TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
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.
World English Bible Messianic
“Assemble yourselves, all you, and hear; who among them has declared these things? He whom the LORD loves shall perform his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Kasdim.
Geneva Bible (1599)
All you, assemble your selues, and heare: which among them hath declared these thinges? The Lord hath loued him: he wil doe his will in Babel, and his arme shalbe against the Chaldeans.
Young's Literal Translation
Be gathered all of you, and hear, Who among them did declare these things? Jehovah hath loved him, He doth His pleasure on Babylon, And His arm is on the Chaldeans.
In the KJVVerse 18,629 of 31,102
Study This Verse
Commentary on Isaiah 48 verses 9–15
9 ¶ For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
13 Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
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.
15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
The deliverance of God's people out of their captivity in Babylon was a thing upon many accounts so improbable that there was need of line upon line for the encouragement of the faith and hope of God's people concerning it. Two things were discouraging to them - their own unworthiness that God should do it for them and the many difficulties in the thing itself; now, in these verses, both these discouragements are removed, for here is,
I. A reason why God would do it for them, though they were unworthy; not for their sake, be it known to them, but for his name's sake, for his own sake, Isa 48:9-11. 1. It is true they had been very provoking, and God had been justly angry with them. Their captivity was the punishment of their iniquity; and if, when he had them in Babylon, he had left them to pine away and perish there, and made the desolations of their country perpetual, he would only have dealt with them according to their sins, and it was what such a sinful people might expect from an angry God. "But," says God, "I will defer my anger" (or, rather, stifle and suppress it); "I will make it appear that I am slow to wrath, and will refrain from thee, not pour upon thee what I justly might, that I should cut thee off from being a people." And why will God thus stay his hand? For my name's sake; because this people was called by his name, and made profession of his name, and, if they were cut off, the enemies would blaspheme his name. It is for my praise; because it would redound to the honour of his mercy to spare and reprieve them, and, if he continued them to be to him a people, they might be to him for a name and a praise. 1. It is true they were very corrupt and ill-disposed, but God would himself refine them, and make them fit for the mercy he intended for them: "I have refined thee, that thou mightest be made a vessel of honour." Though he does not find them meet for his favour, he will make them so. And this accounts for his bringing them into the trouble, and continuing them in it so long as he did. It was not to cut them off, but to do them good. It was to refine them, but not as silver, or with silver, not so thoroughly as men refine their silver, which they continue in the furnace till all the dross is separated from it; if God should take that course with them, they would be always in the furnace, for they are all dross, and, as such, might justly be put away (Psa 119:119) as reprobate silver, Jer 6:30. He therefore takes them as they are, refined in part only, and not thoroughly. "I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction, that is, I have made thee a choice one by the good which the affliction has done thee, and then designed thee for great things." Many have been brought home to God as chosen vessels and a good work of grace has been begun in them in the furnace of affliction. Affliction is no bar to God's choice, but subservient to his purpose. 3. It is true they could not pretend to merit at God's hand so great a favour as their deliverance out of Babylon, which would put such an honour upon them and bring them so much joy; therefore, says God, For my own sake, even for my own sake, will I do it, Isa 48:11. See how the emphasis is laid upon that; for it is a reason that cannot fail, and therefore the resolution grounded upon it cannot fall to the ground. God will do it, not because he owes them such a favour, but to save the honour of his own name, that that may not be polluted by the insolent triumphs of the heathen, who, in triumphing over Israel, thought they triumphed over the God of Israel and imagined their gods too hard for him. This was plainly the language of Belshazzar's revels, when he profaned the holy vessels of God's temple at the same time that he praised his idols (Dan 5:2, Dan 5:4), and of the Babylonians' demand (Psa 137:3), Sing us one of the songs of Zion. God will therefore deliver his people, because he will not suffer his glory to be thus given to another. Moses pleaded this often with God: Lord, what will the Egyptians say? Note, God is jealous for the honour of his own name, and will not suffer the wrath of man to proceed any further than he will make it turn to his praise. And it is matter of comfort to God's people that, whatever becomes of them, God will secure his own honour; and, as far as is necessary to that, God will work deliverance for them.
II. Here is a proof that God could do it for them, though they were unable to help themselves and the thing seemed altogether impracticable. Let Jacob and Israel hearken to this, and believe it, and take the comfort of it. They are God's called, called according to his purpose, called by him out of Egypt (Hos 11:1) and now out of Babylon, a people whom with a distinguishing favour he calls by name, and to whom he calls. They are his called, for they are called to him, called by his name, and called his; and therefore he will look after them, and they may be assured that, as he will deliver them for his own sake, so he will deliver them by his own strength. They need not fear them, for, 1. He is God alone, and the eternal God (Isa 48:12): "I am he who can do what I will and will do what is best, he whom none can compare with, much less contend with. I am the first; I also am the last." Who can be too quick for him that is the first, or anticipate him? Who can be too hard for him that is the last, and will keep the field against all opposers, and will reign till they are all made his footstool? What room then is left to doubt of their deliverance when he undertakes it whose designs cannot but be well laid, for he is the first, and well executed, for he is the last. As for this God, his work is perfect. 2. He is the God that made the world, and he that did that can do any thing, Isa 48:13. Look we down? We see the earth firm under us, and feel it so; it was his hand that laid the foundation of it. Look we up? We see the heavens spread out as a canopy over our heads, and it was his hand that spread them, that spanned them, that stretched them out, and did it by an exact measure, as the workman sometimes metes out his work by spans. This intimates that God has a vast reach and can compass designs of the greatest extent. If the palm of his right hand (so the margin reads it) has gone so far as to stretch out the heavens, what will he do with his outstretched arm? Yet this is not all: he has not only made the heavens and the earth, and therefore he in whom our hope and help is omnipotent (Psa 124:8), but he has the command of all the hosts of both; when he calls them into his service, to go on his errands, they stand up together, they come at the call, they answer to their names: "Here we are; what wilt thou have us to do?" They stand up, not only in reverence to their Creator, but in a readiness to execute his orders: They stand up together, unanimously concurring, and helping one another in the service of their Maker. If God therefore will deliver his people, he cannot be at a loss for instruments to be employed in effecting their deliverance. 3. He has already foretold it, and, having infinite knowledge, so that he foresaw it, no doubt he has almighty power to effect it: "All you of the house of Jacob, assemble yourselves, and hear this for your comfort, Which among them, among the gods of the heathen, or their wise men, has declared these things, or could declare them?" Isa 48:14. They had no foresight of them at all, but those who consulted them were very confident that Babylon should be a lady for ever and Israel perpetual slave; and their oracles did not give them the least hint to the contrary, to undeceive them; whereas God by his prophets had given notice to the Jews, long before, of their captivity and the destruction of Jerusalem, as he had now likewise given them notice of their release (Isa 48:15): I, even I, have spoken; and he would not have spoken it if he could not have made it good: none could out-see him, and therefore we may be sure that none could outdo him. 4. The person is pitched upon who is to be employed in this service, and the measures are concerted in the divine counsels, which are unalterable. Cyrus is the man who must do it; and it tends much to strengthen our assurance that a thing shall be done when we are particularly informed how and by whom. It is not left at uncertainty who shall do it, but the matter is fixed. (1.) It is one whom God is well pleased in, upon this account, because he is designed for this service: The Lord has loved him (Isa 48:14); he has done him this favour, this honour, to make him an instrument in the redemption of his people and therein a type of the great Redeemer, God's beloved Son, in whom he was well pleased. Those God does a great kindness to, and has a great kindness for, whom he makes serviceable to his church. (2.) It is one to whom God will give authority and commission: I have called him, have given him a sufficient warrant, and therefore will bear him out. (3.) It is one whom God will by a series of providences lead to this service: "I have brought him from a far country, brought him to engage against Babylon, brought him step by step, quite beyond his own intentions." Whom God calls he will bring, will cause them to come (so the word is), to come at the call. (4.) It is one whom God will own and give success to. Cyrus will do God's pleasure on Babylon, that which it is his pleasure should be done and which he will be pleased with the doing of, though Cyrus has ends of his own to serve and has no regard either to the will of God or to his favour in the doing of it. His arm (Cyrus's army, and in it God's arm) shall come, and be upon the Chaldeans, to bring them down (Isa 48:14); for, if God call him and bring him, he will certainly make his way prosperous, Isa 48:15. Then we may hope to prosper in our way when we follow a divine call and guidance.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 9–15. Public domain.
Copy as
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Verse 12, 13 and following) Hear me, Jacob and Israel, whom I call. I am the first and the last. My hand also laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand measures the heavens: I have called them, and they will stand together. Gather yourselves and listen: who among them has declared these things? The Lord loved him: he will fulfill his will in Babylon and his arm in the Chaldeans. I, I have spoken and called him: I have brought him, and his way is made straight. Come to me and listen to these (Vulg. this): I did not speak in secret from the beginning; from the time before it happened, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit. LXX: Listen to me, Jacob and Israel, whom I call. I am the first, and I am forever: and my hand has founded the earth, and my right hand has established the heavens. I will call them, and they will stand together: and all will be gathered, and they will listen: Who has announced these to them? I, who am diligent, have carried out your will over Babylon, to remove the seed of the Chaldeans. I have spoken and I have called. I have brought him and made his way prosperous. Bring near to me, and hear these things: I did not speak in secret from the beginning, when it happened, I was there. And now the Lord God has sent me, and his spirit. To those to whom he had already spoken: Hear these things, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and who have come forth from the waters of Judah, now he speaks to them again, Listen to me, Jacob and Israel, whom I call. For many are called, but few are chosen. (Matthew 22). Therefore, He calls them the non-elect, because they had not yet received the Savior; but He refers to them as the called. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, who is alive and was dead. (Revelation 22); so that you may bring life back to the beginning, and the last to Him who died. He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and became obedient to the Father; He humbled Himself to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2). My hand founded the earth. And it is also said in Proverbs: God, by His wisdom, founded the earth, and His right hand is the measure (Prov. III, 19), or He established the heavens or the sky, as the Septuagint translated. He calls the heavens to obey His command, and to declare His glory. But if the heavens obey the will of the Lord and run in their own order, why does the earth and ashes boast (Eccli. X) and not know its own fragility? Gather yourselves, all of you, and listen, whether heaven or all of creation or the entire multitude of Israel. What are the things that are commanded to be heard? Surely it signifies that which the Lord loves, no doubt Cyrus and Darius, who carried out the will of the Lord against Babylon, and exerted their power over the Chaldeans. And He himself spoke and called him by his name, and led him, and his path was made straight, so that no one dared to resist his strength. And he is provoking them to come and listen, and to know, through the Lord's prediction, that the king of the Persians and Medes is coming, who will overthrow Babylon and destroy the Chaldeans. And to announce this, the Prophet says that he is sent by the Lord and his spirit. This is according to the Hebrews and their opinion. However, according to Symmachus, who interpreted it, 'Who has declared these things to him?' refers to the one whom the Lord loves, who does his will in Babylon. And according to the Septuagint, 'to carry away the seed of the Chaldeans' is referred to the person of the Lord: the one who is truly loved by the Father, and who does all the will of the Father, and who overturns in Babylon, that is, in the confusion of this world, all the seed of the Chaldeans, which are interpreted as demons. He himself spoke and heard the Son, and brought him, who speaks to the believers: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened (Matthew 11:28). And hear these things that from the beginning were spoken in secret, that is, through the enigmas and mysteries of the Prophets, which were unknown to all previous generations. When all things were made by the Father, he was with him, who rejoiced, who even now says: I who have always been with the Father, and in the Father, and have never been without the Father, even now I speak (John 14); and according to the frailty of the assumed flesh, I say that the Lord God sent me and his spirit: and in a brief verse, the sacrament of the Trinity is revealed to us.
JeromeAD 420
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 13:16
According to the Septuagint “to remove the seed of the Chaldeans” refers to the person of the Lord, who was indeed beloved of his Father and who did the will of his Father completely and who turned over all the seed of the Babylonians—which means the demons in Babylon, that is, those who lead the world into confusion.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
Copy as
Continue studying Isaiah 48:14 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
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
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
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.
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
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, 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), 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).
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) and transfiguration (Matthew 17:5). 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). 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).