King James Version

What Does Isaiah 14:16 Mean?

Isaiah 14:16 in the King James Version says “They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to trem...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;”

Isaiah 14:16 · KJV

Context

14

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

15

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

16

They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

17

That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? opened: or, did not let his prisoners loose homeward?

18

All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.

Read Isaiah 14 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
'They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?' Those who view the fallen king's corpse look intently ('narrowly look'—stare, gaze closely) and ponder in astonishment: 'Is THIS the one?' The question expresses shocked disbelief. This wretched corpse—this is the tyrant who terrorized nations? This insignificant remains—this is the conqueror who shook kingdoms? The verb 'consider' (bin) means to understand, discern, recognize—they're trying to reconcile past terror with present insignificance. Death and defeat reveal the emptiness behind all earthly pretensions. What seemed great proves small; what seemed terrible proves pitiable.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Throughout history, the deaths of tyrants have produced such reactions—Hitler's body, Mussolini's corpse, Ceausescu's execution. Those who wielded terrifying power appear pathetically human in death. The contrast between living terror and dead insignificance prompts observers to question how such limited humans exercised such devastating power. The answer is always the same: pride, violence, and spiritual darkness empower human tyranny, but death strips away pretense, revealing mere mortality. Revelation 18:9-19 describes similar reaction to Babylon's (symbolic) fall: those who profited from her stand in stunned disbelief.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the smallness of the dead tyrant warn against fearing earthly powers more than God?
  2. What does the shocked question 'Is this the man?' teach about death revealing truth that life's power conceals?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
רֹאֶ֙יךָ֙1 of 11

“They that see”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

אֵלֶ֣יךָ2 of 11
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יַשְׁגִּ֔יחוּ3 of 11

“thee shall narrowly look”

H7688

to peep, i.e., glance sharply at

אֵלֶ֖יךָ4 of 11
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִתְבּוֹנָ֑נוּ5 of 11

“upon thee and consider”

H995

to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand

הֲזֶ֤ה6 of 11
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

הָאִישׁ֙7 of 11

“thee saying Is this the man”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

מַרְגִּ֣יז8 of 11

“to tremble”

H7264

to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear)

הָאָ֔רֶץ9 of 11

“that made the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מַרְעִ֖ישׁ10 of 11

“that did shake”

H7493

to undulate (as the earth, the sky, etc.; also a field of grain), particularly through fear; specifically, to spring (as a locust)

מַמְלָכֽוֹת׃11 of 11

“kingdoms”

H4467

dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)

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 14:16 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 14:16 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 50:23Psalms 58:10-11Jeremiah 51:20-23Psalms 52:7Psalms 64:9Isaiah 14:4-5

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