Isaiah 47:13 · Bible study
Isaiah 47:13 Commentary: The Futility of Star-Gazing Against God's Plan
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why God mocks Babylon's astrologers and what this reveals about the limits of human wisdom. A study of divine sovereignty and trust.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God mocks Babylon's wearisome reliance on astrologers and diviners, who are helpless to prevent the judgment He has decreed.
- Key words: “Wearied” (נִלְאֵ֖ית), exhausted from futile effort; “Dividers of the heavens” (הֹבְרֵי שָׁמַ֗יִם), those who create astrological charts; “Save” (יוֹשִׁיעֻ), a term for deliverance that these counselors cannot provide.
- Main debate: Whether the “monthly prognosticators” refer to predictions made at each new moon or to the production of monthly almanacs; both views appear in the commentaries.
- Theological theme: Divine sovereignty over history versus human attempts to control the future through occult wisdom.
- Best use: A warning against any form of divination, but also a call to trust God alone for guidance and deliverance.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you— your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.
WEB World English Bible 2000
You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels. Now let the astrologers, the stargazers, and the monthly prognosticators stand up and save you from the things that will happen to you.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from the things that shall come upon thee.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Thou hast been wearied in the multitude of thy counsels, Stand up, I pray thee, and save thee, Let the charmers of the heavens, Those looking on the stars, Those teaching concerning the months, From those things that come on thee!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the interpreters of the heavens, the observers of the stars, who predict according to the new moons what shall come upon thee, stand up, and save thee.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou hast failed in the multitude of thy counsels: let now the astrologers stand and save thee, they that gazed at the stars, and counted the months, that from them they might tell the things that shall come to thee.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Haste fatigado en la multitud de tus consejos. Parezcan ahora y defiéndante los contempladores de los cielos, los especuladores de las estrellas, los que contaban los meses, para pronosticar lo que vendrá sobre ti.
Tu te cansaste com tantos conselhos que recebeste; levantem-se, pois, agora, os que observam o céu, os que contemplam as estrelas, os adivinhos das luas novas; e salvem-te daquilo que virá sobre ti.
Tu t’es fatiguée à force de consulter:
Denn du bist müde von der Menge deiner Anschläge. Laß hertreten und dir helfen die Meister des Himmelslaufs und die Sterngucker, die nach den Monaten rechnen, was über dich kommen werde.
Gij zijt moede geworden in de veelheid uwer raadslagen; laat nu opstaan, die den hemel waarnemen, die in de sterren kijken, die naar de nieuwe manen voorzeggen; en laat ze u verlossen van die dingen, die over u komen zullen.
Tu sei stanca di tutte le tue consultazioni; si levino dunque quelli che misurano il cielo, che osservano le stelle, che fanno pronostici ad ogni novilunio, e ti salvino dalle cose che ti piomberanno addosso!
Ustawasz z mnóstwem rad twoich; niechajże teraz staną praktykarze, którzy się przypatrują gwiazdom, którzy dawają znać, co ma być każdego miesiąca, a niech cię wybawią z tego, co ma przyjść na cię.
Ты утомлена множеством советов твоих; пусть же выступят наблюдатели небес и звездочеты и предвещатели по новолуниям, и спасут тебя от того, что должно приключиться тебе.
你籌劃 太多，以致疲倦。讓 那些觀 天象的，看 星宿的，在月朔 說預言的，都站起來，救你 脫離所 要臨 到你的事。
But your mind is troubled by the number of your guides: let them now come forward for your salvation: the measurers of the heavens, the watchers of the stars, and those who are able to say from month to month what things are coming on you.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 47:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree the verse is a taunt. Babylon has worn itself out consulting every kind of diviner, astrologers, stargazers, monthly prognosticators, and still cannot escape the disaster God has decreed. Barnes calls the Hebrew phrase for astrologers “the dividers of the heavens,” people who parcel out the sky to read omens. Gill notes that the same root word appears in Arabic for cutting or dividing, referring to casting horoscopes by dividing the heavens into houses. The Cambridge Bible adds that “monthly prognosticators” refers to the production of almanacs that foretold lucky and unlucky days. Calvin and Luther both emphasize the weariness: all these schemes come to nothing because they do not consult God. The imperative “stand up and save you” is heavy with sarcasm, these practitioners cannot even deliver themselves, as verse 14 confirms. What is certain across traditions: human attempts to predict or control the future are worthless when they set themselves against the Lord’s sovereign word.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: That God alone determines the future, and that human attempts to predict or control it through occult wisdom are futile and ultimately condemned.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the mockery | All commentators see the verse as sarcastic, God dares Babylon to let its astrologers save it, knowing they cannot. | Some emphasize the historical failure of Babylonian divination (Barnes, Gill); others see it as a broader principle about trusting human wisdom instead of God (Calvin, Matthew Henry). |
| Hebrew terms for astrologers | Scholars agree that the root H1895 (הברי) means 'to divide,' referring to dividing the heavens for horoscopes. | The precise meaning of 'dividing the heavens' is debated: some think it refers to mapping constellations (Gesenius, Barnes), others to dividing the sky into houses for astrological judgments (Gill, Cambridge). |
| Monthly prognosticators | All references indicate forecasts made at each new moon, aligning with Babylonian almanac practices. | The syntactical connection with 'from the things that come upon you' is interpreted differently. The KJV and WEB join 'monthly prognosticators' with the preceding nouns; the Cambridge Bible suggests they are a separate group announcing month by month what will befall. |
| Application for today | Christians across traditions agree that the verse condemns astrology and divination as false sources of guidance. | Some traditions apply the condemnation strictly to occult practices (Pentecostal, Evangelical); others also apply it more broadly to any excessive trust in human expertise or planning apart from prayer (Lutheran, Reformed). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 47 is a taunt song against Babylon, written as the city's downfall approaches. Babylon was famous throughout the ancient Near East for its devotion to astrology and divination. The Babylonian priests, often called Chaldeans, studied the stars to determine the will of the gods, reading conjunctions, eclipses, and the positions of planets as signs for kings and nations. The three groups named in this verse represent different specializations. “Astrologers” (literally “dividers of the heavens”) mapped the constellations to create horoscopes. “Stargazers” looked at the stars directly to interpret their movements. “Monthly prognosticators” issued forecasts at each new moon, a practice confirmed by cuneiform tablets that list lucky and unlucky days month by month.
The immediate context is crucial. In verses 7, 11, Babylon is condemned for its pride: “I am, and there is no one else besides me.” That arrogance mirrors the city's trust in its own wisdom and magical arts. By verse 13, God calls on Babylon to let its counselors try to save it, but the mockery is obvious. The prophet has already announced that disaster will come suddenly (v. 11) and that no amount of sorcery can stop it. Historically, Babylon fell to Cyrus in 539 BC despite all its astrological preparations. The surrounding nations, even the Greeks, recognized the irony: the great seat of astral wisdom could not read its own fate. For the original audience (likely exiles in Babylon), this verse was a sharp reminder that God, not the stars, controls history.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note no major textual variants that affect the meaning of this verse. Adam Clarke observes a possible variant in the Hebrew: he suggests reading מַה־אֲשֶׁר (“what is”) instead of מֵאֲשֶׁר (“from that which”), following the Septuagint reading. This would change the phrase “from the things that come upon you” to “what is to happen to you.” The difference is stylistic and does not alter the core meaning. The Cambridge Bible reports that the ancient versions (LXX, Vulgate) translate the term for “astrologers” loosely, but the Hebrew is clear. No other significant variants are recorded in the consulted sources.
Reception History
Christian tradition has read this verse as a direct warning against astrology and dependence on any form of divination. Early church fathers such as Tertullian and Augustine cited similar passages to argue that believers should not consult horoscopes or star-readers, since God alone controls the future. During the Reformation, Calvin used this verse to illustrate the vanity of human wisdom when it sets itself against God’s decrees. In the Wesleyan tradition, the verse has been preached as a call to abandon trust in worldly resources and to seek God’s guidance through Scripture and prayer. The verse also appears in modern sermons on spiritual warfare and the danger of occult practices. Across denominations, the consensus remains: what Babylon trusted failed, and only the Lord saves.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The exhaustion of false counsel. Babylon “wearied” itself in the multitude of its counsels (v. 13a). The word for wearied (נִלְאֵ֖ית) implies being worn out to the point of faintness. Human schemes, no matter how clever, drain our energy without delivering peace.
- The powerless helpers. The astrologers, stargazers and prognosticators are called to “stand up and save you.” But they cannot. Their knowledge is partial, their power imaginary. Verse 14 says they become like stubble burned in fire, useless for rescue.
- The only Savior who stands. The sarcastic call to “stand up” contrasts with the God who actually stands to save. Babylon’s saviors fall; the Lord never fails. The cross-reference from Daniel 2 shows that even in Babylon, God alone reveals mysteries.
Five-point outline
- God’s sovereignty exposes the limits of human wisdom.
- The “multitude of counsels” reveals anxiety, not faith.
- Astrology and divination are specific forms of false worship.
- The failure of the star-gazers is a picture of judgment.
- God offers true guidance through His word and His Spirit.
Illustration hooks
- A person spends hours studying financial charts and market predictions to avoid loss, only to find that the market crashes anyway. No algorithm saves them.
- A friend consults multiple doctors, gurus, or online forums for answers about a health scare, growing more anxious with each opinion. The weariness of many counsels.
- Reading daily horoscopes for reassurance, then realizing how vague and useless they are when real trouble comes.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it wrong to read horoscopes or follow astrology? Where is the line?
- How do I know if I am trusting in my own “counsels” instead of God?
- What does it look like to seek guidance from God rather than from the world’s experts?
Leading a Discussion
This verse is a challenge to examine where we turn for direction in times of crisis. Babylon had the best stargazers in the ancient world, and they were useless. What systems of wisdom do we trust that might also fail us?
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 47:13 aloud. What words or phrases stand out to you, and why?
- Look at the three Hebrew descriptions of the counselors: “dividers of the heavens,” “stargazers,” “monthly prognosticators.” What do these terms tell us about what Babylon was trusting?
- Isaiah 47:10 says Babylon boasted, “I am, and there is no one else besides me.” How does that pride connect to their reliance on astrology and sorcery?
- Why does God use sarcasm here? What does the tone of the verse reveal about His view of human attempts to predict the future?
- In what ways do people today seek “counsel” from sources that cannot save? Consider advice, statistics, trends, or even spiritual practices outside the faith.
- Verse 15 says, “There will be no one to save you.” How does that compare with what Scripture says about God as Savior?
- What is one step you could take this week to seek guidance from God rather than from your own or the world’s wisdom?
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)
| Isaiah 44:25 | who frustrates the signs of the liars, and makes diviners mad; who turns wise men backward, and makes their knowledge foolish; |
| Isaiah 47:15 | The things that you labored in will be like this: those who have trafficked with you from your youth will each wander in his own way. There will be no one to save you. |
| Isaiah 57:10 | You were wearied with the length of your ways; yet you didn’t say, ‘It is in vain.’ You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren’t faint. |
| Jeremiah 51:58 | Yahweh of Armies says: “The wide walls of Babylon will be utterly overthrown. Her high gates will be burned with fire. The peoples will labor for vanity, and the nations for the fire; and they will be weary.” |
| Ezekiel 24:12 | She is weary with toil; yet her great rust, rust by fire, doesn’t leave her. |
| Daniel 2:2 | Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be called to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. |
| Daniel 2:10 | The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on the earth who can show the king’s matter, because no king, lord, or ruler has asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or Chaldean. |
| Daniel 5:7 | The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and shows me its interpretation shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” |
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
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
From these things "What are the events" - For מאשר measher, read מה אשר mah asher, so the Septuagint, "what is to happen to thee."
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the specific Hebrew words for diviners describe people who slice up the sky for horoscopes, stare at the stars, and announce events at each new moon. God mocks Babylon for being exhausted by these very arts, because they trust in methods that cannot actually predict or prevent disaster.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights an ironic twist: Babylon's many clever schemes and counsels will actually bring greater trouble, not success. Their error is trusting their own ingenuity rather than seeking wisdom from God, who scatters all human plans that are not submitted to Him. The more they toil in self-reliance, the more frustrated they become.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator offers a more precise reading of the phrase traditionally rendered astrologers. He interprets it as those who divide the heavens into zodiac constellations for astrological purposes, and the monthly prognosticators as those who prepare almanacs forecasting disasters and lucky days, noting that the English version followed a mistaken syntactical construction.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible notes point out the sheer absurdity of trusting astrologers and stargazers when judgment is certain. These counselors are exposed as worthless, unable to save even their own clients from the disaster God has decreed.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes the complete failure of Babylon's astrologers, stargazers, and monthly prognosticators. Despite their elaborate methods of reading the heavens and dividing the sky, they could never give reliable answers or offer any real escape from coming judgment. God challenges them to save Babylon, but their arts prove utterly powerless.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch highlights the prophet's triumphant sarcasm: Babylon is commanded to bring all its sorceries and astrologers, but these star-gazers fail to save even themselves. The fire that consumes them is no comforting hearth-fire, and the merchants who enriched Babylon scatter in flight, leaving the city without a rescuer.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange assigns two distinct causes for Babylon's fall: first, it exceeded God's disciplinary purpose by showing Israel no mercy; second, it deified itself, believing in its heart that no all-seeing God existed. Its ultimate confidence rested not just in power but in a practical atheism that denied divine oversight.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry points to Babylon's fatal self-deception: she declared herself forever secure and unrivaled, but refused to consider her coming end. Her trust in pleasures, sorceries, and human counselors would prove hollow when God suddenly brought loss and desolation she could neither foresee nor prevent.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads the word "wearied" as exhaustion from pointless effort. The person has spent time and strength running from one source to another, yet all that labor produced no result at all.