Isaiah 48:14

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 48:14 serves as a powerful divine summons, urging all to assemble and bear witness to the LORD's unparalleled sovereignty and unique foreknowledge. It emphatically declares that only Yahweh possesses the ability to reveal future events, specifically His preordained plan to execute His will upon the formidable empire of Babylon and the Chaldeans through a divinely chosen and favored instrument. This pronouncement functions both as an irrefutable challenge to the impotence of false deities and as a profound assurance to Israel concerning their impending liberation and the certain downfall of their oppressors.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the latter half of the book of Isaiah, often referred to as "Second Isaiah" (chapters 40-66), which is primarily addressed to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Specifically, it concludes a major section (chapters 40-48) where God relentlessly asserts His unique identity, omnipotence, and singular ability to declare future events, contrasting Himself sharply with the lifeless idols of the nations. Chapter 48, in particular, acts as a summary and culmination of these themes, emphasizing God's unwavering faithfulness despite Israel's stubbornness and idolatry, and reiterating His exclusive power to both prophesy and accomplish historical outcomes. The imperative "assemble yourselves, and hear" (Isaiah 48:14a) underscores the gravity and certainty of this divine pronouncement, compelling the audience to recognize the undeniable evidence of God's absolute control over all of history.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Isaiah 48:14 is the dire period of the Babylonian exile, a time of profound national trauma and spiritual crisis for the Judeans. Following the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC, many of Judah's inhabitants were forcibly deported to Babylon, the magnificent capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ruled by the Chaldean dynasty. Babylon was renowned for its immense military power, advanced civilization, impressive architectural feats, and pervasive idolatry, particularly the worship of Marduk. The Chaldeans, as the dominant ruling class, embodied the oppressive force holding God's covenant people captive. Within this seemingly hopeless context, God's declaration of Babylon's imminent downfall, orchestrated through a divinely chosen "him" (later identified as Cyrus the Great in [Isaiah 44:28](/isaiah/44-28 "Isaiah 44:28 - God's Decree for Cyrus") and [Isaiah 45:1](/isaiah/45-1 "Isaiah 45:1 - Cyrus, God's Anointed")), would have been a revolutionary and counter-intuitive message of hope and impending liberation. It directly challenged the perceived invincibility of their captors and powerfully reaffirmed the LORD's ultimate authority over all earthly empires and their deities.
* **Key Themes:** Isaiah 48:14 masterfully weaves together several foundational themes that permeate the book of Isaiah. Firstly, it powerfully asserts **God's Unique Foreknowledge and Sovereignty**, posing a rhetorical challenge to any other deity or human power to predict and orchestrate events with such precision and certainty. This theme is central to Isaiah's polemic for Yahweh's unparalleled uniqueness and omnipotence (e.g., [Isaiah 41:21-24](/isaiah/41-21-24 "Isaiah 41:21-24 - God Challenges Idols to Declare the Future")). Secondly, the verse highlights **Divine Purpose and Judgment on Babylon**, a recurring prophetic motif throughout the Old Testament due to Babylon's role as an oppressor of God's people and its hubris (e.g., [Jeremiah 50-51](/jeremiah/50 "Jeremiah 50-51 - Prophecy Against Babylon")). The explicit statement that God "will do his pleasure on Babylon" signifies a deliberate, determined act of righteous judgment. Thirdly, it introduces the theme of **God's Chosen Instrument**, referring to an unnamed individual whom "The LORD hath loved." This divine "love" signifies God's sovereign favor and commissioning for a specific task, demonstrating God's freedom and ability to raise up and utilize anyone, even a pagan king like Cyrus (as revealed in [Isaiah 45:1-7](/isaiah/45-1-7 "Isaiah 45:1-7 - God's Sovereign Use of Cyrus")), to accomplish His redemptive and judgmental purposes in history.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **loved (Hebrew, _ʼâhab'_):** From H157, this verb signifies a deep affection, preference, or choice. When applied to the unnamed "him" (later understood as Cyrus), it denotes God's sovereign selection and divine favor, not necessarily in a salvific sense, but as a purposeful commissioning for a specific task within God's overarching plan. It underscores that God's actions are driven by His deliberate will and affection for His own redemptive purposes, even when utilizing instruments outside the covenant community.
* **pleasure (Hebrew, _chêphets'_):** From H2656, this noun denotes desire, delight, purpose, or a valuable thing. When God declares He "will do his pleasure on Babylon," it emphasizes that the impending judgment is not arbitrary but is a direct outcome of His sovereign will and determined purpose. It speaks to the intentionality, certainty, and divine satisfaction in God's plan to bring about the downfall of Babylon, aligning perfectly with His righteous character and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people.
* **arm (Hebrew, _zᵉrôwaʻ'_):** From H2220, this word literally refers to the arm or foreleg, but figuratively it powerfully represents strength, power, or force. The phrase "his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans" is a vivid anthropomorphism, signifying the decisive, irresistible, and active might of God. It conveys the absolute certainty and effectiveness of God's intervention in history, exercised through His chosen instrument, to conquer and subdue Babylon and its ruling Chaldean elite.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear;":** This is a direct, urgent, and authoritative summons from the LORD, addressed to His people (and implicitly to the nations), commanding them to gather and pay close attention. It emphasizes the profound importance and gravity of the divine pronouncement that follows, demanding a receptive ear and a heart open to God's authoritative and irrefutable word.
* **"which among them hath declared these [things]?":** This is a potent rhetorical question, a hallmark of Isaiah's polemic against the futility of idols. It challenges all other gods, their prophets, and human powers to demonstrate the foreknowledge, predictive capacity, and ability to orchestrate history that belongs uniquely and exclusively to the LORD. It implicitly asserts God's unparalleled sovereignty and His singular prerogative to declare and bring to pass future events.
* **"The LORD hath loved him:":** This clause introduces the divine favor and sovereign choice of an unnamed individual. While the broader prophetic context identifies this "him" as Cyrus the Great, the Persian king, this "love" signifies God's purposeful selection and commissioning of an instrument to accomplish His specific redemptive and judgmental purposes. It highlights God's absolute freedom to use whomever He wills, even those seemingly outside the covenant, to achieve His global objectives.
* **"he will do his pleasure on Babylon,":** This is a definitive prophetic declaration of impending judgment. God states His unwavering intention to execute His determined will, delight, and purpose upon Babylon, the oppressive empire holding His people captive. It signifies that Babylon's downfall is not a random historical occurrence but a preordained and deliberate act of divine justice and a fulfillment of God's righteous plan.
* **"and his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans.":** This final clause powerfully reiterates the certainty, might, and directness of the impending judgment. The "arm" symbolizes God's irresistible strength, active intervention, and decisive power. It assures the exiles that God's mighty power, channeled through His chosen instrument, will decisively overcome the Chaldeans, the ruling elite of Babylon, bringing about their long-awaited liberation.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 48:14 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound message. The opening phrase, "All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear," functions as an **imperative summons**, a direct command that demands immediate attention and underscores the authoritative nature of the divine speech. The subsequent question, "which among them hath declared these [things]?", is a powerful **rhetorical question**. It is not intended to elicit an answer, but rather to highlight the unique and exclusive attribute of God's foreknowledge and sovereign control over history, thereby exposing the utter impotence and falsity of idols and human pretensions. The declaration, "The LORD hath loved him," employs language of **divine election** or sovereign choice, pointing to God's deliberate favor and commissioning of an individual for a specific task within His grand design. Finally, the phrase "his arm [shall be on] the Chaldeans" is a striking example of **anthropomorphism**, attributing a human bodily part (the arm) to God to vividly represent His strength, power, and active, decisive intervention in human affairs. This vivid imagery assures the audience of the certainty and irresistible might of God's impending judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 48:14 profoundly reinforces the biblical doctrine of God's absolute sovereignty over all of history, demonstrating that He is not a mere spectator but the meticulous orchestrator of every event, including the rise and fall of formidable empires. His unique ability to declare the future with precision before it happens sets Him apart from all false gods, human wisdom, and any perceived earthly power, providing an unshakeable foundation for unwavering trust amidst chaos, oppression, and uncertainty. This verse assures God's people that His eternal purposes will inevitably prevail, and His promises of justice, deliverance, and restoration will be perfectly fulfilled, often through unexpected and seemingly improbable means. The divine "love" or sovereign selection of an instrument, even one seemingly outside the covenant community, powerfully underscores God's freedom, wisdom, and boundless creativity in accomplishing His will, always for the ultimate good of His people and the supreme glory of His holy name.

* [Isaiah 41:26](/isaiah/41-26 "Isaiah 41:26 - Who Declared It From the Beginning?")
* [Daniel 2:20-21](/daniel/2-20-21 "Daniel 2:20-21 - God Changes Times and Seasons")
* [Romans 9:17](/romans/9-17 "Romans 9:17 - God Raises Up Pharaoh for His Purpose")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 48:14 offers both profound comfort and a powerful, timeless call to trust implicitly in God's unwavering sovereignty. In a world frequently marked by political turmoil, economic uncertainty, social unrest, and perceived injustices, this verse serves as a vital reminder that there is an omnipotent divine hand at work, meticulously orchestrating history towards His ultimate and good purposes. Just as God sovereignly raised up Cyrus, a pagan king, to dismantle the seemingly invincible Babylonian empire and liberate His people, He continues to work in our individual lives and in the broader world today, often through unexpected people, unforeseen circumstances, and surprising turns of events, to fulfill His good and perfect will. This profound truth should inspire us to abandon fear, anxiety, and despair, to listen attentively and obediently to His revealed word, and to rest securely in the assurance that His plans for justice, redemption, and restoration will always, without fail, prevail. It challenges us to look beyond immediate circumstances, fleeting human powers, and our limited understanding, fixing our gaze instead on the One who declares the end from the beginning and whose mighty arm is never too short to accomplish His sovereign pleasure.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's unique ability to declare the future (as highlighted in this verse) deepen and strengthen your trust in His promises for your own life and for the unfolding of world events?**
* **In what specific ways might God be working through unexpected "instruments" or surprising circumstances in your life or in current global events to accomplish His divine purposes?**
* **What "Babylons" (systems of oppression, personal struggles, or areas of injustice) in your life, community, or the world do you need to trust God's mighty "arm" to act against, knowing He will do His pleasure?**

### FAQ
**Who is the "him" that the LORD has loved in this verse?**

Answer: While not explicitly named in Isaiah 48:14, the broader prophetic context of Isaiah, particularly chapters 44 and 45, unequivocally reveals that "him" refers to [Cyrus the Great](/isaiah/45-1 "Isaiah 45:1 - God's Anointed, Cyrus"), the Persian king. God "loved" or favored him by sovereignly choosing and commissioning him as His unique instrument to conquer the mighty empire of Babylon and facilitate the return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem and the rebuilding of their Temple, even though Cyrus was not a worshiper of Yahweh. This remarkable act powerfully demonstrates God's absolute freedom and ability to use anyone, even those outside the covenant community, to accomplish His divine and redemptive purposes in history.

**Why was God's "pleasure" on Babylon and the Chaldeans specifically?**

Answer: God's "pleasure" (His determined will and righteous purpose) was specifically directed towards Babylon and the Chaldeans because they had become an exceedingly proud and oppressive empire that had unjustly conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the sacred Temple, and carried God's covenant people into a long and bitter exile. While God had indeed used Babylon as an instrument of judgment against Judah's persistent sin and idolatry ([Jeremiah 25:9](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar, God's Servant")), Babylon's excessive cruelty, unbridled pride, and pervasive idolatry meant that they, in turn, would face God's righteous and inevitable judgment. This principle is a consistent and prominent theme throughout the prophetic books, where nations that oppress God's people and exalt themselves ultimately face divine retribution and downfall (e.g., [Jeremiah 50-51](/jeremiah/50 "Jeremiah 50-51 - Prophecy Against Babylon")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 48:14, with its profound declaration of God's sovereign choice of an instrument to execute His pleasure and wield His mighty arm against an oppressive empire, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Cyrus was a divinely chosen deliverer for a specific historical moment, he merely served as a powerful foreshadowing of the true and ultimate "him" whom the Father supremely "loved" and sent into the world. Jesus is the one upon whom the Father's eternal "pleasure" (Greek: _eudokia_, divine good pleasure) fully rests, as resoundingly declared at His baptism ([Matthew 3:17](/matthew/3-17 "Matthew 3:17 - God's Pleasure in Jesus")) and transfiguration ([Matthew 17:5](/matthew/17-5 "Matthew 17:5 - God's Beloved Son")). He is the ultimate "arm" of the LORD, revealed in unparalleled power not merely to conquer an earthly empire, but to decisively defeat the spiritual powers of sin, death, and the devil ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Through His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection, Christ accomplished God's ultimate "pleasure" – the redemption of humanity, the reconciliation of all things, and the establishment of His eternal kingdom, bringing true liberation from spiritual exile and the oppression of sin. He is the one who perfectly declares the future, not just by prophecy, but by embodying and enacting God's entire redemptive plan, ensuring that every divine purpose will be brought to glorious completion through Him, for He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end ([Revelation 1:8](/revelation/1-8 "Revelation 1:8 - Alpha and Omega")).

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

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.