Isaiah 14:15-17
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The phrase "sides of the pit" powerfully contrasts with the lofty ambition to sit "on the mount... on the sides of the north." Instead of ascending to a place of honor, this proud figure is confined to the dark recesses, the side chambers of the grave, a stark image of ultimate degradation.
But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse continues the triumphant taunt against a proud king, likely the king of Babylon, who had aspired to ascend to heaven. The prophet sarcastically points out that instead of reaching the heights he desired, this ruler will be cast down into the lowest depths of the grave, a stark contrast to his former arrogance. This dramatic descent into Sheol, the realm of the dead, emphasizes the utter ruin that awaits those who exalt themselves against God.
You planned to ascend to the heavens, but your destination is the lowest possible place. What does this drastic reversal reveal about pride?
This verse describes an immense downfall. The king, who boasted of reaching the highest heavens and sitting with the stars, is instead cast down to 'Sheol,' the place of the dead.
The Contrast is Stark
This isn't just a defeat; it's a cosmic reversal, a dramatic illustration of how destructive pride is. It always leads to a fall, and the higher the pride, the harder the fall.
The 'pit' isn't just a grave; it represents a place of complete separation and darkness. What does this imagery tell us about the consequence of rebellion?
Sheol is consistently portrayed in the Old Testament as the underworld, a realm of silence, shadow, and forgetfulness. It's the opposite of the vibrant life found in God's presence.
The 'Sides of the Pit'
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Understand the original words
bowr · Hebrew Noun
A cavern, grave, or place of destruction; often used as a synonym for the deepest part of Sheol, symbolizing total humiliation, loss of power, and final judgment.
tēbēl · Hebrew Noun
The inhabited world or the earth as a creation of God, often used in contrast to the kingdom of God. It signifies the realm of human activity, civilization, and the arena of God's judgment.
ʾăsīrāyw · Hebrew Noun
Those held in confinement or bondage, often referring to captives of war or those under the oppression of a ruler. In a theological sense, it can also refer to those in bondage to sin or spiritual enemies.
This prophecy against the king of Babylon, a symbol of arrogance and opposition to God, speaks of his ultimate downfall into Sheol, the realm of the dead. This imagery resonates with the historical context of Assyrian and Babylonian empires, whose powerful kings oppressed God's people, reminding us that even the mightiest earthly powers are subject to divine judgment and will ultimately face ruin.
c. 705–681 BC
Reign of Sennacherib
Isaiah prophesied during a tumultuous period of Assyrian expansion and dominance over Judah. Sennacherib's reign was marked by military campaigns and the siege of Jerusalem, creating immense pressure and fear for the people of Judah.
701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Sennacherib's forces besieged Jerusalem. While the city was not captured, the event was a terrifying display of Assyrian power and a direct threat to Judah's existence, deeply impacting the prophetic messages of judgment and deliverance.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon began its rise to power, eventually conquering Assyria and dominating the region. The first deportation of Jewish exiles to Babylon occurred, marking the beginning of a period of national crisis and prophetic pronouncements from exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population. This catastrophic event fulfilled prophecies of judgment and ushered in the Babylonian exile.
This passage also describes the fall of a powerful king, likening him to the anointed cherub in Eden, and details his descent into destruction due to pride, mirroring the theme of a great fall from a high position.
Luke 10:15Jesus uses similar language, declaring that the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida would be 'brought down to Hades,' emphasizing the devastating consequences of rejecting God's authority.
Matthew 11:23Jesus again echoes this sentiment, stating that Capernaum, which was exalted to heaven, would be 'brought down to Hades,' highlighting the divine judgment that awaits those who refuse to humble themselves.
Proverbs 18:12This proverb states that 'pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall,' which directly explains the underlying reason for the king's dramatic descent into Sheol as described in Isaiah.
barnesIsaiah 14:15: "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell - Hebrew, 'To sheol' (compare Isaiah 14:9 ). To the sides of the pit - The word 'pit,' here, is evidently synonymous with "hell" or "hades," represented as a deep, dark region under ground. The dead were often buried in caves, and the descent was often dark and dreary, to the vaults where they reposed. Hence, it is always represented as going down; or, as the "inferior" region…
pooleIsaiah 14:15: "Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
No text from Poole on this verse.
The phrase "sides of the pit" powerfully contrasts with the lofty ambition to sit "on the mount... on the sides of the north." Instead of ascending to a place of honor, this proud figure is confined to the dark recesses, the side chambers of the grave, a stark image of ultimate degradation.
This verse continues the triumphant taunt against a proud king, likely the king of Babylon, who had aspired to ascend to heaven. The prophet sarcastically points out that instead of reaching the heights he desired, this ruler will be cast down into the lowest depths of the grave, a stark contrast to his former arrogance. This dramatic descent into Sheol, the realm of the dead, emphasizes the utter ruin that awaits those who exalt themselves against God.
This verse continues the triumphant taunt against a proud king, likely the king of Babylon, who had aspired to ascend to heaven. The prophet sarcastically points out that instead of reaching the heights he desired, this ruler will be cast down into the lowest depths of the grave, a stark contrast to his former arrogance. This dramatic descent into Sheol, the realm of the dead, emphasizes the utter ruin that awaits those who exalt themselves against God.
"But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you and ponder over you: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, who made the world like…" — The phrase "sides of the pit" powerfully contrasts with the lofty ambition to sit "on the mount... on the sides of the north." Instead of ascending to a place of honor, this proud figure is confined…
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Last reviewed October 2026
