It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse paints a picture of utter desolation by emphasizing that even the most transient visitors—nomadic Arabs and shepherds seeking temporary refuge—will shun this place. It highlights the site's profound curse by showing it will be too inhospitable even for those who naturally gravitate towards forgotten, wild spaces.
It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle against Babylon, detailing its impending destruction and utter desolation. Following vivid descriptions of God's judgment and the fall of the mighty city, these verses paint a picture of the land's complete abandonment. The text emphasizes that not only will the city itself be uninhabited, but even nomadic peoples and shepherds will shun the ruins, highlighting the thoroughness of its ruin.
The Bible often paints vivid pictures of judgment, not just as a one-time event, but as a lasting consequence. What does it mean for a place to be 'never inhabited'?
Isaiah 13:20 describes Babylon as a place that 'will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations.' This isn't just about destruction; it's about utter desolation.
More Than Ruins
This prophecy goes beyond simply saying the city would be destroyed. It predicts a complete and permanent abandonment. Even nomadic peoples, like the Arabians who might seek temporary shelter, and shepherds looking for pasture, would avoid it.
The Land Itself Curses
Commentators note that the very land around Babylon would become sterile. The marshy conditions, the decomposing ruins, and perhaps a supernatural dread, all contributed to making it a place no one would choose to stay, even for a night. It's a picture of a place utterly rejected by life.
Prophecies of judgment can seem harsh. But what is the deeper purpose God has in revealing such a future for a city like Babylon?
Isaiah's prophecy about Babylon's utter desolation serves multiple profound purposes:
A Warning and a Comfort
For the people of God, living under the shadow of Babylon's power, this prophecy was a source of comfort. It assured them that their oppressor would not stand forever. It was a divine promise that justice would ultimately prevail, even if it took centuries to unfold.
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Demonstrating Divine Sovereignty
It also served as a powerful testament to God's sovereignty over nations and history. The detailed prediction, fulfilled over time, pointed to a God who is not distant or indifferent, but actively involved in the affairs of humanity, orchestrating the rise and fall of empires according to His will.
A Lesson for All Time
The enduring desolation of Babylon, a stark warning in the landscape, reminds us that God’s judgments are real and His promises are sure. It calls us to live with an awareness of His justice and power, and to place our trust in His ultimate triumph.
Isaiah's prophecy about Babylon's utter desolation, a prediction that took centuries to fully materialize, speaks to God's ultimate judgment on pride and His enduring sovereignty over empires.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of many Israelites and a shift in regional power dynamics.
689 BC
Sennacherib Destroys Babylon
The Assyrian king Sennacherib brutally destroys Babylon after a rebellion, an event that deeply impacts the region and foreshadows future conquests.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports a portion of the Judean elite, including Daniel, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
539 BC
Conquest of Babylon by Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire and allowing some exiled Judeans to return to Jerusalem.
c. 5th-4th century BC
Babylon's Decline Begins
Following the Persian conquest, Babylon gradually loses its prominence as the Seleucids build a new capital, Seleucia, further diminishing Babylon's importance.
1st century AD
Babylon Still Inhabited
Despite its decline, historical accounts indicate that Babylon still maintained a significant population in the early centuries AD.
c. 12th century AD— this verse
Benjamin of Tudela Visits Ruins
Traveler Benjamin of Tudela describes the site of Babylon as ruins, with little to be seen of its former glory, signifying its near-complete desolation.
This passage echoes Isaiah's prophecy about Babylon's desolation, specifically mentioning that wild animals will inhabit its ruins, further emphasizing the complete abandonment of the city.
Jeremiah 51:26This verse directly relates to the destruction of Babylon and its utter ruin, stating that no stone or foundation shall be taken from it for any purpose, aligning with the idea of complete and perpetual desolation.
Ezekiel 26:14Though speaking of Tyre, this prophecy describes a similar fate of perpetual destruction and desolation, stating it will be 'a place for the spreading of nets' and never rebuilt, mirroring the complete abandonment predicted for Babylon.
Revelation 18:2This New Testament passage powerfully depicts Babylon as a place that has become 'a dwelling place for demons, and a prison for every unclean spirit,' reinforcing the spiritual desolation and abandonment described in Isaiah.
cambridgeIsaiah 13:20: "It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there."
20 . the Arabian ] Cf. Jeremiah 3:2 . The word seems originally to mean “dweller in the desert,” but ultimately acquired the force of a proper name (see Jeremiah 25:24 ; 2 Chronicles 9:14 , &c.). The site of Babylon will be shunned even by the wandering nomad, as an accursed and “uncanny” place. 20…
barnesIsaiah 13:20: "It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there."
It shall never be inhabited - This has been completely fulfilled. It is now, and has been for centuries, a scene of wide desolation, and is a heap of ruins, and there is every indication that it will continue so to be. From Rauwolff's testimony it appears, that in the sixteenth century 'there was n…
This verse paints a picture of utter desolation by emphasizing that even the most transient visitors—nomadic Arabs and shepherds seeking temporary refuge—will shun this place. It highlights the site's profound curse by showing it will be too inhospitable even for those who naturally gravitate towards forgotten, wild spaces.
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle against Babylon, detailing its impending destruction and utter desolation. Following vivid descriptions of God's judgment and the fall of the mighty city, these verses paint a picture of the land's complete abandonment. The text emphasizes that not only will the city itself be uninhabited, but even nomadic peoples and shepherds will shun the ruins, highlighting the thoroughness of its ruin.
This prophecy is part of a larger oracle against Babylon, detailing its impending destruction and utter desolation. Following vivid descriptions of God's judgment and the fall of the mighty city, these verses paint a picture of the land's complete abandonment. The text emphasizes that not only will the city itself be uninhabited, but even nomadic peoples and shepherds will shun the ruins, highlighting the thoroughness of its ruin.
"It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there." — This verse paints a picture of utter desolation by emphasizing that even the most transient visitors—nomadic Arabs and shepherds seeking temporary refuge—will shun this place. It highlights the site'…
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Last reviewed October 2026