Isaiah 13:7

Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:

Therefore shall all hands {H3027} be faint {H7503}, and every man's {H582} heart {H3824} shall melt {H4549}:

This is why every arm will hang limp and everyone's courage melt away.

Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every manโ€™s heart will melt.

Therefore shall all hands be feeble, and every heart of man shall melt:

Commentary

Context

Isaiah 13:7 is part of a prophetic oracle concerning the destruction of Babylon, introduced as the "burden of Babylon" in Isaiah 13:1. This chapter vividly describes the "Day of the Lord," a recurring theme in prophetic literature, signifying a time of divine judgment and upheaval. The preceding verses (Isaiah 13:2-6) depict God mustering armies from distant lands to execute His wrath upon Babylon, highlighting the overwhelming and inescapable nature of this impending doom. Verse 7 specifically focuses on the psychological and physical impact of this judgment on the inhabitants of Babylon.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse underscores God's absolute control over nations and history. Even mighty empires like Babylon, known for their pride and power, are subject to His righteous judgment. This judgment is not arbitrary but a consequence of their wickedness and oppression, as foreshadowed in passages like Jeremiah 50-51.
  • Overwhelming Fear and Despair: The imagery of "faint hands" and a "melting heart" powerfully conveys utter terror and hopelessness. It speaks to a complete loss of courage and the inability to act or resist when confronted by an inevitable, overwhelming force. This state of paralysis is a direct result of God's hand in their calamity.
  • Human Helplessness: Despite Babylon's immense military and economic strength, its people are depicted as utterly powerless in the face of divine wrath. Their human strength and defenses prove useless, emphasizing that true security lies not in earthly might but in God alone, as seen in Psalm 33:16-17.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses strong, evocative language to describe the effects of fear:

  • "Faint" (Hebrew: raphah - ืจึธืคึธื”): This word means to sink down, relax, grow weak, or become slack. It implies a loss of strength and resolve, rendering hands incapable of holding weapons or performing any task.
  • "Melt" (Hebrew: masas - ืžึธืกึทืก): This term signifies to dissolve, waste away, or lose courage. It paints a vivid picture of the heart turning to liquid, symbolizing extreme terror and demoralization. This same imagery is used elsewhere in scripture to describe profound fear, such as when the hearts of the Canaanites melted before Israel (Joshua 5:1).

Practical Application

Isaiah 13:7 serves as a sober reminder of several timeless truths:

  1. God's Justice is Sure: This prophecy highlights that God is just and will ultimately judge all wickedness and pride. Nations and individuals who defy Him and oppress others will face consequences.
  2. The Futility of Earthly Power: It teaches us not to put our ultimate trust in human strength, wealth, or military might, for these are transient and can crumble in the face of divine purpose. Our true hope should be in God alone, as encouraged in Psalm 118:8.
  3. A Call to Humility and Repentance: The terror described in this verse should prompt reflection on our own lives and nations. Acknowledging God's sovereignty and seeking His mercy through humility and repentance is a wise response to His power.
  4. Comfort for the Righteous: For those who trust in God, this verse, though depicting judgment, also offers assurance that God is in control. He will ultimately bring justice and vindicate His people, even when worldly powers seem insurmountable.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 21:7

    And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak [as] water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Nahum 1:6

    Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

  • Ezekiel 7:17

    All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak [as] water.

  • Isaiah 19:1

    ยถ The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

  • Nahum 2:10

    She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

  • Isaiah 37:27

    Therefore their inhabitants [were] of small power, they were dismayed and confounded: they were [as] the grass of the field, and [as] the green herb, [as] the grass on the housetops, and [as corn] blasted before it be grown up.

  • Jeremiah 50:43

    The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail.
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