Isaiah 14:20 · Bible study
Isaiah 14:20 Commentary: Denied Burial, Dynasty Cut Off
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 14:20 pronounces judgment on the king of Babylon: no honorable burial, his lineage ended. Does God punish children for parents' sins?
Research Summary
- Meaning: The tyrant of Babylon is denied burial and his dynasty is cut off as divine judgment for cruelty and oppression.
- Key words: “united” (יָחַד, join in burial), “ruined” (שִׁחַת, destroyed), “named” (קָרָא, to be remembered), “offspring” (זֶרַע, descendants).
- Main debate: Is the cutting off of the offspring a specific prophecy about the Babylonian dynasty or a general principle about the posterity of the wicked?
- Theological theme: Divine justice against pride and oppression; God opposes the proud and brings low the tyrant.
- Best use: Preaching on God’s judgment and the end of evil regimes; a caution against the abuse of power.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You will not join them in burial, since you have destroyed your land and slaughtered your own people. The offspring of the wicked will never again be mentioned.
WEB World English Bible 2000
You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land. You have killed your people. The offspring of evildoers will not be named forever.
KJV King James Version 1769
Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people; the seed of evil-doers shall not be named for ever.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Thou art not united with them in burial, For thy land thou hast destroyed, Thy people thou hast slain, Not named to the age is the seed of evil doers.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial; for thou hast destroyed thy land, hast slain thy people. Of the seed of evildoers no mention shall be made for ever.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou shalt not keep company with them, even in burial: for thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people: the seed of the wicked shall not be named for ever.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
No serás contado con ellos en la sepultura: porque tú destruiste tu tierra, mataste tu pueblo. No será nombrada para siempre la simiente de los malignos.
Não se juntará a eles na sepultura, porque destruíste tua terra, e mataste a teu povo; a semente dos malignos não será nomeada para sempre.
Tu n’ es pas réuni à eux dans le sépulcre,
Du wirst nicht wie jene begraben werden, denn du hast dein Land verderbt und dein Volk erschlagen; denn man wird des Samens der Boshaften nimmermehr gedenken.
Gij zult bij dezelve niet gevoegd worden in de begrafenis; want gij hebt uw land verdorven, en uw volk gedood; het zaad der boosdoeners zal in der eeuwigheid niet genoemd worden.
Tu non sarai riunito a loro nel sepolcro perché hai distrutto il tuo paese, hai ucciso il tuo popolo; della razza de’ malfattori non si ragionerà mai più.
Nie będzisz miał uczęstnictwa z nimi w pogrzebie; boś ziemię twoję pokaził, i lud swój pomordował; albowiem nasienie złośników nie będzie wspominane na wieki.
не соединишься с ними в могиле; ибо ты разорил землю твою, убил народ твой: во веки не помянется племя злодеев.
你不得 與君王 同 葬；因為 你敗壞 你的國，殺戮 你的民。惡人 後裔的名，必永 不 提說。
As for your fathers, you will not be united with them in their resting-place, because you have been the cause of destruction to your land, and of death to your people; the seed of the evil-doer will have no place in the memory of man.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 14:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse pronounces God’s judgment on the king of Babylon for his tyranny. He is denied a proper burial because he ruined his own land and killed his own people. The Hebrew verb yāḥad (be united) in the imperfect form indicates that he will not be joined in burial with other kings, a deliberate dis-honor. The king’s violence brought destruction not only on enemies but on his own subjects. Calvin notes that “he who has laid the earth desolate does not deserve that the earth shall receive him into its bosom.” Barnes points out that the Hebrew yiqqārē’ (shall be named) is the Niphal of qārā’, meaning to be called or remembered with honor; the dynasty’s name will disappear.
The disagreement among commentators turns on whether this is a specific historical prophecy about the end of the Babylonian line or a general principle that God cuts off the posterity of the wicked. Keil and Delitzsch see it as strictly about the Babylonian tyrant and his dynasty, while Barnes and Gill apply it as a “general proposition” that the descendants of the wicked are dishonored (citing Proverbs 10:7; Psalm 37:28). Both readings are supported by the supplied cross-references, and each seeks to honor the text’s message of divine justice against oppression.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Historical Specificity: The context of the taunt song against the king of Babylon; vv. 21–23 continue the judgment on Babylon itself.
- General Principle: Barnes and others apply the principle to all wicked dynasties; cross-references like Psalm 37:28 and Job 18:19 support a broader reading.
What is clear: The king of Babylon is judged for his tyranny and his dynasty will be cut off.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Denial of burial | All traditions agree that the king of Babylon is denied an honorable burial as punishment. | No significant debate; the language of burial denial is clear. |
| Punishment of posterity | Christians agree that the verse predicts the end of this dynasty, the offspring will not be named. | Some see this as a specific historical judgment (Babylon only); others see a general principle that God cuts off the descendants of the wicked (Barnes, Gill). |
| Historical referent | The verse refers to the king of Babylon (likely Belshazzar or the dynasty). | Whether it points primarily to Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, or a composite oppressor is debated. |
| Application beyond Babylon | The passage is meaningful for understanding divine justice. | Some Christians apply it typologically to all proud powers; others limit it to the original historical context. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse stands inside a taunt song (Isaiah 14:4, 23) that mocks the fall of the king of Babylon. The kings of the nations are buried in glory, “each in his own house” (v.18), but this tyrant is cast out like “an abominable branch” (v.19). In the ancient Near East, proper burial was essential. A denied burial was the ultimate disgrace, reserved for the worst offenders. The Hebrew word qeḇurāh (burial) carries the force of being laid to rest with one’s ancestors, something this king forfeits.
The charge against him is that he “destroyed” (šīḥattā) his land and “slain” (hāragtā) his people. Barnes and the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, drawing on Xenophon’s Cyropædia, describe how the Babylonian king oppressed his own subjects, draining the land through war and taxation. Such cruelty was not a foreign policy mistake; it was a sin that called down heaven’s verdict.
The second half of the verse shifts from the king to his dynasty: “the offspring of evildoers will not be named forever.” The Hebrew zera‘ merē‘îm (offspring of evil-doers) uses a participle that means “those who are habitually wicked.” The judgment that their name will not be called (lō’-yiqqārē’) for ‘ôlām (enduring time) means that the dynasty’s memory will vanish. Verses 21, 23 make this concrete: God will cut off from Babylon “name and remnant, and son and son’s son.” The historical referent is likely the Babylonian line ending with Belshazzar.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Isaiah 14:20. The Hebrew text is consistent across major manuscripts. The LXX and other ancient versions agree on the essential content. Minor differences in word order do not affect the meaning.
Reception History
Jewish interpreters such as Jarchi (Rashi) and Kimchi read this verse as a judgment on Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. The Targum paraphrases the denial of burial as “thou shalt not be as one of them in the grave.” In Christian history, the passage was often read as a warning against pride and tyranny. During the Reformation, commentators like Calvin and Matthew Henry used it to show that God humbles oppressive rulers. Some early interpreters (including some church fathers) linked the broader taunt song to the fall of Satan, but verse 20 was consistently applied to the historical king. The verse has also been cited in hymns about the end of the wicked, though no specific title is recorded in the supplied data.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Sins of the Tyrant. He destroyed his land and killed his own people. His sin was not just against other nations but against those entrusted to his care (v.20a).
- The Shame of the Tyrant. He is denied even the dignity of a shared burial (v.20a). The honor that other kings receive is stripped from him.
- The End of the Dynasty. His offspring will not be named. The line that hoped for eternal fame is forgotten (v.20b).
Five-Point Outline
- The tyrant’s oppressive rule (destroyed land, killed people).
- The fitting punishment: denied burial, no honors.
- The collapse of the dynasty (offspring cut off).
- God’s sovereignty over history: human pride ends at His word.
- A warning to all who trust in power alone.
Illustration Hooks
- An ancient dictator like King Nebuchadnezzar II, whose reign ended in humiliation. For his pride, he was driven from human society (Daniel 4). The verse reminds us that no throne is secure against God’s judgment.
- A modern corporation that pollutes a region and then collapses under legal and social pressure. Its founders’ names become a byword for greed rather than success.
- A family legacy ruined by scandal: the name that was once praised is now spoken with a shake of the head. The Bible warns that “the memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot” (Proverbs 10:7).
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Does God punish children for the sins of their parents? This verse sounds like generational judgment; but see Ezekiel 18, where each person bears their own guilt.
- Is this only about Babylon, or does it apply to all oppressors? The prophecy specifically targets the Babylonian dynasty, yet its principles reflect God’s consistent justice.
- What does “not named forever” mean, is it about being forgotten, or something more? In the Hebrew, “named” carries the sense of being called out in honor. The idea is that the dynasty will not be remembered with praise.
Leading a Discussion
Isaiah 14:20 sits inside a taunt song against the oppressor. It asks hard questions about justice and legacy. Why is this tyrant denied even a grave? And what does it mean that his offspring will not be named? The passage calls us to see that God’s justice sets right what human power broke.
Discussion Questions
- What does the verse list as the king’s crimes? What do “destroyed your land” and “killed your people” tell you about his character?
- Why is the denial of burial such a severe punishment in this culture? What does it say about the king’s honor or shame?
- The Hebrew word for “offspring” (zera‘) can mean descendants or a moral quality. How does this word shape the judgment?
- Read Ezekiel 18:19, 20 alongside this verse. How do these two passages talk about children and parents’ sins? Are they in tension, or complementary?
- How does this prophecy encourage people who have suffered under oppression? What hope does it offer?
- Does this passage give us permission to hate our enemies? Why or why not? See Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:44.
- What modern “dynasties” (political, corporate, or family) might need to hear this warning? How can Christians respond with justice and mercy?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 18:16 | His roots will be dried up beneath. His branch will be cut off above. |
| Job 18:19 | He will have neither son nor grandson among his people, nor any remaining where he lived. |
| Psalms 21:10 | You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from among the children of men. |
| Psalms 37:28 | For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. |
| Psalms 109:13 | Let his posterity be cut off. In the generation following let their name be blotted out. |
| Psalms 137:8 | Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who repays you, as you have done to us. |
| Psalms 137:9 | Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock. |
| Isaiah 1:4 | Ah sinful nation, a people loaded with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken Yahweh. They have despised the Holy One of Israel. They are estranged and backward. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke points to a specific historical example of a ruler's wanton cruelty, recorded by Xenophon: a king killed the son of his own ally simply because the youth had struck a boar and a lion that the king himself had missed. For Clarke, this illustrates how a king could "destroy his own land" by slaying his own people.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the Babylonian king will be denied even the burial granted to enemy soldiers, because he destroyed his own land as a cruel tyrant. The prophet's statement that the posterity of the wicked will never be renowned means this king's dynasty ends with him, his heirs cut off from the throne and loaded with disgrace. Barnes also presents this as a general truth that wickedness brings dishonor on a person's descendants.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees the denial of burial as the earth's just refusal to receive those who have laid it desolate. He further warns that God extends this punishment to the wicked's posterity, cutting off remembrance so that their seed will never be mentioned again.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentary highlights the poem's poetic structure, identifying five clear strophes of seven lines each, with some variation likely from textual damage. The king's guilt falls as a curse on his children, leading to their destruction, because he acted as a tyrant even to his own people.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note emphasizes that this ruler will be denied a proper burial because he destroyed his own land and killed his own people. His wicked offspring will likewise be forgotten, receiving no lasting honor or remembrance.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that the king is denied not merely a different burial place but the same funeral honors and pomp as other kings—no embalming, spices, or grand monument. This disgrace comes because he destroyed his own land and killed his people. The seed of evildoers will not be remembered forever.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB emphasizes that Belshazzar's fate stands in stark contrast to other slain princes who receive burial; he will be destroyed in the land, hated for his tyranny. The Babylonian dynasty ends with him, and his family will never be perpetuated or renowned again.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch emphasize that the tyrant is denied burial because he exploited and exhausted his own land, forcing his people to serve his ambition and sacrificing them as victims. He receives no compassion, unlike those compelled to die in his service, and his dynasty is permanently cut off.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the violence did not end with the tyrant's death; it passed to his descendant. The same cruelty against God's people continued in the next generation. God's long patience with that family line finally reaches its limit, and its renown will not last forever.