emphasizes the indiscriminate and total destruction that will befall everyone within the city walls or caught trying to escape.
This verse is part of a prophecy concerning the downfall of Babylon, describing the brutal conquest of the city by the Medes and Persians. It follows vivid imagery of cosmic upheaval and the coming "day of the Lord," a divine judgment against wickedness. The text emphasizes the indiscriminate and total destruction that will befall everyone within the city walls or caught trying to escape.
"Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword." — The chilling repetition of "found" and "caught" emphasizes that no one, whether trying to hide within the city or attempting to flee, will escape the impending doom. It paints a stark picture of a ci…
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Last reviewed October 2026