Isaiah 48:14

All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them hath declared these [things]? The LORD hath loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans.

All ye, assemble {H6908} yourselves, and hear {H8085}; which among them hath declared {H5046} these things? The LORD {H3068} hath loved {H157} him: he will do {H6213} his pleasure {H2656} on Babylon {H894}, and his arm {H2220} shall be on the Chaldeans {H3778}.

"All of you, assemble and listen: which of you has foretold what is coming? ADONAI's friend will do his will against Bavel, using his arm against the Kasdim.

Come together, all of you, and listen: Which of the idols has foretold these things? The LORD’s chosen ally will carry out His desire against Babylon, and His arm will be against the Chaldeans.

Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; who among them hath declared these things? He whom Jehovah loveth shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.

Isaiah 48:14 (KJV) is a powerful declaration from God to His people, exiled in Babylon, emphasizing His unique ability to foretell and control historical events, particularly the downfall of their oppressors.

Context

This verse is part of Isaiah's "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-66), delivered to the Jewish exiles during or just before their captivity in Babylon. In this section, God repeatedly contrasts His omnipotence and foreknowledge with the impotence of idols and the false gods worshipped by other nations. He challenges them to produce anyone who could have declared the future with such precision. Here, He specifically points to the impending judgment on Babylon and the instrument He will use to accomplish it. The audience is called to "assemble yourselves, and hear," indicating the importance and certainty of this divine pronouncement.

Key Themes

  • God's Unique Foreknowledge and Sovereignty: The rhetorical question, "which among them hath declared these [things]?" underscores that only the LORD can predict and orchestrate future events, including the rise and fall of empires. This theme is central to Isaiah 40-48, asserting God's absolute control over history (see Isaiah 41:22-23).
  • Divine Purpose and Judgment on Babylon: The verse clearly states that God "will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans." This is a definitive prophecy of Babylon's overthrow, a recurring theme in the prophets due to their oppressive treatment of God's people (compare Jeremiah 25:12). The "Chaldeans" were the ruling class of Babylon.
  • God's Chosen Instrument: "The LORD hath loved him" refers to the individual God has chosen and empowered to conquer Babylon. While not named in this specific verse, the broader context of Isaiah identifies this figure as Cyrus the Great, the Persian king whom God raised up to deliver His people from exile. God's "love" or favor here signifies His sovereign choice and equipping for a specific purpose.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "The LORD hath loved him" (Hebrew: יְהוָה אֲהֵב֣וֹ, Yahweh ahevo) signifies God's divine favor, selection, and commissioning of an individual for a specific task. It doesn't necessarily imply personal salvation but rather a chosen instrument for His sovereign will. This is a powerful testament to God's ability to use even those outside the covenant community to fulfill His purposes.

Practical Application

Isaiah 48:14 offers profound comfort and reassurance. It reminds us that God is sovereign over all of history, even amidst the chaos and oppression of human empires. Just as He raised up Cyrus to bring down Babylon, He continues to work in the world today, often through unexpected means, to accomplish His divine will. This verse encourages trust in God's ultimate plan, knowing that His promises of judgment against injustice and deliverance for His people will surely come to pass. It calls us to listen and observe how God, uniquely, declares and then fulfills His word.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 43:9

    Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, [It is] truth.

  • Jeremiah 50:21

    ¶ Go up against the land of Merathaim, [even] against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.

  • Jeremiah 50:29

    Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

  • Isaiah 13:17

    Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and [as for] gold, they shall not delight in it.

  • Isaiah 13:18

    [Their] bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

  • Isaiah 41:22

    Let them bring [them] forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they [be], that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.

  • Isaiah 13:4

    The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

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