King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
But these two [things] shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, [and] for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
Complete Jewish Bible:
But both will come over you in an instant, in a single day loss of children and widowhood; they will utterly overwhelm you, despite your many occult practices and powerful spells to prevent it."
Berean Standard Bible:
These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.
American Standard Version:
but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood; in their full measure shall they come upon thee, in the multitude of thy sorceries, and the great abundance of thine enchantments.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
But these two{H8147} things shall come{H935} to thee in a moment{H7281} in one{H259} day{H3117}, the loss of children{H7908}, and widowhood{H489}: they shall come{H935} upon thee in their perfection{H8537} for the multitude{H7230} of thy sorceries{H3785}, and for the great{H3966} abundance{H6109} of thine enchantments{H2267}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Thessalonians 5:3
- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Psalms 73:19
- How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
Nahum 3:4
- Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts.
Isaiah 47:12
- Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
Isaiah 47:13
- 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.
Revelation 18:8
- Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] the Lord God who judgeth her.
Revelation 18:10
- Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 47:9
Isaiah 47:9 is a part of the prophetic oracles against Babylon found in the latter chapters of the Book of Isaiah. The verse speaks to the sudden and severe judgment that will befall Babylon, symbolized by the calamities of losing children and becoming a widow. These misfortunes are depicted as arriving "in a moment, in one day," emphasizing the swiftness and completeness of the destruction. The reason given for this judgment is Babylon's excessive reliance on sorcery and enchantments—forms of occult practices that were common in the ancient Near East but condemned in the Hebrew Scriptures.
The historical context of this verse is set during the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which was a dominant power in the region and had destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple in 586 BCE, leading to the Babylonian exile of the Jews. The prophecies in Isaiah, particularly from chapter 40 onwards, are often seen as offering hope to the exiled Israelites, assuring them that their oppressors in Babylon would eventually face divine retribution.
The themes of Isaiah 47:9 include the sovereignty of God over nations and empires, the moral accountability of all people, including mighty empires, and the ultimate futility of trusting in human power or occult practices rather than in God. The verse reflects the broader biblical theme that God's justice will prevail and that those who oppress others and engage in sinful practices will not go unpunished. It also serves as a warning to the faithful against turning to false gods or forbidden practices, emphasizing the importance of trusting in God alone.
*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: H8147
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁנַיִם
Transliteration: shᵉnayim
Pronunciation: shen-ah'-yim
Description: dual of שֵׁנִי; feminine שְׁתַּיִם; two; also (as ordinal) twofold; both, couple, double, second, twain, [phrase] twelfth, [phrase] twelve, [phrase] twenty (sixscore) thousand, twice, two. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H7281
There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֶגַע
Transliteration: regaʻ
Pronunciation: reh'-gah
Description: from רָגַע.; a wink (of the eyes), i.e. a very short space of time; instant, moment, space, suddenly. - Strong's Number: H259
There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶחָד
Transliteration: ʼechâd
Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together, - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H7908
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁכוֹל
Transliteration: shᵉkôwl
Pronunciation: shek-ole'
Description: infinitive of שָׁכֹל; bereavement; loss of children, spoiling. - Strong's Number: H489
There are 55 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַלְמֹן
Transliteration: ʼalmôn
Pronunciation: al-mone'
Description: from אָלַם as in אַלְמָן; bereavement; widowhood. - Strong's Number: H8537
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תֹּם
Transliteration: tôm
Pronunciation: tome
Description: from תָּמַם; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually (morally) innocence; full, integrity, perfect(-ion), simplicity, upright(-ly, -ness), at a venture. See תֻּמִּים. - Strong's Number: H7230
There are 149 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רֹב
Transliteration: rôb
Pronunciation: robe
Description: from רָבַב; abundance (in any respect); abundance(-antly), all, [idiom] common (sort), excellent, great(-ly, -ness, number), huge, be increased, long, many, more in number, most, much, multitude, plenty(-ifully), [idiom] very (age). - Strong's Number: H3785
There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֶּשֶׁף
Transliteration: kesheph
Pronunciation: keh'-shef
Description: from כָּשַׁף; magic; sorcery, witchcraft. - Strong's Number: H3966
There are 278 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְאֹד
Transliteration: mᵉʼôd
Pronunciation: meh-ode'
Description: from the same as אוּד; properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or superlative; especially when repeated); diligently, especially, exceeding(-ly), far, fast, good, great(-ly), [idiom] louder and louder, might(-ily, -y), (so) much, quickly, (so) sore, utterly, very ([phrase] much, sore), well. - Strong's Number: H6109
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עׇצְמָה
Transliteration: ʻotsmâh
Pronunciation: ots-maw'
Description: feminine of עֹצֶם; powerfulness; by extension, numerousness; abundance, strength. - Strong's Number: H2267
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֶבֶר
Transliteration: cheber
Pronunciation: kheh'-ber
Description: from חָבַר; a society; also a spell; [phrase] charmer(-ing), company, enchantment, [idiom] wide.