Isaiah 47:6

KJV

I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

KJV (with Strong's)

I was wroth {H7107} with my people {H5971}, I have polluted {H2490} mine inheritance {H5159}, and given {H5414} them into thine hand {H3027}: thou didst shew {H7760} them no mercy {H7356}; upon the ancient {H2205} hast thou very {H3966} heavily {H3513} laid thy yoke {H5923}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I was angry with my people, I desecrated my own possession and gave them over to you. But you showed them no mercy; you made your yoke very heavy, even upon the aged.

Berean Standard Bible

I was angry with My people; I profaned My heritage, and I placed them under your control. You showed them no mercy; even on the elderly you laid a most heavy yoke.

American Standard Version

I was wroth with my people, I profaned mine inheritance, and gave them into thy hand: thou didst show them no mercy; upon the aged hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 47:6 presents a dual declaration from God to Babylon, elucidating the divine purpose behind Judah's exile while simultaneously condemning Babylon for its excessive cruelty. It reveals that Israel's captivity was a direct consequence of God's righteous wrath against His disobedient people, whom He permitted to be profaned and delivered into Babylon's hand. However, the verse sharply indicts Babylon for exceeding the bounds of divine judgment by showing no mercy, particularly to the vulnerable and elderly, thereby sealing its own fate for future retribution.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 47 is a powerful prophetic oracle, often characterized as a "lament" or "taunt" song, directly addressing Babylon, personified as a proud and arrogant queen, "the daughter of Babylon" or "virgin daughter of Babylon" ([Isaiah 47:1](/isaiah/47-1 "Isaiah 47:1 - Babylon's Humiliation Foretold")). The preceding verses ([Isaiah 47:1-5](/isaiah/47-1-5 "Isaiah 47:1-5 - Babylon's Fall and Shame")) vividly depict Babylon's impending humiliation and downfall, stripping her of her former glory and power. Verse 6 marks a crucial pivot, providing the divine rationale for *why* God allowed Babylon to conquer Judah and carry them into exile. It clarifies that Judah's suffering was not arbitrary but a direct consequence of God's wrath and His sovereign decision to "pollute" or profane His inheritance. This verse then shifts focus to indict Babylon, not for being God's instrument, but for the ruthless and merciless manner in which it carried out its commission, especially towards the vulnerable, setting the stage for Babylon's own inevitable judgment detailed in the latter half of the chapter ([Isaiah 47:7-15](/isaiah/47-7-15 "Isaiah 47:7-15 - Babylon's Arrogance and Doom")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for this prophecy is the Babylonian exile, a traumatic period following the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar II. The people of Judah, including their leaders, priests, and skilled craftsmen, were forcibly deported to Babylon. This was a time of immense national trauma and theological crisis for Israel, as it challenged their understanding of God's covenant faithfulness and their status as His chosen people. Culturally, the "yoke" was a common metaphor for servitude, oppression, or a heavy burden, typically used for beasts of burden but also applied to human subjugation. To "lay a yoke" on someone was to enslave or oppress them. The specific mention of "the ancient" (elderly) highlights a particularly egregious act of cruelty, as ancient Near Eastern cultures generally held elders in high esteem and respect, viewing them as repositories of wisdom and tradition. Babylon's lack of mercy towards them underscored their extreme barbarity, going beyond the typical harshness of ancient warfare and conquest.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes found throughout Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Justice**, demonstrating that God is in complete control of historical events, even using pagan nations as instruments of His judgment against His own disobedient people (compare [Isaiah 10:5-7](/isaiah/10-5-7 "Isaiah 10:5-7 - Assyria as God's Rod")). Secondly, it highlights the concept of **Israel as God's Inheritance**, a cherished possession that, due to unfaithfulness, God permitted to be profaned, emphasizing the seriousness of covenant disobedience (see also [Deuteronomy 32:9](/deuteronomy/32-9 "Deuteronomy 32:9 - Israel, the Lord's Portion")). Thirdly, the verse introduces the crucial theme of **Accountability for Instruments of Judgment**. While God used Babylon, Babylon's actions of "no mercy" and excessive cruelty, particularly towards the vulnerable and "ancient," reveal its own sinfulness and set the stage for its subsequent divine judgment (as seen in [Jeremiah 50:29](/jeremiah/50-29 "Jeremiah 50:29 - Babylon's Punishment for Cruelty")). Finally, the "very heavily laid thy yoke" speaks to the theme of **Oppression and Suffering**, vividly portraying the harsh realities of exile and the crushing burdens imposed by foreign powers, a common motif throughout the prophetic books.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Polluted (Hebrew, _châlal'_):** From H2490, this word primarily means "to bore" or "to wound," but figuratively, it carries the profound sense of "to profane," "to defile," or "to violate." In this context, when God says, "I have polluted mine inheritance," it does not imply that God actively made His people impure. Rather, it signifies His sovereign decision to permit His holy, chosen people—His special possession—to be treated as common, defiled, or profaned by their pagan captors. It implies a stripping away of their sacred status in the eyes of their enemies, a direct consequence of their own spiritual defilement and covenant breaking.

* **Ancient (Hebrew, _zâqên'_):** From H2205, this term refers to someone "old," "aged," or an "elder." In ancient Near Eastern societies, elders held positions of significant respect, wisdom, and authority. The specific mention of the "ancient" being subjected to such harsh treatment ("very heavily laid thy yoke") underscores the extreme and unpardonable cruelty of Babylon. It indicates that even the most vulnerable and revered members of society were not spared from their ruthless oppression, highlighting Babylon's utter lack of compassion and moral depravity.

* **Heavily (Hebrew, _kâbad'_):** From H3513, this root means "to be heavy," and can imply something burdensome, severe, or difficult. When combined with the intensive "very" (H3966, _mᵉʼôd_), it emphasizes the extreme weight and severity of the "yoke" imposed by Babylon. It conveys not just a burden, but an oppressive, crushing weight, signifying the immense suffering and hardship inflicted upon the exiles, far beyond what might be considered a normal consequence of conquest or discipline.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I was wroth with my people":** This clause establishes the divine impetus for Judah's suffering. God's anger (H7107, _qâtsaph_) is righteous indignation, a just response to the persistent disobedience, idolatry, and covenant unfaithfulness of His chosen people. Their exile was not random misfortune but a direct act of divine judgment and discipline, demonstrating God's holiness and His commitment to His covenant.

* **"I have polluted mine inheritance":** This powerful statement, using _châlal_ (H2490) and _nachălâh_ (H5159), signifies God's sovereign decision to allow His cherished people, whom He considered His special possession (His "inheritance"), to be treated as common or profaned by their enemies. It was a consequence of their own spiritual defilement that God permitted their physical and national defilement in exile, a stripping away of their privileged status due to their unfaithfulness.

* **"and given them into thine hand":** This phrase, using _nâthan_ (H5414) and _yâd_ (H3027), explicitly states that Babylon's victory over Judah was not by its own might alone, but by divine permission and agency. God Himself delivered His people into Babylon's power, making Babylon an instrument of His wrath and a tool for the execution of His judgment.

* **"thou didst shew them no mercy":** This is the crucial turning point, shifting the indictment from Judah's sin to Babylon's culpability. Despite being God's instrument, Babylon is condemned for its utter lack of compassion (H7356, _racham_). This indicates that Babylon's actions exceeded the punitive measure God intended, revealing a cruel heart that delighted in oppression and suffering rather than merely fulfilling a divine commission.

* **"upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke":** This final clause vividly illustrates Babylon's extreme cruelty and underscores its moral failing. The "yoke" (H5923, _ʻôl_) symbolizes the burden of servitude and oppression. The phrase "very heavily" (H3966, _mᵉʼôd_ and H3513, _kâbad_) emphasizes the crushing weight and severity of this burden. The specific mention of "the ancient" (H2205, _zâqên_) highlights that even the most vulnerable and respected members of society were subjected to this merciless treatment, underscoring Babylon's profound moral culpability and sealing its own condemnation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 47:6 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with striking impact. **Personification** is evident throughout Chapter 47, where Babylon is addressed directly as a "virgin daughter" and a "queen," making the oracle a direct confrontation with a living, arrogant entity, thereby enhancing the emotional and rhetorical impact of the divine indictment. The "yoke" serves as a powerful **Metaphor** for the oppressive burden of captivity and servitude, a common and evocative image in prophetic literature to describe subjugation. The phrase "very heavily laid thy yoke" utilizes **Hyperbole** or intense **Emphasis** (through the repetition of the root for "heavy" and the intensive adverb "very") to underscore the extreme and merciless nature of Babylon's oppression, indicating actions that went far beyond mere discipline to outright cruelty. Furthermore, the verse exhibits **Divine Pathos**, where God expresses His "wrath" but also His permitting of His "inheritance" to be "polluted," revealing a complex emotional landscape of divine justice intertwined with a sense of sorrow over the defilement and suffering of His chosen people. The stark contrast between God's intended purpose (discipline) and Babylon's execution (unbridled, merciless cruelty) creates a powerful **Antithesis**, highlighting the profound moral failing of the oppressor.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 47:6 profoundly illustrates the intricate balance of divine justice, sovereignty, and human accountability. God's righteous wrath against sin is undeniable, leading Him to use even pagan nations as instruments of discipline for His covenant people. Yet, this verse simultaneously establishes a critical theological principle: while God may employ agents for His purposes, those agents remain morally responsible for their actions, particularly when they exceed the bounds of justice with unbridled cruelty and a lack of mercy. Babylon's sin was not in conquering Judah—that was God's will—but in its unbridled, merciless oppression, especially of the vulnerable. This highlights God's unwavering commitment to justice, not just for His people, but for all nations, holding them accountable to a universal moral standard of compassion and restraint. The suffering of Judah, though divinely ordained as discipline, was met with excessive human cruelty, which in turn became the basis for Babylon's own impending judgment.

* [Jeremiah 50:29](/jeremiah/50-29 "Jeremiah 50:29 - Babylon's Punishment for Cruelty")
* [Zechariah 1:15](/zechariah/1-15 "Zechariah 1:15 - God's Anger at Nations Who Added to Affliction")
* [Matthew 25:40](/matthew/25-40 "Matthew 25:40 - Showing Mercy to the Least of These")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 47:6 offers profound lessons for believers today. Firstly, it serves as a sobering reminder that God's discipline, though painful, is a testament to His holiness and His unwavering commitment to purifying His people. Our disobedience has consequences, and God, in His sovereignty, may permit difficult circumstances to bring us to repentance and deeper reliance on Him. Secondly, the verse challenges us to consider our own responses when we are in positions of power or influence, whether over individuals, groups, or even in our daily interactions. Are we instruments of God's grace and mercy, or do we, like Babylon, inflict unnecessary burdens and show a lack of compassion? The condemnation of Babylon for its lack of mercy, especially towards the vulnerable, calls us to cultivate a heart of empathy and active compassion, mirroring the very character of God. We are called to bear one another's burdens, not to add to them, and to extend grace as we have received it, recognizing that true power is exercised with humility and compassion.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's "wrath" in this verse shape my view of His character and His justice?**
* **In what ways might I, or the institutions I am part of, be tempted to exert power without mercy, even if we believe we are acting for a "greater good"?**
* **How can the suffering of God's people, as depicted here, deepen my trust in His ultimate sovereignty and purpose, even in my own trials?**
* **What practical steps can I take to demonstrate greater mercy and compassion towards the vulnerable in my community, aligning with God's condemnation of Babylon's cruelty?**

### FAQ
**Did God truly "pollute" His own people?**

Answer: No, the Hebrew word _châlal_ (H2490) translated "polluted" here means "to profane" or "to treat as common." It signifies that God permitted His holy inheritance, His chosen people, to be treated as common or defiled by their enemies due to their own unfaithfulness and spiritual defilement. It was a consequence of their sin that God allowed their sacred status to be violated and their land to be desecrated, rather than God actively making them impure. This highlights God's sovereignty in allowing such humiliation as a form of divine discipline, but the active defilement was a result of Israel's actions and Babylon's cruelty.

**Why was Babylon condemned if it was merely an instrument of God's will?**

Answer: Babylon was condemned because it exceeded the bounds of God's intended discipline with its excessive cruelty and utter lack of mercy, particularly towards the vulnerable like the "ancient." While God used Babylon as His "rod of anger" (as seen in [Isaiah 10:5](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5 - Assyria as God's Rod")), Babylon acted with its own malicious intent and took pleasure in the suffering it inflicted. God holds nations and individuals accountable for their moral choices, even when they are unwittingly fulfilling a part of His sovereign plan. Babylon's sin was its pride, its mercilessness, and its belief that its power was its own, not divinely granted (compare [Habakkuk 1:11](/habakkuk/1-11 "Habakkuk 1:11 - Babylon's Guilt")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 47:6, while detailing God's judgment and Babylon's cruelty, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in several profound ways. First, Jesus Christ is the perfect embodiment of God's righteous wrath against sin, yet He bore that wrath on the cross, becoming "polluted" for us, taking on the defilement of our sin so that we might become the righteousness of God (as proclaimed in [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ became sin for us")). He became the ultimate "inheritance" that was profaned, suffering the deepest humiliation and rejection, yet through His suffering, He secured our eternal inheritance. Second, where Babylon laid a "heavy yoke" on the ancient and vulnerable with no mercy, Jesus offers a contrasting yoke: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" ([Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Jesus' Easy Yoke")). He demonstrates perfect mercy, especially to the weak, the marginalized, and the "ancient" in spirit, embodying the very compassion Babylon lacked. Finally, the judgment pronounced on Babylon for its lack of mercy foreshadows the ultimate judgment of all nations and individuals who fail to show compassion, as depicted in Christ's teaching on the sheep and the goats, where mercy shown to "the least of these" is mercy shown to Him ([Matthew 25:31-46](/matthew/25-31-46 "Matthew 25:31-46 - The Judgment of the Nations")). Thus, Christ is both the one who bore the "pollution" of our sin and the ultimate standard of mercy and justice against which all human actions are measured.

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

2 Chronicles 28:9

But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name [was] Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage [that] reacheth up unto heaven.

Zechariah 1:15

And I am very sore displeased with the heathen [that are] at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.

Deuteronomy 28:50

A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:

Obadiah 1:10

¶ For [thy] violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

James 2:13

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

Psalms 69:26

For they persecute [him] whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.

Isaiah 42:24

Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the LORD, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.