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)
The verse doesn't just compare Babylon to Sodom and Gomorrah for their destruction, but specifically highlights the way God overthrew them. This implies a judgment that is both utterly complete and irrevocably divine, stripping away all former glory to leave nothing but desolation.
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)
This prophecy comes amid a series of "burdens" or oracles against various nations. After describing the gathering of a mighty army and the impending divine judgment, Isaiah specifically addresses the city of Babylon, emphasizing its former grandeur and pride. The destruction foretold is presented as absolute and total, drawing a stark parallel to the divine obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Babylon wasn't just a city; it was the pinnacle of human achievement and power in its day. But what happens when that 'glory' becomes an idol?
Isaiah calls Babylon 'the glory of kingdoms' and 'the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans.' This wasn't just a neutral description; it was the very essence of what Babylon represented.
A Worldly Crown
This immense pride set the stage for its devastating fall.
God uses one of the most infamous judgments in history to describe Babylon's fate. What does this comparison reveal about the depth of Babylon's sin and the certainty of its doom?
The ultimate consequence for Babylon's pride and perceived invincibility is a comparison to the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Ask a follow-up
A Proverbial Fall
This comparison leaves no room for doubt: Babylon's glory would be extinguished, leaving behind only a wasteland as a testament to God's justice.
Understand the original words
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.
This prophecy, delivered by Isaiah centuries before Babylon's fall, highlights God's sovereign hand over history, using even proud empires as instruments of His judgment against wickedness.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecy Against Babylon
Isaiah delivers his prophecy concerning the destruction of Babylon, foretelling its utter desolation and comparing it to the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.
626 BC
Neo-Babylonian Empire Established
Nabopolassar establishes the Neo-Babylonian Empire, marking the beginning of Babylon's resurgence as a major world power.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II's Reign Begins
Nebuchadnezzar II, son of Nabopolassar, becomes king and continues to expand Babylon's influence and grandeur, building magnificent structures.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Captures Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, diverting the Euphrates River to enter the city. This event marks the end of Babylonian independence.
c. 518 BC
Darius Hystaspes Punishes Babylon's Revolt
After a revolt, Darius Hystaspes severely punishes Babylon, dismantling its walls and gates, further contributing to its decline.
c. 480s BC
Xerxes Destroys Temples
Xerxes I of Persia destroys Babylon's temples, including the temple of Belus, diminishing the city's religious and cultural significance.
c. 300s BC
Founding of Seleucia
Seleucus I Nicator founds Seleucia on the Tigris, a rival city intended to draw away Babylon's population and further hasten its decline.
This passage describes the complete destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone, serving as the direct biblical precedent for the judgment Isaiah invokes upon Babylon.
Deuteronomy 29:23This verse uses the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of God’s wrath and judgment, underscoring the severe and total nature of the devastation prophesied for Babylon.
Jeremiah 50:40This passage from Jeremiah directly echoes Isaiah's prophecy, stating that Babylon will be like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, reinforcing the theme of utter desolation.
Amos 4:11Amos uses the same imagery of Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction to describe God's judgment, highlighting the common prophetic language used to convey complete ruin and divine retribution.
barnesIsaiah 13:19: "And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah."
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms - That is, the capital or chief ornament of many nations. Appellations of this kind, applied to Babylon, abound in the Scriptures. In Daniel 4:30 , it is called 'great Babylon;' in Isaiah 14:4 , it is called 'the golden city;' in Isaiah 47:5 , 'the lady of kingdoms;' in Jeremiah 51:13 , it is, spoken of as 'abundant in…
gillIsaiah 13:19: "And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah."
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,.... The first and most ancient kingdom, Genesis 10:10 and now, at the time of its fall, the largest and most extensive; wherefore of the image Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream, which was a representation of several kingdoms, this was the head, the head of gold, Daniel 2:31 so Babylon is called the "lady of kingdoms", Is…
The verse doesn't just compare Babylon to Sodom and Gomorrah for their destruction, but specifically highlights the way God overthrew them. This implies a judgment that is both utterly complete and irrevocably divine, stripping away all former glory to leave nothing but desolation.
This prophecy comes amid a series of "burdens" or oracles against various nations. After describing the gathering of a mighty army and the impending divine judgment, Isaiah specifically addresses the city of Babylon, emphasizing its former grandeur and pride. The destruction foretold is presented as absolute and total, drawing a stark parallel to the divine obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah.
This prophecy comes amid a series of "burdens" or oracles against various nations. After describing the gathering of a mighty army and the impending divine judgment, Isaiah specifically addresses the city of Babylon, emphasizing its former grandeur and pride. The destruction foretold is presented as absolute and total, drawing a stark parallel to the divine obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah.
"And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them." — The verse doesn't just compare Babylon to Sodom and Gomorrah for their destruction, but specifically highlights the way God overthrew them. This implies a judgment that is both utterly complete and…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026