Isaiah 14:21

KJV

Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.

KJV (with Strong's)

Prepare {H3559} slaughter {H4293} for his children {H1121} for the iniquity {H5771} of their fathers {H1}; that they do not {H1077} rise {H6965}, nor possess {H3423} the land {H776}, nor fill {H4390} the face {H6440} of the world {H8398} with cities {H6145}{H5892}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Get ready to slaughter his sons for the iniquity of their fathers; so they won't arise, take over the earth and cover the world with their cities."

Berean Standard Bible

Prepare a place to slaughter his sons for the iniquities of their forefathers. They will never rise up to possess a land or cover the earth with their cities.

American Standard Version

Prepare ye slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they rise not up, and possess the earth, and fill the face of the world with cities.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 14:21 delivers a potent prophetic decree within the oracle against Babylon, announcing a comprehensive and irreversible judgment upon the oppressive Babylonian dynasty. It foretells the complete eradication of the king's lineage and legacy, ensuring that his descendants will neither rise to power, re-establish dominion over the land, nor proliferate their tyrannical influence across the globe. This definitive pronouncement signifies the final termination of their reign of wickedness and oppression, justly administered due to the accumulated iniquity of their forefathers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the "Burden of Babylon" (Isaiah 13-14), a profound prophetic oracle detailing the cataclysmic downfall of the Babylonian Empire. The immediate preceding verses (Isaiah 14:4-20) present a vivid taunt song, celebrating the humiliation and demise of the proud king of Babylon. This section is often interpreted as a dual prophecy, speaking to both the historical king and, symbolically, to the fall of Lucifer due to his audacious pride and attempt to usurp divine authority, as powerfully depicted in the imagery of [Isaiah 14:12-15](/isaiah/14-12-15 "Isaiah 14:12-15 - The Fall of the Morning Star"). Verse 21 extends this judgment beyond the individual monarch to his entire lineage, ensuring that the wicked dynasty will not perpetuate its evil influence. This comprehensive eradication serves as a climactic statement, underscoring the absolute finality of God's judgment against those who defiantly oppose His sovereignty and mercilessly oppress His people.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah's prophecy against Babylon was delivered centuries before Babylon's ascent to global dominance and its subsequent pivotal role in the exile of Judah. This forward-looking judgment profoundly highlights God's omniscient control over the course of human history and the destinies of nations. In the ancient Near East, the complete destruction of a defeated ruling dynasty, including its offspring, was a common, albeit brutal, practice employed by conquering empires. This was done to prevent any future challenge to their rule and to utterly erase the memory and legacy of the vanquished foe. Understanding this cultural norm illuminates the severity and totality of the divine judgment pronounced by God in this verse. The phrase "iniquity of their fathers" refers to the pervasive, systemic wickedness, rampant idolatry, and oppressive policies that characterized the Babylonian empire, particularly its cruelty towards conquered nations and its blasphemous pride against the God of Israel, as graphically recounted in historical narratives such as [Daniel 5](/daniel/5 "Daniel 5 - Belshazzar's Feast and the Handwriting on the Wall").

* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 14:21 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes found throughout the book of Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Primarily, it underscores **Divine Judgment and Justice**, unequivocally demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over earthly powers and His unwavering commitment to bringing righteous justice upon wicked and oppressive empires. The "slaughter for his children" signifies a comprehensive and definitive end to their power and influence, ensuring that the legacy of tyranny is utterly extinguished. Secondly, it profoundly addresses the theme of **Generational Consequences** of persistent sin. While carefully distinguishing from the punishment of innocent individuals for personal sins, it emphasizes the principle that the perpetuation of severe corporate iniquity within a lineage or systemic structure can justly lead to its complete termination, thereby preventing the wicked legacy from continuing to spread evil and oppression. This focuses on the corporate identity and trajectory of the oppressive regime. Finally, the verse highlights the **Eradication of Wicked Influence**, as the phrases "that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities" vividly portray the complete cessation of Babylon's dominion and its utter inability to rebuild or expand its tyrannical influence. This assures God's people of a future free from such oppression, resonating with other prophetic declarations of God's ultimate triumph over evil, such as those found in [Nahum 1:9](/nahum/1-9 "Nahum 1:9 - God's Final Judgment on Nineveh").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prepare (Hebrew, _kûwn'_):** This word (H3559) signifies to be erect, to set up, establish, fix, or make ready. In this context, it denotes God's deliberate, intentional, and resolute action. It is not a spontaneous outburst but a predetermined, firm, and certain divine decree to bring about the judgment. The "preparation" underscores the inevitability, thoroughness, and divine orchestration of the impending "slaughter."
* **Iniquity (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to bend, twist, or pervert," _ʻâvôn_ (H5771) refers to moral evil, perversity, and guilt. It encapsulates the idea of a twisted or distorted way of life that deviates fundamentally from God's righteous standards. Here, it highlights that the judgment is not arbitrary but a just and deserved response to the accumulated, systemic, and unrepentant moral perversion of the Babylonian fathers, passed down and perpetuated through their governance.
* **Possess (Hebrew, _yârash'_):** This verb (H3423) means to occupy, seize, inherit, or dispossess. Its usage here emphasizes the divine prevention of the Babylonian descendants from re-establishing their dominion, reclaiming their former authority, or inheriting the land they once oppressed. The divine judgment ensures they will be utterly dispossessed and permanently unable to reassert their tyrannical control or legacy.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Prepare slaughter for his children":** This opening clause reveals God's active, decisive, and intentional judgment. The term "slaughter" (maṭbêach, H4293) is stark and absolute, indicating a complete and violent eradication. "His children" (bên, H1121) refers to the descendants of the wicked Babylonian king and, by extension, the entire oppressive dynasty. The judgment is precisely aimed at preventing the perpetuation of their wicked lineage and its destructive influence.
* **"for the iniquity of their fathers":** This crucial phrase provides the divine rationale and just cause for the severe judgment. The "iniquity" (ʻâvôn, H5771) of the fathers signifies their pervasive moral evil, deep-seated perversity, and accumulated guilt through generations of oppression, pride, and rebellion against God. The judgment is not an arbitrary punishment of innocent offspring, but the just termination of a corporate entity (the dynasty) whose identity and actions were inextricably defined by persistent and unrepentant wickedness.
* **"that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities":** This final clause articulates the precise purpose and comprehensive effect of the divine judgment. "Do not rise" (bal qûwm, H1077 H6965) means they will not regain power, prominence, or any form of resurgence. "Nor possess the land" (bal yârash ʼerets, H1077 H3423 H776) indicates they will not inherit or re-establish their dominion over the territories they once controlled. "Nor fill the face of the world with cities" (bal mâlêʼ pânîym têbêl ʻîyr, H1077 H4390 H6440 H8398 H5892) signifies that they will be utterly prevented from rebuilding their empire, expanding their influence, or spreading their oppressive culture and dominion globally. The three parallel negative clauses powerfully emphasize the utter and permanent cessation of their power, legacy, and destructive impact.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 14:21 masterfully employs several powerful **literary devices** to convey the absolute and irreversible nature of God's judgment. The phrase "Prepare slaughter" functions as a **divine fiat** or **command**, highlighting God's absolute sovereignty and the certainty of His will being executed. The use of "slaughter" (maṭbêach) is a potent form of **hyperbole** combined with **metonymy**, representing not merely physical killing but the complete and utter destruction of the dynasty and its entire legacy, thereby preventing any future resurgence. The term "children" (bên) is a **metonymy** for the entire future lineage, potential successors, and the corporate identity of the Babylonian king's oppressive power. Furthermore, the three parallel negative clauses—"that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities"—form a powerful **tricolon** that emphasizes the comprehensive, absolute, and permanent nature of the judgment, ensuring that no aspect of Babylon's oppressive power or influence will ever return. This cumulative effect underscores the finality and totality of God's righteous justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 14:21 profoundly illustrates the theological principle of divine justice, particularly as it applies to nations and their corporate sin. While God judges individuals for their personal sins, this passage speaks to the corporate responsibility of a ruling dynasty whose systemic oppression, idolatry, and rebellion against God accumulate over generations, ultimately leading to a just and decisive end. It underscores that God is sovereign over all earthly powers, meticulously raising up and bringing down empires according to His righteous and immutable will. This judgment is not merely punitive but also redemptive, as it promises liberation for the oppressed and the definitive removal of a pervasive source of global wickedness, thereby clearing the way for God's redemptive purposes to advance. It serves as a stark and enduring reminder that unchecked pride, ruthless tyranny, and persistent iniquity ultimately invite divine retribution, ensuring that no human power can ultimately thwart God's eternal plans.

* [Exodus 34:6-7](/exodus/34-6-7 "Exodus 34:6-7 - The Lord's Compassion and Justice")
* [Jeremiah 50:13](/jeremiah/50-13 "Jeremiah 50:13 - Babylon's Desolation")
* [Psalm 76:10](/psalms/76-10 "Psalm 76:10 - God's Wrath and Praise")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 14:21 offers a profound and sobering message for contemporary reflection and spiritual application. It powerfully reminds us that God is intimately and actively involved in the affairs of nations, and while His patience is immense and long-suffering, His justice is absolutely certain and unavoidable. For those living under oppressive systems or witnessing widespread injustice and corruption, this prophecy offers a powerful source of hope, comfort, and reassurance that no empire, however mighty, entrenched, or seemingly invincible in its wickedness, can ultimately stand against the sovereign and righteous will of God. It encourages believers to cultivate unwavering trust in God's ultimate plan for justice and to pray fervently for the downfall of systems that perpetuate evil and oppress the vulnerable. Conversely, it serves as a solemn and urgent warning against the insidious dangers of pride, unchecked power, and the perpetuation of systemic iniquity. It prompts us to critically examine the legacy we are building, not just as individuals, but corporately within our communities, institutions, and nations, and to strive relentlessly for righteousness, mercy, and justice in our respective spheres of influence, recognizing that the choices and actions of one generation can have profound and lasting impacts—for good or ill—on those who follow.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does this passage challenge our understanding of divine justice, especially concerning generational consequences for corporate sin and the fall of oppressive systems?**
* **In what specific ways might we, individually or corporately, be inadvertently perpetuating "iniquity" or contributing to systems that could lead to negative legacies for future generations?**
* **How does this prophecy encourage us to trust in God's sovereignty over present-day oppressive systems and to maintain hope for their ultimate downfall and the establishment of His righteous kingdom?**

### FAQ
**Does "slaughter for his children" mean God punishes innocent children for their fathers' sins?**

Answer: No, this passage does not imply that God punishes innocent individuals for the personal sins of their parents. Instead, it speaks to the corporate judgment upon a wicked dynasty or an entire oppressive system. In the ancient world, the "children" (H1121, _bên_) often represented the continuation of a lineage, a royal house, or an entire people group defined by its corporate identity, actions, and legacy. The judgment here is aimed at preventing the *perpetuation* of the Babylonian empire's oppressive and idolatrous legacy. It is fundamentally about the complete termination of a wicked system, ensuring that its evil influence ("fill the face of the world with cities" - H4390 H6440 H8398 H5892) does not continue. This understanding aligns perfectly with other clear biblical principles, such as [Ezekiel 18:20](/zekiel/18-20 "Ezekiel 18:20 - Individual Responsibility"), which explicitly states, "The soul who sins will die. The son will not bear the punishment for the father’s iniquity, nor will the father bear the punishment for the son’s iniquity." The focus in Isaiah 14:21 is on the eradication of a corporate entity whose very existence and actions were defined by its unrepentant wickedness and oppression.

**How does this severe judgment relate to God's mercy and patience?**

Answer: While Isaiah 14:21 portrays a severe and definitive judgment, it must be understood within the broader, holistic context of God's multifaceted character, which is both infinitely merciful and perfectly just. God is consistently described as "slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" ([Nahum 1:3](/nahum/1-3 "Nahum 1:3 - God's Justice and Patience")). However, His patience is not infinite, especially when faced with persistent, unrepentant wickedness and systemic oppression that causes immense suffering to His people and the world. The judgment on Babylon, therefore, is not an act of arbitrary cruelty, but a righteous and necessary response to generations of accumulated "iniquity" (H5771, _ʻâvôn_) and a powerful demonstration of God's unwavering commitment to justice for the oppressed. In this profound sense, the judgment is also an act of mercy towards those who suffered under Babylon's tyranny, bringing a definitive end to their subjugation and paving the way for God's redemptive purposes for His people and for all creation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 14:21, with its pronouncement of the utter eradication of an oppressive earthly kingdom and its wicked lineage, finds its ultimate and comprehensive fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "slaughter" prepared for the children of the wicked king of Babylon foreshadows the definitive and final judgment that Christ executes upon all forms of evil, sin, and oppressive spiritual powers. Just as Babylon's legacy was to be permanently prevented from rising or possessing the land, so too has Christ, through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, utterly defeated the ultimate oppressor—Satan—and decisively broken the power of sin and death ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). The "iniquity of their fathers" (H5771, _ʻâvôn_) that brought such severe judgment upon Babylon is the very sin that Christ bore on the cross, offering a path to profound redemption and breaking the generational curses of sin for all who believe in Him ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Christ Redeems from the Curse of the Law")). The prophetic promise that Babylon's descendants would "not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities" points forward to the eternal, unshakeable kingdom established by Christ. Unlike transient earthly empires, His kingdom will never be overthrown, and His people, the redeemed "children" of God, are the ones who truly "inherit the earth" ([Matthew 5:5](/matthew/5-5 "The Beatitudes: Inheriting the Earth")) and will reign with Him forever in a new creation ([Revelation 22:5](/revelation/22-5 "Reigning Forever")). The final, cataclysmic destruction of spiritual Babylon in the book of Revelation ([Revelation 18](/revelation/18 "The Fall of Babylon the Great")) is the ultimate fulfillment of this prophetic principle, where every vestige of oppressive human rebellion against God is permanently removed, making way for the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells eternally ([Revelation 21:1-4](/revelation/21-1-4 "The New Heaven and New Earth")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 23:35

That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

Exodus 20:5

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;

Leviticus 26:39

And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

Habakkuk 2:8

Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and [for] the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.

Habakkuk 2:12

Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!

Isaiah 27:6

He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.