King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, [till] the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; [and] he brought it to ruin.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Look at the land of the Kasdim! This was the people who did not exist when Ashur destined it for desert creatures. They erected their siege towers and tore down her palaces, so that it has been made a ruin.
Berean Standard Bible:
Look at the land of the Chaldeans— a people now of no account. The Assyrians destined it for the desert creatures; they set up their siege towers and stripped its palaces. They brought it to ruin.
American Standard Version:
Behold, the land of the Chaldeans: this people was not; the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness; they set up their towers; they overthrew the palaces thereof; they made it a ruin.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Behold the land{H776} of the Chaldeans{H3778}; this people{H5971} was not, till the Assyrian{H804} founded{H3245} it for them that dwell in the wilderness{H6728}: they set up{H6965} the towers{H971} thereof, they raised up{H6209} the palaces{H759} thereof; and he brought{H7760} it to ruin{H4654}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Habakkuk 1:6
- For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs.
Ezra 4:9
- Then [wrote] Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites,
Ezra 4:10
- And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest [that are] on this side the river, and at such a time.
Isaiah 10:5
- ¶ O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation.
Genesis 2:14
- And the name of the third river [is] Hiddekel: that [is] it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river [is] Euphrates.
Ezekiel 29:18
- Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:
Genesis 10:10
- And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 23:13
Isaiah 23:13 is a verse that speaks to the historical ebb and flow of power and the rise and fall of civilizations within the ancient Near East. The verse specifically references the land of the Chaldeans, which is an area in the southern part of Mesopotamia, corresponding to parts of modern-day Iraq. This region was known for its shifting political landscapes and was successively dominated by various empires.
The Chaldeans, as mentioned in the verse, were not originally an established people or nation until the Assyrians, a major Mesopotamian empire known for its military prowess and expansive territory, "founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness." This suggests that the Assyrians played a significant role in organizing or settling the region, possibly to secure their southern borders or to establish a presence in the strategically important area near the Persian Gulf.
The verse goes on to describe how the inhabitants, likely under Assyrian influence or governance, built up the land by erecting towers and palaces, indicating a period of development and urbanization. However, the final part of the verse foreshadows the transient nature of empires by stating that the same Assyrians "brought it to ruin." This could be a reference to the eventual decline of Assyrian power and the destruction that often accompanies the fall of an empire.
In summary, Isaiah 23:13 encapsulates the themes of imperial rise and decline, the influence of powerful nations over weaker ones, and the transformation of landscapes through human settlement and architectural development. It reflects the historical reality of the ancient Near East, where empires like Assyria expanded their territories and influence, only to eventually succumb to the same forces of conquest and decay that they once inflicted upon others. This verse serves as a poignant reminder of the impermanence of human achievements and the inevitability of change in the political and geographical landscape of the region.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H3778
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כַּשְׂדִּי
Transliteration: Kasdîy
Pronunciation: kas-dee'
Description: (occasionally with enclitic) כַּשְׂדִּימָה; towards the Kasdites into Chaldea), patronymically from כֶּשֶׂד (only in the plural); a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people; Chaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea. - Strong's Number: H5971
There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַם
Transliteration: ʻam
Pronunciation: am
Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people. - Strong's Number: H804
There are 340 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַשּׁוּר
Transliteration: ʼAshshûwr
Pronunciation: ash-shoor'
Description: or אַשֻּׁר; apparently from אָשַׁר (in the sense of successful); Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria), its region and its empire; Asshur, Assur, Assyria, Assyrians. See אָשֻׁר. - Strong's Number: H3245
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָסַד
Transliteration: yâçad
Pronunciation: yaw-sad'
Description: a primitive root; to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consult; appoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, [idiom] sure. - Strong's Number: H6728
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צִיִּי
Transliteration: tsîyîy
Pronunciation: tsee-ee'
Description: from the same as צִיָּה; a desert-dweller, i.e. nomad or wild beast; wild beast of the desert, that dwell in (inhabiting) the wilderness. - Strong's Number: H6965
There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוּם
Transliteration: qûwm
Pronunciation: koom
Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising). - Strong's Number: H971
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּחִין
Transliteration: bachîyn
Pronunciation: bakh-een'
Description: another form of בַּחַן; a watch-tower of besiegers; tower. - Strong's Number: H6209
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָרַר
Transliteration: ʻârar
Pronunciation: aw-rar'
Description: a primitive root; to bare; figuratively, to demolish; make bare, break, raise up (perhaps by clerical error for raze), [idiom] utterly. - Strong's Number: H759
There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַרְמוֹן
Transliteration: ʼarmôwn
Pronunciation: ar-mone'
Description: from an unused root (meaning to be elevated); a citadel (from its height); castle, palace. Compare הַרְמוֹן. - Strong's Number: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H4654
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַפָּלָה
Transliteration: mappâlâh
Pronunciation: map-paw-law'
Description: or מַפֵּלָה; from נָפַל; something fallen, i.e. a ruin; ruin(-ous).