Isaiah 13:10

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For the stars, the constellations in the sky, will no longer give their light; the sun will be dark when it rises; and the moon will no longer shine.

Berean Standard Bible:

For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.

American Standard Version:

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For the stars^{H3556} of heaven^{H8064} and the constellations^{H3685} thereof shall not give^{H1984} their light^{H216}: the sun^{H8121} shall be darkened^{H2821} in his going forth^{H3318}, and the moon^{H3394} shall not cause her light^{H216} to shine^{H5050}.

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Commentary for Isaiah 13:10

Isaiah 13:10 is part of the prophetic oracle against Babylon found in the book of Isaiah, which spans chapters 13 through 14. This verse uses apocalyptic imagery to foretell the downfall of Babylon, one of the most powerful empires of the ancient world. The themes presented in this verse include cosmic upheaval and the disruption of the natural order as signs of divine judgment.

In the historical context, the Babylonian Empire was a significant oppressor of the Israelites, having destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple in 586 BCE, leading to the Babylonian exile. Isaiah's prophecy reflects the hope for divine retribution and the restoration of Israel. The imagery of the stars, constellations, sun, and moon withholding their light symbolizes the uncreation or reversal of creation, indicating a cataclysmic event that signals the end of an era and the powers that dominated it.

The language of this verse echoes other biblical prophecies that use celestial disturbances as metaphors for political and social turmoil (e.g., Joel 2:10, Matthew 24:29, Revelation 6:12-13). It serves to remind the audience of God's sovereignty over all creation and the assurance that earthly powers that stand against God's will are ultimately subject to divine judgment. The darkness described is both literal, as in the absence of light, and figurative, representing the removal of glory, guidance, and governance that these celestial bodies symbolize.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3556
   There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כּוֹכָב
   Transliteration: kôwkâb
   Pronunciation: ko-kawb'
   Description: probably from the same as כַּבּוֹן (in the sense of rolling) or כָּוָה (in the sense of blazing); a star (as round or as shining); figuratively, a prince; star(-gazer).
   
2. Strong's Number: H8064
   There are 395 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַיִם
   Transliteration: shâmayim
   Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yim
   Description: dual of an unused singular שָׁמֶה; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve); air, [idiom] astrologer, heaven(-s).
   
3. Strong's Number: H3685
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כְּסִיל
   Transliteration: Kᵉçîyl
   Pronunciation: kes-eel'
   Description: the same as כְּסִיל; any notable constellation; specifically Orion (as if a burly one); constellation, Orion.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1984
   There are 140 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָלַל
   Transliteration: hâlal
   Pronunciation: haw-lal'
   Description: a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify; (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(-ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine.
   
5. Strong's Number: H216
   There are 191 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אוֹר
   Transliteration: ʼôwr
   Pronunciation: ore
   Description: from אוֹר; illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.); bright, clear, [phrase] day, light (-ning), morning, sun.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8121
   There are 127 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׁמֶשׁ
   Transliteration: shemesh
   Pronunciation: sheh'-mesh
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be brilliant; the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched battlement; [phrase] east side(-ward), sun (rising), [phrase] west(-ward), window. See also בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ.
   
7. Strong's Number: H2821
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָשַׁךְ
   Transliteration: châshak
   Pronunciation: khaw-shak'
   Description: a primitive root; to be dark (as withholding light); transitively, to darken; be black, be (make) dark, darken, cause darkness, be dim, hide.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3318
   There are 992 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָצָא
   Transliteration: yâtsâʼ
   Pronunciation: yaw-tsaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.; [idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, [idiom] scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, [idiom] still, [idiom] surely, take forth (out), at any time, [idiom] to (and fro), utter.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3394
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָרֵחַ
   Transliteration: yârêach
   Pronunciation: yaw-ray'-akh
   Description: from the same as יֶרַח; the moon; moon. Yrechow. See יְרִיחוֹ.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5050
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָגַהּ
    Transliteration: nâgahh
    Pronunciation: naw-gah'
    Description: a primitive root; to glitter; causatively, to illuminate; (en-) lighten, (cause to) shine.