King James Version

What Does Isaiah 47:11 Mean?

Isaiah 47:11 in the King James Version says “Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou ...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 47 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. from: Heb. the morning thereof put: Heb. expiate”

Isaiah 47:11 · KJV

Context

9

But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

10

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. perverted: or, caused thee to turn away

11

Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. from: Heb. the morning thereof put: Heb. expiate

12

Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

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. astrologers: Heb. viewers of the heavens the monthly: Heb. that give knowledge concerning the months

Read Isaiah 47 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Babylon's Sudden Desolation: This verse forms part of Isaiah's prophetic taunt against Babylon (Isaiah 47), personified as a proud queen about to be humiliated. "Therefore shall evil come upon thee" (uvaat alayikh raah, וּבָאָה עָלַיִךְ רָעָה) announces certain judgment. The Hebrew raah (רָעָה) means "evil," "calamity," or "disaster"—not moral evil but catastrophic judgment. The phrase "thou shalt not know from whence it riseth" (lo ted'i shachrah, לֹא תֵדְעִי שַׁחְרָהּ) literally means "you will not know its dawn" or "origin." Babylon, despite famed astrologers and sorcerers, couldn't foresee or prevent divine judgment.

Babylon's Helplessness Before Divine Judgment: "Mischief shall fall upon thee" (vetipol alayikh hovah, וְתִפֹּל עָלַיִךְ הֹוָה) uses hovah (הֹוָה), meaning "disaster" or "calamity." The verb "fall" suggests sudden, unavoidable catastrophe. "Thou shalt not be able to put it off" (lo tukhal khaperah, לֹא תוּכַל כַּפְּרָהּ) employs khaper (כַּפְּרָהּ), which can mean "atone for" or "avert through ritual." Despite elaborate religious rituals, Babylon couldn't avert God's decree through magic, divination, or sacrifice.

Unexpected Desolation: "And desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know" (vetavo alayikh pit'om sho'ah lo ted'i, וְתָבֹא עָלַיִךְ פִּתְאֹם שֹׁאָה לֹא תֵדָעִי) emphasizes the unexpected nature of judgment. "Suddenly" (pit'om, פִּתְאֹם) means "in a moment," "unexpectedly." "Desolation" (sho'ah, שֹׁאָה) depicts complete devastation and ruin. Babylon, confident in her supposed eternal dominance ("I shall be a lady for ever," v. 7), would experience swift, unanticipated collapse.

Theological Warning Against Pride: This prophecy warns against arrogant self-sufficiency and occult practices. Babylon represented human civilization's pinnacle—militarily powerful, economically prosperous, culturally sophisticated, and religiously elaborate. Yet all human glory crumbles before God's judgment. The threefold repetition ("evil... mischief... desolation") emphasizes certain, comprehensive destruction. This foreshadows Revelation's depiction of eschatological Babylon's fall (Revelation 18), where her judgment comes "in one hour" (18:10).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Isaiah prophesied during 740-680 BC, serving under Judean kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah 47 was written before Babylon became the dominant world power, demonstrating remarkable prophetic foresight. When Isaiah wrote, Assyria ruled the ancient Near East; Babylon was a subject state. Yet God revealed that Babylon would rise to supremacy, conquer Judah (which occurred in 586 BC), and then face sudden judgment (fulfilled in 539 BC when Cyrus the Persian conquered Babylon).

Babylon's fall came swiftly and unexpectedly, just as prophesied. On October 12, 539 BC, Persian forces under Cyrus diverted the Euphrates River's flow and entered Babylon through the lowered riverbed while the city feasted, confident in her massive walls (as described in Daniel 5). Babylonian king Belshazzar died that night; Persian rule began immediately. The transition was so smooth that many Babylonians barely noticed—exactly fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that judgment would come suddenly and unexpectedly.

Babylon was famed for astrology, divination, and occult practices. Archaeological discoveries, including cuneiform tablets containing astrological omens and magical incantations, confirm Babylon's elaborate religious-magical system. Kings consulted astrologers before major decisions. Babylonian priests claimed to predict the future through star-reading, yet none foresaw their empire's fall. This demonstrated the impotence of occult practices against God's sovereign decree, a theme repeated in Daniel 2 when Babylonian wise men couldn't interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream but Daniel, empowered by God, could.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Babylon's sudden, unexpected judgment warn against false security based on wealth, power, or human wisdom?
  2. What is the relationship between pride and spiritual blindness, as illustrated by Babylon's inability to foresee her own destruction?
  3. How does the impotence of Babylon's astrologers and sorcerers demonstrate the futility of occult practices and New Age spirituality today?
  4. In what ways does historical Babylon's fall typologically point to the future judgment of eschatological Babylon in Revelation 18?
  5. What warning does this passage give to prosperous, self-confident nations or individuals who trust in their own strength rather than God?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וְתָבֹ֨א1 of 18

“come”

H935

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

עָלַ֣יִךְ2 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

רָעָ֗ה3 of 18

“Therefore shall evil”

H7451

bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)

לֹ֤א4 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תֵדָֽעִי׃5 of 18

“upon thee thou shalt not know”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

שַׁחְרָ֔הּ6 of 18

“from whence it riseth”

H7837

dawn (literal, figurative or adverbial)

וְתִפֹּ֤ל7 of 18

“shall fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

עָלַ֙יִךְ֙8 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

הוָֹ֔ה9 of 18

“and mischief”

H1943

ruin

לֹ֥א10 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תוּכְלִ֖י11 of 18

“upon thee thou shalt not be able”

H3201

to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

כַּפְּרָ֑הּ12 of 18

“to put it off”

H3722

to cover (specifically with bitumen)

וְתָבֹ֨א13 of 18

“come”

H935

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

עָלַ֧יִךְ14 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פִּתְאֹ֛ם15 of 18

“upon thee suddenly”

H6597

instantly

שֹׁאָ֖ה16 of 18

“and desolation”

H7722

a tempest; by implication, devastation

לֹ֥א17 of 18
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תֵדָֽעִי׃18 of 18

“upon thee thou shalt not know”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

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 47:11 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 47:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Thessalonians 5:3Revelation 18:9-10Nehemiah 4:11Jeremiah 51:39-42Luke 12:59Exodus 12:29-30

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