Isaiah 14:23
“And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of hosts.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse dramatically paints a picture of utter devastation, not just through "destruction" but by using a Chaldean word for "broom" or "sieve." This isn't just a wiping away; it's a thorough sifting, leaving nothing behind and transforming the mighty city into a marshy wasteland for desolate creatures.
This verse concludes a powerful prophecy against the king of Babylon, painting a picture of utter desolation. Following a taunting song about the king's downfall and the end of his oppressive rule, God declares that the once-proud city will become a desolate wasteland, inhabited only by wild creatures and flooded with water. This image of a completely destroyed and uninhabitable city serves as the ultimate testament to God's judgment.
Imagine the most bustling, proud city you know becoming home to creatures that thrive in emptiness. What does this tell us about true power?
God declares that Babylon, once a symbol of human achievement and power, will be utterly transformed.
A desolate habitat
The verse paints a picture of complete desolation. Instead of kings and crowds, the 'hedgehog' (or bittern, a water bird) will inhabit its ruins. This is a creature associated with wilderness and solitude.
Watery decay
Furthermore, Babylon will become 'pools of water.' This signifies the destruction of its complex irrigation and defenses, leading to marshy, unusable land. The mighty Euphrates, the lifeblood of the city, will contribute to its demise, creating swamps instead of sustenance. It’s a stark contrast to the ordered, controlled environment Babylon once represented.
What does it mean for God to use a 'broom' to clean up a city? It’s a powerful image of total obliteration.
The final phrase, 'I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,' is incredibly potent. It conveys God's absolute and thorough judgment.
A thorough purge
This isn't just about defeat; it's about eradication. A broom is used to remove every speck of dirt and refuse. God is declaring that He will completely purge Babylon from the earth, leaving no trace of its former glory or its oppressive power.
Divine judgment in action
The use of a 'broom' (or 'besom') suggests a methodical, unstoppable force. Just as a broom leaves a space clean, God's judgment will leave Babylon utterly empty and uninhabitable. It signifies that its existence was an offense, and its removal is a divine necessity.
Understand the original words
bam-te'ate hashmed · Hebrew Noun phrase
A metaphor for divine judgment and the thorough removal or eradication of a people or entity, leaving nothing behind. It symbolizes the completeness of God's act in removing someone or something from existence or influence.
This prophecy paints a vivid picture of Babylon's utter desolation after its conquest. The imagery of wild animals and standing water highlights the dramatic reversal from a bustling metropolis to a forgotten ruin, emphasizing God's power to bring down even the mightiest empires.
c. 6th century BC— this verse
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia, a rising world power, conquered Babylon in 539 BC. This pivotal event ended the Neo-Babylonian Empire and ushered in Persian rule over the region. The conquest itself involved diverting the Euphrates River, a key element in the prophecy.
c. 539-538 BC
Euphrates River diverted
As part of the conquest, Cyrus engineered a massive diversion of the Euphrates River. This action allowed Persian troops to enter the city seemingly undefended, a tactical move that fulfilled prophecies about the city's vulnerability.
Post-Babylonian conquest
Neglect of infrastructure
Following Babylon's fall and subsequent Persian rule, the sophisticated irrigation and flood control systems built by the Babylonians began to fall into disrepair. This neglect led to the land around the city becoming marshy and prone to flooding.
Later centuries BC and AD
Babylon's decline and ruin
This passage describes Babylon as the 'jewel of kingdoms' and the 'pride of the Chaldeans's excellency,' directly preceding the prophecy of its utter destruction and desolation in Isaiah 14:23.
Jeremiah 51:26This verse directly echoes Isaiah's prophecy, stating that Babylon will be made into 'a place for no hand to lay hold on' and a 'place for no foot to tread,' reinforcing the idea of complete desolation and unsuitability for habitation.
Zephaniah 2:14This verse uses similar imagery of desolation for Nineveh, saying it will become 'a wilderness, a dry land, and like a desert,' with wild animals resting there, which parallels the idea of wild creatures inhabiting the ruins of Babylon.
Revelation 18:2This New Testament passage describes Babylon the Great as having fallen and become 'a dwelling place for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit,' echoing the ancient prophecy of its ruin and inhabitation by unclean things.
cambridgeIsaiah 14:23: "I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts."
23 . the bittern ] (ch. Isaiah 34:11 ; Zephaniah 2:14 ). Usually rendered “hedgehog” (R.V. porcupine ) in accordance with the LXX. and Vulg. and the analogy of Arabic. The bittern certainly suits the scene best, and it is said to have the hedgehog’s trick of rolling itself up into an unrecognisable mass. (Tristram, Natural History of t…
clarkeIsaiah 14:23: "I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts."
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction "I will plunge it in the miry gulf of destruction" - I have here very nearly followed the Version of the Septuagint; the reasons for which see in the last note on De Poesi Hebr. Praelect, xxviii. The besom of destruction, as our Version renders it. במטאטא bematate. This, says Kimchi, is a…
The verse dramatically paints a picture of utter devastation, not just through "destruction" but by using a Chaldean word for "broom" or "sieve." This isn't just a wiping away; it's a thorough sifting, leaving nothing behind and transforming the mighty city into a marshy wasteland for desolate creatures.
This verse concludes a powerful prophecy against the king of Babylon, painting a picture of utter desolation. Following a taunting song about the king's downfall and the end of his oppressive rule, God declares that the once-proud city will become a desolate wasteland, inhabited only by wild creatures and flooded with water. This image of a completely destroyed and uninhabitable city serves as the ultimate testament to God's judgment.
This verse concludes a powerful prophecy against the king of Babylon, painting a picture of utter desolation. Following a taunting song about the king's downfall and the end of his oppressive rule, God declares that the once-proud city will become a desolate wasteland, inhabited only by wild creatures and flooded with water. This image of a completely destroyed and uninhabitable city serves as the ultimate testament to God's judgment.
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Over centuries, Babylon transformed from a magnificent city into ruins. The breakdown of its infrastructure and changing political landscapes meant its once-fertile lands became desolate, waterlogged, and inhabited by wild creatures.
"“And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of hosts." — The verse dramatically paints a picture of utter devastation, not just through "destruction" but by using a Chaldean word for "broom" or "sieve." This isn't just a wiping away; it's a thorough siftin…
