Isaiah 13:15-17
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This verse isn't just a simple statement of violence; it highlights the absolute thoroughness of the coming judgment. Whether someone is discovered trying to escape or caught in their attempts to regroup and resist, no one will be spared from the sword.
Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished. Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy describes the brutal conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. As the invaders surge through the city and its surroundings, there will be no escape for anyone found within its walls or caught trying to flee. The slaughter will be indiscriminate, leaving no one safe from the enemy's swords.
Imagine a city under siege. Panic, chaos, the desperate search for safety. Does this verse offer any hope for escape?
Isaiah 13:15 paints a stark picture of total defeat for the city of Babylon. The phrases "Every one that is found" and "every one that is joined unto them" leave no room for escape.
The commentaries emphasize that this prophecy describes an indiscriminate slaughter. The invading armies were under orders to show no mercy. Whether trying to hide within the city or caught trying to flee, the outcome was the same: death by the sword.
Who are the 'sanctified ones' mentioned in relation to Babylon's destruction? And how does God use them?
Isaiah 13:15 describes the result of the invasion, but understanding who is doing the invading helps us grasp God's power.
Isaiah 13:3 speaks of God commanding his "sanctified ones" and calling his "mighty ones" for judgment. This isn't about the invaders being morally pure; rather, God has uniquely chosen and prepared them for this specific task.
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This concept reveals a profound theological truth: even human armies, driven by their own ambitions, can be used by God to carry out His sovereign will. Their actions, though violent, become part of God's divine plan to punish sin.
Understand the original words
chereb · Hebrew Noun
A sharp, piercing instrument used in warfare, representing the instrument of divine judgment upon the disobedient.
olal · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to very young children, often emphasizing their vulnerability and dependence, used frequently in contexts of judgment or covenantal blessing.
shasah · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of seizing property by force, typically in the context of warfare or divine judgment against a nation.
Maday · Hebrew Noun
An ancient people group who became a major power in the Near East; in prophecy, they are often instruments of divine judgment against other nations.
This prophecy from Isaiah describes the brutal fall of Babylon to the Medo-Persian forces. The verses paint a vivid, terrifying picture of the slaughter that occurred when the city was captured, emphasizing the complete lack of escape for those found within its walls or trying to flee.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecy Against Babylon
Isaiah delivers this prophecy concerning the future judgment and destruction of Babylon. The prophecy describes a brutal and indiscriminate slaughter of its inhabitants.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I deports a portion of the Jewish population, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile and the rise of Babylon as a major power.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II destroys Jerusalem and its temple, exiling most of the remaining Judeans to Babylon. Babylon becomes the dominant imperial power in the region.
550-539 BC
Rise of the Medo-Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great unites the Medes and Persians, creating a powerful new empire that will eventually challenge Babylon's dominance.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy. The city is taken with significant bloodshed, and its inhabitants who are found or attempt to flee face a brutal end.
This passage describes the brutal aftermath of Jerusalem's fall, mirroring the merciless slaughter prophesied in Isaiah, where the survivors were pursued and killed.
Ezekiel 32:10This verse echoes the theme of total destruction and the inability of nations to escape divine judgment, describing how even great armies would fall by the sword.
Revelation 18:8This New Testament passage speaks of Babylon's impending judgment and destruction, including the intense suffering and the swift, fiery demise that awaits the unrepentant city.
Psalm 137:9This psalm reflects the despair and brutal reality of conquest, crying out for vengeance that includes the dashing of infants against rocks, illustrating the extreme violence described in Isaiah's prophecy.
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.
This verse isn't just a simple statement of violence; it highlights the absolute thoroughness of the coming judgment. Whether someone is discovered trying to escape or caught in their attempts to regroup and resist, no one will be spared from the sword.
This prophecy describes the brutal conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. As the invaders surge through the city and its surroundings, there will be no escape for anyone found within its walls or caught trying to flee. The slaughter will be indiscriminate, leaving no one safe from the enemy's swords.
This prophecy describes the brutal conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. As the invaders surge through the city and its surroundings, there will be no escape for anyone found within its walls or caught trying to flee. The slaughter will be indiscriminate, leaving no one safe from the enemy's swords.
"Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished. Behold, I…" — This verse isn't just a simple statement of violence; it highlights the absolute thoroughness of the coming judgment. Whether someone is discovered trying to escape or caught in their attempts to reg…
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Last reviewed October 2026
