Isaiah 13:17-19
Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold. Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse reveals that the Medes, unlike typical conquerors driven by wealth, are described as having no "regard for silver" and not delighting in gold. This isn't necessarily about their inherent lack of greed, but rather emphasizes their singular, fierce focus on vengeance rather than plunder. Their purpose in this invasion is presented as divinely appointed, a tool of God's judgment, unswayed by material gain.
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle detailing God's judgment against Babylon. The preceding verses describe the terrifying approach of the enemy, emphasizing the ferocity and cruelty of the invading army. This verse specifies the agents of God's wrath, revealing them to be the Medes, a people known for their fierce independence and lack of interest in material wealth, making them particularly terrifying conquerors.
Ever feel like world events are just chaos? This verse reveals a divine conductor behind the scenes, even in war.
The prophet Isaiah, writing long before the Medes became a major power, names them as God's instruments of judgment against Babylon. This wasn't a coincidence.
Divine Appointment
This concept challenges the idea that history is simply a random series of events. Instead, it points to a God who is intimately involved in the affairs of humanity, using even the unlikeliest instruments to achieve His ultimate goals.
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Conquerors usually crave treasure. But the Medes, in this instance, fought for a different reason—one divinely ordained.
The verse highlights a striking characteristic of the Medes: 'who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold.' This wasn't necessarily because they were inherently less greedy than other nations, but because their mission in this particular instance was driven by something else.
A Higher Purpose
This reveals that God can use people and nations with motivations that, while perhaps not purely altruistic, are aligned with His purposes for a specific time. Their 'disregard' for wealth made them a more effective tool for judgment.
Understand the original words
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.
qesheth · Hebrew Noun
A weapon of war made of wood, metal, or composite materials; symbolically associated with military strength and the execution of judgment.
beten · Hebrew Noun
Refers to offspring or children; a common biblical metaphor for the natural result of procreation and the continuation of a legacy.
tsebi · Hebrew Noun
The manifestation of sovereign authority, majesty, or dignity; in a negative sense, it can refer to the pride of nations that exalt themselves against God.
Kasdim · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the inhabitants of the southern Mesopotamian region; they became synonymous with the Babylonian Empire and its culture.
Sedom / Amorah · Hebrew Noun
Two cities destroyed by God due to their extreme wickedness; they serve as the ultimate archetypal example of divine judgment and total desolation.
haphak · Hebrew Verb
The act of God turning, overturning, or destroying a place or people, specifically indicating a total and final reversal of their status.
Isaiah's prophecy names the Medes as Babylon's conquerors long before they were a major independent power, highlighting God's foreknowledge and control over historical events.
c. 700 BC
Medes gain independence from Assyria
Following a period of Assyrian dominance, the Medes achieved independence under leaders like Dejoces and Phraortes, establishing their own kingdom.
c. 612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
The Medes, allied with the Babylonians, conquered and destroyed the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, marking a significant shift in regional power.
c. 556 BC
Cyrus the Great rises to power
Cyrus, a Persian prince, united the Medes and Persians under his rule, forming the powerful Medo-Persian Empire.
539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great, leading the Medo-Persian army, conquered Babylon, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy of its destruction and the role of the Medes in it.
This passage also identifies the Medes as God's instrument of judgment against Babylon, reinforcing the specific historical and divine agency mentioned in Isaiah.
Daniel 5:28This verse, describing the fall of Babylon, directly mentions the division of the kingdom among the Medes and Persians, linking to Isaiah's prophecy of their rise to power.
Esther 1:3This verse refers to 'the kings of Media and Persia,' showing the established political reality of the Medo-Persian empire that Isaiah foresaw conquering Babylon.
Jeremiah 50:9This verse also speaks of the Lord raising up a 'congregation of great nations' from the north to attack Babylon, echoing Isaiah's focus on a northern power for judgment.
barnesIsaiah 13:17: "Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it."
Behold, I will stir up - I will cause them to engage in this enterprise. This is an instance of the control which God claims over the nations, and of his power to excite and direct them as he pleases. The Medes - This is one of the places in which the prophet specified, "by name," the instrument of the wrath of God. Cyrus himself is subsequently mentioned…
pooleIsaiah 13:17: "Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it."
The Medes; under whom he comprehends the Persians, who were their neighbours and confederates in this expedition. They shall not delight in it; which is to be understood comparatively. They shall more eagerly pursue the destruction of the people than the getting of spoil; whereby it shall appear that they are only the executioners of my vengeance against t…
This verse reveals that the Medes, unlike typical conquerors driven by wealth, are described as having no "regard for silver" and not delighting in gold. This isn't necessarily about their inherent lack of greed, but rather emphasizes their singular, fierce focus on vengeance rather than plunder. Their purpose in this invasion is presented as divinely appointed, a tool of God's judgment, unswayed by material gain.
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle detailing God's judgment against Babylon. The preceding verses describe the terrifying approach of the enemy, emphasizing the ferocity and cruelty of the invading army. This verse specifies the agents of God's wrath, revealing them to be the Medes, a people known for their fierce independence and lack of interest in material wealth, making them particularly terrifying conquerors.
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle detailing God's judgment against Babylon. The preceding verses describe the terrifying approach of the enemy, emphasizing the ferocity and cruelty of the invading army. This verse specifies the agents of God's wrath, revealing them to be the Medes, a people known for their fierce independence and lack of interest in material wealth, making them particularly terrifying conquerors.
"Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold. Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eye…" — This verse reveals that the Medes, unlike typical conquerors driven by wealth, are described as having no "regard for silver" and not delighting in gold. This isn't necessarily about their inherent l…
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