King James Version

What Does Isaiah 13:9 Mean?

Isaiah 13:9 in the King James Version says “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destr...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 13 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.”

Isaiah 13:9 · KJV

Context

7

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt: be faint: or, fall down

8

And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. be amazed: Heb. wonder one: Heb. every man at his neighbour flames: Heb. faces of the flames

9

Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

10

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11

And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

Read Isaiah 13 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger. This prophetic announcement introduces one of Scripture's most sobering themes: the Day of the Lord (yom YHWH). The Hebrew word akzari (אַכְזָרִי, "cruel") describes not divine sadism but the unmitigated severity of God's judgment against sin. The dual emphasis on "wrath" (evrah, עֶבְרָה) and "fierce anger" (charon af, חֲרוֹן אַף—literally "burning of nose") employs intensive Hebrew parallelism to convey the totality of divine indignation.

The phrase "to lay the land desolate" uses shamah (שָׁמָה), meaning utter devastation and horror. This prophecy had immediate application to Babylon's judgment (Isaiah 13:1-22) but extends eschatologically to the final Day of the Lord when God judges all wickedness. The comprehensive scope—"destroy the sinners thereof out of it"—reveals God's commitment to purging creation of rebellion.

This verse establishes crucial theological truths: (1) God's holiness demands judgment of sin; (2) His patience, while long, has limits; (3) judgment serves both punitive and purifying purposes; (4) the Day of the Lord brings both terror for the wicked and vindication for the righteous. The New Testament confirms this Day's certainty (2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 6:17) while urging repentance before it arrives.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Isaiah prophesied during 740-681 BCE, addressing both the immediate crisis of Assyrian aggression and the coming Babylonian exile. Chapter 13 begins Isaiah's oracles against the nations (chapters 13-23), with Babylon receiving prominence as the eventual destroyer of Jerusalem (586 BCE). Historically, Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians in 539 BCE, partially fulfilling this prophecy.

The "Day of the Lord" concept appears throughout the prophets (Joel 2:1-11, Amos 5:18-20, Zephaniah 1:14-18) as both historical judgments and eschatological consummation. Ancient Near Eastern warfare was brutal, and Isaiah's language would have resonated powerfully with audiences familiar with military devastation. The prophets consistently warned that God uses pagan nations as instruments of judgment, then judges those nations for their pride and cruelty.

For Isaiah's original audience, this oracle provided both warning and hope: warning to Judah not to trust in alliances with Babylon, and hope that their future oppressor would ultimately face divine retribution. The prophecy's dual fulfillment pattern—near (Babylon's fall) and far (final judgment)—characterizes much prophetic literature.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the certainty of God's judgment against sin shape your understanding of His holiness and justice?
  2. What does this passage reveal about God's patience and the urgency of repentance before judgment comes?
  3. How should the reality of the Day of the Lord influence your daily priorities, relationships, and proclamation of the gospel?
  4. In what ways does God's judgment against Babylon demonstrate His sovereignty over all nations and human empires?
  5. How does understanding both the historical and eschatological dimensions of this prophecy deepen your appreciation for God's faithfulness to His Word?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 14 words
הִנֵּ֤ה1 of 14
H2009

lo!

יוֹם2 of 14

“Behold the day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

יְהוָה֙3 of 14

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בָּ֔א4 of 14

“cometh”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אַכְזָרִ֥י5 of 14

“cruel”

H394

terrible

וְעֶבְרָ֖ה6 of 14

“both with wrath”

H5678

an outburst of passion

וַחֲר֣וֹן7 of 14

“and fierce”

H2740

a burning of anger

אָ֑ף8 of 14

“anger”

H639

properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire

לָשׂ֤וּם9 of 14

“to lay”

H7760

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

הָאָ֙רֶץ֙10 of 14

“the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

לְשַׁמָּ֔ה11 of 14

“desolate”

H8047

ruin; by implication, consternation

וְחַטָּאֶ֖יהָ12 of 14

“the sinners”

H2400

a criminal, or one accounted guilty

יַשְׁמִ֥יד13 of 14

“and he shall destroy”

H8045

to desolate

מִמֶּֽנָּה׃14 of 14
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 13:9 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 13:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Nahum 1:6Malachi 4:1Isaiah 13:15-18Isaiah 13:6Nahum 1:2Jeremiah 51:35-58

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