Isaiah 13:19
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 page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Babylon's immense "glory" and "splendor" are presented not just as impressive achievements, but as the very source of its pride, making its ultimate ruin—likened to Sodom's total annihilation—a divine judgment on its arrogance. The prophecy highlights that even the peak of human magnificence is ultimately fragile and subject to God's ultimate power.
Isaiah has just prophesied that the Medes, a fierce people, will be raised up to destroy Babylon. This verse serves as a climax to that announcement, describing the utter devastation that will befall the city. It emphasizes that Babylon, once the magnificent "glory of kingdoms," will be reduced to a level of complete ruin comparable to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Babylon wasn't just a city; it was a symbol of power, wealth, and cultural achievement. But how did its glory become its downfall?
Isaiah describes Babylon with titles like 'the glory of kingdoms' and 'the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans.' This language emphasizes its immense pride and magnificence, a city that was the pinnacle of human achievement in its time. It was renowned for its towering walls, the temple of Belus, and the famed hanging gardens, a testament to its architectural and engineering prowess. This was a city that inspired awe and was a boast to its people, representing the height of Chaldean civilization.
The comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah isn't just about destruction; it's about a specific kind of divine justice.
By comparing Babylon's future state to Sodom and Gomorrah, Isaiah invokes a powerful image of complete and utter devastation. The destruction of these cities in Genesis was a swift and total judgment from God due to their extreme wickedness. This comparison signifies that Babylon, despite its glory, would meet a similar fate – not necessarily in the manner of destruction (fire and brimstone), but in its totality and finality. It implies that God’s judgment, when it comes, is absolute, leaving no remnant or possibility of return for the unrighteous.
Prophecies of judgment can feel distant, but this verse assures us that God's word is certain and His justice will prevail.
Isaiah delivered this prophecy centuries before Babylon's actual fall. The historical accounts of Babylon's conquest by Cyrus, its subsequent subjugation, the dismantling of its walls, and its eventual desolation confirm the astonishing accuracy of this prediction. The commentaries highlight the gradual but complete ruin of the city, transforming it from a world power to a desolate wasteland. This illustrates that God’s pronouncements are not mere threats but certain outcomes. Even the grandest human achievements are subject to God's ultimate sovereignty and judgment.
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 against Babylon, delivered centuries before its fall, highlights its immense power and splendor, yet foretells its complete devastation by comparing it to the divinely destroyed cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The timeline shows that Babylon's ruin was not a single event but a process of conquest, dismantling, and depopulation over centuries, demonstrating the long-term, enduring nature of God's judgment.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecy Against Babylon
Isaiah delivers his prophecy concerning the impending judgment and utter destruction of Babylon, comparing its fate to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Reign Begins
Nebuchadnezzar II ascends to the throne, marking the height of Neo-Babylonian power and the beginning of Babylon's greatest splendor.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Captures Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, diverting the Euphrates River to enter the city, fulfilling the initial stages of Isaiah's prophecy.
c. 520 BC
Darius Hystaspes Punishes Babylon
Following a revolt, Darius I severely punishes Babylon, dismantling its walls and gates, further contributing to its decline.
This passage describes the utter destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone from the Lord, providing the direct parallel Isaiah uses to illustrate Babylon's complete ruin.
Jeremiah 50:40This verse echoes Isaiah's prophecy, stating that Babylon will be like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, emphasizing its complete devastation and uninhabitability.
Amos 4:11Amos uses the same imagery of God overthrowing Sodom and Gomorrah to describe judgment on Israel, highlighting that divine destruction brings total devastation, a fate also foretold for Babylon.
Luke 17:29Jesus references the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example of sudden and complete divine judgment, reinforcing the meaning of Isaiah's comparison for Babylon's fate.
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…
Babylon's immense "glory" and "splendor" are presented not just as impressive achievements, but as the very source of its pride, making its ultimate ruin—likened to Sodom's total annihilation—a divine judgment on its arrogance. The prophecy highlights that even the peak of human magnificence is ultimately fragile and subject to God's ultimate power.
Isaiah has just prophesied that the Medes, a fierce people, will be raised up to destroy Babylon. This verse serves as a climax to that announcement, describing the utter devastation that will befall the city. It emphasizes that Babylon, once the magnificent "glory of kingdoms," will be reduced to a level of complete ruin comparable to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Isaiah has just prophesied that the Medes, a fierce people, will be raised up to destroy Babylon. This verse serves as a climax to that announcement, describing the utter devastation that will befall the city. It emphasizes that Babylon, once the magnificent "glory of kingdoms," will be reduced to a level of complete ruin comparable to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 13:19 is available in the Sola app.
c. 480 BC
Xerxes Destroys Temples
Xerxes I, son of Darius, further damages Babylon by destroying its religious structures, including the temple of Belus.
331 BC
Alexander the Great Conquers Babylon
Alexander the Great takes control of Babylon, intending to make it his empire's capital, but his early death thwarts these plans.
c. 300 BC
Founding of Seleucia
Seleucus I Nicator founds Seleucia on the Tigris, intentionally drawing population and importance away from Babylon.
"And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them." — Babylon's immense "glory" and "splendor" are presented not just as impressive achievements, but as the very source of its pride, making its ultimate ruin—likened to Sodom's total annihilation—a divin…
