Breakdown of Isaiah 13:6-11

"Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. They will be dismayed: pangs and agony will seize them;…" — The original Hebrew word for "Almighty" in this verse, "Shaddai," is closely related to the Hebrew word for "destruction." This isn't just a coincidence; it powerfully emphasizes that God's power to…

Isaiah 13:6-11 Meaning Explained

All verses

Isaiah 13:6-11

Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every human heart will melt. They will be dismayed: pangs and agony will seize them; they will be in anguish like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at one another; their faces will be aflame. Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light. I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

English Standard Version (ESV)

The original Hebrew word for "Almighty" in this verse, "Shaddai," is closely related to the Hebrew word for "destruction." This isn't just a coincidence; it powerfully emphasizes that God's power to destroy is an inherent aspect of His nature, and when He unleashes it, it's utterly unstoppable. This verse reminds us that God’s justice is real, and His power is absolute when He chooses to execute judgment.

What Isaiah 13:6-11 means

The prophet Isaiah is delivering a powerful oracle, a "burden," against the city of Babylon. This prophetic declaration is not about immediate events but a future judgment. It foretells a devastating invasion by the Medes and Persians, describing the utter destruction that will befall this proud and powerful empire.

The Day of the LORD: Judgment Arrives

What does it mean when the Bible talks about 'the Day of the LORD'? It's not just any old day. It's a divine appointment for reckoning.

The phrase 'the Day of the LORD' (Hebrew: yom Yehovah) is a significant concept in the Old Testament. It refers to a specific time when God will powerfully intervene in history to execute judgment and vindicate His righteousness.

More Than Just a Bad Day

Divine Appointment: This isn't a random event but a planned intervention. God sets the time for His judgment.
Vengeance and Vindication: It's a day when God deals with wickedness, especially the oppression of His people, and sets things right.
Certainty and Imminence: Though it might seem far off to those experiencing it, the prophets declare it's 'at hand,' emphasizing its absolute certainty.

This verse calls for a 'wail' because this divine judgment is about to fall on Babylon.

Destruction from the Almighty: Unavoidable Power

Imagine facing an enemy so powerful that resistance is utterly futile. That's the kind of force described here.

The verse emphasizes that the impending destruction isn't just any disaster; it's 'as destruction from the Almighty' (Hebrew: min-Shaddai).

The Source of True Power

Divine Origin: The destruction comes directly from God, the 'Almighty' (Shaddai), whose power is absolute and irresistible.
Beyond Human Limits: Unlike destruction brought by human armies, which might be resisted or endured, destruction from God is final and inescapable.

Understand the original words

Original language

day of the LORDיְהוָה יוֹם

yom YHWH · Hebrew Noun Phrase

A phrase describing a future time of divine judgment and intervention in human history where God settles accounts with the wicked and vindicates His people. It is often characterized by cosmic disturbances and the manifestation of God’s holiness and justice.

Almightyשַׁדַּי

Shaddai · Hebrew Noun

A title for God emphasizing His omnipotence, sovereign power, and ability to sustain or destroy all creation. It often highlights His role as the God of the covenant who possesses all authority over heaven and earth.

destructionשֹׁד

shod · Hebrew Noun

The act of bringing something to ruin or emptiness, often as a result of divine judgment for sin. Biblically, it signifies the removal of God's blessing or the consequence of defying the Creator's order.

meltמָסַס

Historical context

Written: Likely mid-8th century BC
Author: Isaiah the son of Amoz
Location: Judah (written from)
Genre: Prophecy with a focus on vivid imagery and apocalyptic themes, including divine judgment and the 'Day of the Lord.'

Historical background

This prophecy was delivered centuries before Babylon's fall, acting as a powerful message of both warning and ultimate hope for God's people facing oppression. The 'day of the LORD' here refers to a specific historical judgment on Babylon, but also echoes future divine interventions.

c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah Prophesies Against Babylon
Isaiah delivers prophecies against Babylon, foretelling its destruction by the Medes and Persians. This message is given centuries before the event, serving as a warning and a source of comfort for God's people.
689 BC
Assyrian Destruction of Babylon
The Assyrian king Sennacherib utterly destroys Babylon in a brutal act of vengeance. Though not the Medo-Persian conquest, this event foreshadows the city's vulnerability and God's judgment.
626-605 BC
Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire
Nabopolassar establishes the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and his son Nebuchadnezzar II greatly expands its power and glory, making Babylon a dominant force in the ancient world.
586 BC
Babylonian Exile of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Jerusalem and exiles many Judeans to Babylon. This event highlights Babylon's oppressive power and the suffering of God's people, for whom Isaiah's prophecy offers hope of future deliverance.

Key themes

01God's imminent judgment
02Almighty's irresistible power
03Day of divine retribution

Cross-references

Joel 1:15

This verse is a near-verbatim repetition of Joel 1:15, highlighting the shared theme of a devastating 'day of the LORD' that brings destruction.

Isaiah 2:12

This passage also describes the 'day of the LORD' as a day of judgment and divine reckoning, reinforcing the gravity of the impending destruction mentioned in Isaiah 13:6.

Jeremiah 50:31

This verse echoes the sentiment of judgment against Babylon, specifically mentioning the pride and sins of the city, which aligns with the reasons for divine wrath described in Isaiah 13:6.

Revelation 6:17

This New Testament passage uses the 'day of the Lord' imagery to describe the final judgment and wrath of God, showing the enduring theological concept of a day of divine retribution.

Scholarly commentary

Isaiah 13:6: "Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty."

Howl ye - Ye inhabitants of Babylon, in view of the approaching destruction. The day of the Lord - The time when Yahweh will inflict vengeance on you draws near (see the note at Isaiah 2:12; compare Isaiah 13:9). As a destruction from the Almighty - Not as a desolation from man, but as destruction sent from him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Destruction meditated by man might…
barnes

Isaiah 13:6: "Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty."

It shall come as a destruction; or rather, a destruction or devastation shall come, as the LXX. and vulgar Latin render it. For this was not as a destruction, but was a destruction indeed. And the particle as is not seldom used to express, not the likeness, but the reality of the thing, as John 1:14 . From the Almighty; who fighteth for your adversaries, and against you, and therefore y…
poole

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 13:6-11 mean?

Explain the meaning of Isaiah 13:6-11

What is the context of Isaiah 13:6-11?

Study this verse in Sola

Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.

Open in Sola app Get the app

Ask a follow-up

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "day of the LORD" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Isaiah the son of Amoz write Isaiah 13:6-11?”
“How does god's imminent judgment show up in Isaiah 13:6-11?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Isaiah 13:6-11 is available in the Sola app.

This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.

What Isaiah 13:6-11 means

Original language

day of the LORDיְהוָה יוֹם

yom YHWH · Hebrew Noun Phrase

Almightyשַׁדַּי

Shaddai · Hebrew Noun

destructionשֹׁד

shod · Hebrew Noun

meltמָסַס

Historical background

c. 740 BC— this verse

Isaiah Prophesies Against Babylon

Isaiah delivers prophecies against Babylon, foretelling its destruction by the Medes and Persians. This message is given centuries before the event, serving as a warning and a source of comfort for God's people.

689 BC

Assyrian Destruction of Babylon

The Assyrian king Sennacherib utterly destroys Babylon in a brutal act of vengeance. Though not the Medo-Persian conquest, this event foreshadows the city's vulnerability and God's judgment.

626-605 BC

Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire

Nabopolassar establishes the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and his son Nebuchadnezzar II greatly expands its power and glory, making Babylon a dominant force in the ancient world.

586 BC

Babylonian Exile of Judah

Nebuchadnezzar II conquers Jerusalem and exiles many Judeans to Babylon. This event highlights Babylon's oppressive power and the suffering of God's people, for whom Isaiah's prophecy offers hope of future deliverance.

Scholarly commentary

Isaiah 13:6: "Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty."

Howl ye - Ye inhabitants of Babylon, in view of the approaching destruction. The day of the Lord - The time when Yahweh will inflict vengeance on you draws near (see the note at Isaiah 2:12; compare Isaiah 13:9). As a destruction from the Almighty - Not as a desolation from man, but as destruction sent from him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Destruction meditated by man might…
barnes

Isaiah 13:6: "Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty."

It shall come as a destruction; or rather, a destruction or devastation shall come, as the LXX. and vulgar Latin render it. For this was not as a destruction, but was a destruction indeed. And the particle as is not seldom used to express, not the likeness, but the reality of the thing, as John 1:14 . From the Almighty; who fighteth for your adversaries, and against you, and therefore y…
poole

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 13:6-11 mean?

Explain the meaning of Isaiah 13:6-11

What is the context of Isaiah 13:6-11?