Isaiah 47:13
You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just mock the Babylonian astrologers; it reveals a deep theological truth: their supposed mastery over the stars was actually a sign of their utter helplessness. They "divided the heavens" and "gazed at the stars" to predict the future, yet they were completely blind to the disaster coming upon them, demonstrating the futility of trusting in anything other than the true God.
Babylon, proud and self-reliant, has relied on countless diviners and astrologers to guide her decisions and predict the future. Now, facing imminent destruction, these very counselors are utterly useless, unable to offer any real help or salvation from the judgment that is about to fall upon the city. The prophet sarcastically challenges Babylon to call on her stargazing advisors to save her, highlighting their impotence.
Babylon was exhausted, not by hard labor, but by endless consultations. What if their greatest 'wisdom' was actually their downfall?
The people of Babylon, facing impending disaster, had exhausted themselves with countless methods of seeking guidance. They relied heavily on 'astrologers,' 'star-gazers,' and 'monthly prognosticators'—those who claimed to read the future in the heavens.
A System Built on Shifting Sands
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 47:13 is available in the Sola app.
This entire system was Babylon's 'counsel,' the sum of its accumulated knowledge and trusted wisdom. Yet, Isaiah's message is clear: this wisdom was not only useless but actively detrimental, leading them further into destruction rather than saving them.
The Babylonians poured their energy into reading the stars, believing they held control over their destiny. But what happens when the very source of their hope offers no salvation?
Isaiah confronts Babylon directly, highlighting the utter failure of its trusted counselors. These wise men, who claimed to predict and even influence future events through celestial observation, were completely powerless when disaster struck.
Powerless Against Divine Judgment
The message is a powerful indictment of placing ultimate trust in human wisdom, systems, or any source apart from the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Understand the original words
habar · Hebrew Verb/Noun
The act of observing celestial bodies to predict the future or gain divine insight. While often associated with pagan worship, Scripture condemns it as a futile practice that usurps the place of God's revelation.
This prophecy was delivered during the final years of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, a time when the empire was at its peak of power but also deeply enmeshed in astrological practices. Isaiah's words directly mock the sophisticated but ultimately useless systems of divination that Babylon relied upon, contrasting them with the singular power of the LORD who foreordains history.
c. 1800 BC - 7th century BC
Rise of Babylonian Astrology
Astrology and divination, particularly through observing celestial bodies, became deeply embedded in Mesopotamian culture, influencing Babylonian religious and political life.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, destroyed Jerusalem and its temple, exiling many Jews. This event marked the height of Babylonian power and influence.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great began his conquests, eventually leading the Persian Empire to challenge and conquer the Babylonian Empire.
539 BC— this verse
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Babylon was conquered by Cyrus the Great, marking the end of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and a significant shift in regional power.
c. 540 BC - 539 BC
Isaiah's Prophecy Delivered
Isaiah prophesied against Babylon's pride and reliance on false wisdom, including astrology, shortly before its fall to the Persians. The prophecy highlights the futility of their diviners in the face of divine judgment.
This passage directly mocks the practice of astrology and idol worship, highlighting its inability to provide true salvation, much like Isaiah does.
Daniel 2:27-28Daniel contrasts the wisdom of Babylonian dream interpreters and astrologers with the true wisdom that comes from God, echoing Isaiah's critique of relying on such practices.
Deuteronomy 18:10-12This passage explicitly condemns the practices of divination, sorcery, and astrology, listing them among detestable acts, which reinforces Isaiah's message about their ultimate futility.
Isaiah 44:24-25Isaiah previously speaks of God frustrating the 'signs' and 'wise men' of nations, showing a consistent theme of God's sovereignty over human attempts to predict or control events through worldly wisdom.
barnesIsaiah 47:13: "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."
Thou art wearied - Thou hast practiced so many arts, and practiced them so long, that thou art exhausted in them. The 'counsels' here referred to, are those which the astrologers and diviners would take in examining the prognostications, and the supposed indications of future events. Let now…
clarkeIsaiah 47:13: "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."
From these things "What are the events" - For מאשר measher, read מה אשר mah asher, so the Septuagint, "what is to happen to thee."
The verse doesn't just mock the Babylonian astrologers; it reveals a deep theological truth: their supposed mastery over the stars was actually a sign of their utter helplessness. They "divided the heavens" and "gazed at the stars" to predict the future, yet they were completely blind to the disaster coming upon them, demonstrating the futility of trusting in anything other than the true God.
Babylon, proud and self-reliant, has relied on countless diviners and astrologers to guide her decisions and predict the future. Now, facing imminent destruction, these very counselors are utterly useless, unable to offer any real help or salvation from the judgment that is about to fall upon the city. The prophet sarcastically challenges Babylon to call on her stargazing advisors to save her, highlighting their impotence.
Babylon, proud and self-reliant, has relied on countless diviners and astrologers to guide her decisions and predict the future. Now, facing imminent destruction, these very counselors are utterly useless, unable to offer any real help or salvation from the judgment that is about to fall upon the city. The prophet sarcastically challenges Babylon to call on her stargazing advisors to save her, highlighting their impotence.
"You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you." — The verse doesn't just mock the Babylonian astrologers; it reveals a deep theological truth: their supposed mastery over the stars was actually a sign of their utter helplessness. They "divided the h…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
