Isaiah 14:22 · Bible study
Isaiah 14:22 Commentary: Cut Off from Babylon
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the meaning of God cutting off Babylon's name, remnant, and posterity in Isaiah 14:22. Historical fulfillment and theological significance.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God personally intervenes to end Babylon's royal dynasty by cutting off every heir.
- Key words: “name” (reputation), “remnant” (survivors), “son” & “son's son” (immediate and distant descendants)
- Main debate: Whether the passage targets an individual king (Barnes's first opinion) or the entire dynasty (majority view); both agree on total extinction.
- Theological theme: Divine judgment on human pride and God's sovereignty over empires.
- Best use: A warning that pride leads to downfall; an anchor for trusting God's promises to vindicate the oppressed.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“I will rise up against them,” declares the LORD of Hosts. “I will cut off from Babylon her name and her remnant, her offspring and her posterity,” declares the LORD.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“I will rise up against them,” says Yahweh of Armies, “and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son,” says Yahweh.
KJV King James Version 1769
For I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the Lord.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and son and son’s son, saith Jehovah.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And I have risen up against them, (The affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts,) And have cut off, in reference to Babylon, Name and remnant, and continuator and successor, The affirmation of Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
For I will rise up against them, saith Jehovah of hosts, and cut off from Babylon name and remnant, and scion and descendant, saith Jehovah.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will destroy the name of Babylon, and the remains, and the bud, and the offspring, saith the Lord.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque yo me levantaré sobre ellos, dice Jehová de los ejércitos, y raeré de Babilonia el nombre y las reliquias, hijo y nieto, dice Jehová.
Porque me levantarei contra eles,diz o SENHOR dos exércitos; e cortarei para eliminar da Babilônia o nome e os restantes, o filho e o neto, diz o SENHOR.
Je me lèverai contre eux,
Und ich will über dich kommen, spricht der HERR Zebaoth, und zu Babel ausrotten ihr Gedächtnis, ihre Übriggebliebenen, Kind und Kindeskind, spricht der HERR,
Want Ik zal tegen hen opstaan, spreekt de HEERE der heirscharen, en Ik zal van Babel uitroeien den naam en het overblijfsel, en den zoon en den zoonszoon, spreekt de HEERE.
Io mi leverò contro di loro, dice l’Eterno degli eserciti; sterminerò di Babilonia il nome, ed i superstiti, la razza e la progenie, dice l’Eterno.
Bo powstanę przeciwko nim, mówi Pan zastępów, a wykorzenię imię Babilonu, i ostatki jego, tak syna jako i wnuka, mówi Pan;
И восстану на них, говорит Господь Саваоф, и истреблю имя Вавилона и весь остаток, и сына и внука, говорит Господь.
萬軍 之耶和華 說：我必興起 攻擊他們，將巴比倫的 名號 和所餘剩的人，連子 帶孫 一併剪除。這是耶和華 說的。
For I will come up against them, says the Lord of armies, cutting off from Babylon name and offspring, son and son's son, says the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 14:22
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The four nouns in this verse, name, remnant, son, son's son, form a comprehensive expression for total extinction of Babylon's royal dynasty. Keil & Delitzsch identify them as alliterative proverbial words meaning “the whole, without exception.” Barnes insists the target is specifically the “males of the royal family, so that the name of the monarch shall become extinct.” Gill confirms the historical outcome: “the whole family was destroyed with Belshazzar, after whom none of that race was ever heard of any more.” The judgment is not a general curse on the city but a sentence on the ruling house. God declares “I will rise up against them”, a decisive, personal intervention (Calvin). Yahweh of Armies acts, not mere human forces.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God will bring a complete end to Babylon's royal family, leaving no heir to succeed the throne.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The target of 'cut off from Babylon' | God's judgment is against the royal family of Babylon, resulting in complete loss of dynasty. | Barnes notes three views: (1) an individual king (who would have no successor), (2) the whole dynasty, or (3) the succession of kings. Most commentators accept the dynasty view, pointing to Belshazzar's death as the end point (Gill). |
| Historical fulfillment | Fulfilled when Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians in 539 BC and the Babylonian line ceased to rule. | Some specify the death of Belshazzar as the moment; others see a broader fulfillment over the following decades as the region was absorbed. All agree the dynasty ended. |
| Nature of 'cut off' (כרת) | The verb karat here means extermination, no heirs left to carry on the line. | Whether this is strictly literal (no physical son survives) or includes the cessation of royal authority (no ruling son). Most read it as literal, citing evidence that Nebuchadnezzar's descendants were killed. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 14:22 concludes the taunt-satire against the king of Babylon that began in verse 4. The prophet has already described a proud monarch who sought to “ascend to heaven” but is “brought down to Sheol.” Now God speaks directly: he will “rise up against them”, the family of this king (Barnes, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). The double title “Yahweh of Armies” underscores his sovereignty over the nations. The terms “name and remnant” and “son and son's son” are typical Hebrew expressions for total destruction (1 Kings 14:10; Job 18:19). They cover reputation, surviving kin, and all future heirs.
Historically, the promise found its fulfillment in 539 BC when the Medo-Persian army conquered Babylon and killed Belshazzar (Daniel 5:30). The Babylonian empire ended, and no member of Nebuchadnezzar's line ever ruled again. The city itself continued for centuries, so the judgment targeted the dynasty, the “name” of the kingly line. This matches the pattern of Isaiah's oracles: God humbles the proud and preserves his word.
Textual Notes
Consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Isaiah 14:22. The verse is stable across manuscripts. The KJV reads “son, and nephew,” where “nephew” is an archaic English term for “grandson” (Cambridge Bible). This is a translation difference, not a textual one. The Hebrew נִין וָנֶכֶד appears consistently in the Masoretic tradition and Qumran scrolls, and the verb forms are standard.
Reception History
Jewish commentators like Kimchi saw the verse fulfilled when Belshazzar's kingdom was given to the Medes and Persians. In the Christian tradition, Calvin emphasized God's active role: the phrase “I will rise up” accommodates our weakness, showing that God is not idle. Matthew Henry preached the passage as “the just doom of the king of Babylon.” The verse has been used to teach that God opposes the proud and that his word is unbreakable. Reformation-era writers often cited it as a reminder that no empire, however powerful, lasts beyond God's decree.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- God Takes Initiative, “I will rise up against them.” Judgment is not accidental; God personally intervenes.
- Total Removal, “Name and remnant, son and son's son.” No branch of the dynasty survives; pride is utterly rooted out.
- Divine Authority, “Says Yahweh of Armies… declares Yahweh.” The double formula anchors the promise with certainty.
Five-Point Outline
- God witnesses evil and acts. He does not remain passive.
- The target is a human dynasty. No empire is beyond his reach.
- The judgment is comprehensive. It covers memory, present survivors, and future heirs.
- Human pride is reversed. The king who lifted himself up is erased.
- God's word is reliable. What he speaks, he performs.
Illustration Hooks
- A corporate brand acquired and then completely phased out, its name no longer appears on any product.
- A family tree with a sudden dead end: a once-prominent lineage that now has no one to carry the name.
- A massive tree cut down and its stump ground out, nothing left to sprout again.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Does God still judge entire nations or families today? How does this apply in our own time?
- What comfort is there in knowing that God will cut off oppressive rulers?
- How does this passage connect to the ultimate judgment of all evil at Christ's return?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a window into God's sovereignty over history. He holds every empire and every king accountable. In a world that often seems dominated by powerful forces, Isaiah 14:22 reminds us that the Lord of Hosts has the final word. Use the following questions to guide your group: Observation, What words are used to describe the extent of the judgment? Interpretation, Why do the commentators emphasize that this judgment is against the family/dynasty, not the city? Application, How does knowing that God 'rises up' against the proud shape your view of current political powers? What hope does this give for those who suffer under injustice?
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean for God to 'rise up'? How does this phrase challenge our view of God's activity in the world?
- The four terms (name, remnant, son, son's son) cover past, present, and future. Why does God promise such a complete end?
- Compare this promise with God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 7). How is God's treatment of Babylon different from his treatment of Israel?
- How did the fall of Babylon in 539 BC fulfill this verse? What does that tell us about the reliability of prophecy?
- In what ways do people today try to build a 'name' for themselves? What warning and hope does this passage offer?
- How does the image of God sweeping away a proud empire connect to Jesus's teaching about the last being first?
- What does it mean to trust in God's justice when oppressive regimes seem to thrive for a long time?
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)
| I Kings 14:10 | therefore, behold, I will bring evil on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam everyone who urinates on a wall, he who is shut up and he who is left at large in Israel, and will utterly sweep away the house of Jeroboam, as a man sweeps away dung until it is all gone. |
| 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. |
| Proverbs 10:7 | The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot. |
| Isaiah 13:5 | They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even Yahweh, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. |
| Isaiah 21:9 | Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs.” He answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground. |
| Isaiah 43:14 | Yahweh, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says: “For your sake, I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring all of them down as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their rejoicing. |
| Isaiah 47:9 | But these two things will come to you in a moment in one day: the loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in their full measure, in the multitude of your sorceries, and the great abundance of your enchantments. |
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.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues the prophecy against Babylon's king points specifically to Belshazzar, not Nebuchadnezzar or a general dynasty. He notes that Belshazzar was slain when Babylon fell, his body likely left unburied in the confusion, and none of his descendants ever occupied the throne, fulfilling the prediction that the family would be completely cut off.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that God is the true author of judgment even when using human agents like the Medes; they are merely instruments. He also explains that God's language of "rising up" is an accommodation to human weakness, since otherwise we imagine God is idle. The title "Lord of hosts" confirms God's authority over all armies.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
This commentator points out that the old English word "nephew" once meant "grandson," not a sibling's son. So the phrase "son and nephew" should be understood broadly as "progeny and offspring," covering all descendants rather than just two generations.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The note emphasizes God's total judgment against Babylon: He will leave no trace behind, not even a name or any descendant. The threat covers every generation, so that Babel is utterly erased. This is no partial punishment but complete destruction.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses the completeness of God's judgment against Babylon's royal house. God rises as if from sleep to destroy not just the king but every trace of his family — name, remnant, son, and grandson — so that after Belshazzar none of that dynasty is ever heard of again.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
against them —the family of the king of Babylon. name —all the male representatives, so that the name shall become extinct ( Isa 56:5 ; Rth 4:5 ). remnant —all that is left of them. The dynasty shall cease ( Da 5:28-31 ). Compare as to Babylon in general, Jer 51:62 .
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlights the alliterative word pairs name and remnant, sprout and shoot as a proverbial way of saying everyone without exception. They stress that the Euphrates flooding and hedgehogs replacing palaces are God's judgment, and the final image of God sweeping Babylon away with a broom of destruction turns the city's clay origin into its fitting end.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that this poetic song targets the abstract figure of world-power itself
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the term "remnant" carries a double sense: it refers both to the memory of those who have died and to the living persons who remain. This draws attention to how a remnant connects the past with the present.