What does Isaiah 47:11 mean?
"¶ Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know." - Isaiah 47:11
Isaiah 47:11 (KJV) "Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know."
In order to truly understand the depth and significance of this verse, it is essential to examine the historical and cultural context of the book of Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah ministered during a tumultuous time in Israel's history, a period marked by political intrigue, military conquests, and the moral and spiritual decline of the people. The nation of Judah, to which Isaiah was called to prophesy, had turned away from God and His commandments, and the consequences of their disobedience were beginning to manifest in various forms of suffering and oppression.
In Isaiah 47:11, the prophet delivers a prophetic judgment against the Babylonian empire, a powerful and ruthless nation that would later become a significant oppressor of the Israelites. The verse conveys a message of divine retribution, warning the Babylonians of the impending consequences of their wickedness and arrogance. The language is vivid and unrelenting, portraying the inescapable and devastating nature of the punishment that will befall them.
The verse begins with the declaration, "Therefore shall evil come upon thee," signaling a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the Babylonians' actions and the resulting calamity. This statement emphasizes the concept of divine justice and retribution, suggesting that the evil and oppressive practices of the Babylonians will inevitably lead to their downfall. The use of the word "therefore" implies a logical consequence, underscoring the certainty and inevitability of the judgment to come.
The subsequent phrases further emphasize the severity and suddenness of the impending judgment. The Babylonians will not know from whence the evil rises, indicating their utter bewilderment and inability to comprehend the source of their misfortune. This lack of awareness underscores the element of divine mystery and inscrutability, reinforcing the idea that God's judgments are ultimately beyond human comprehension. The mention of "mischief" and "desolation" further reinforces the severity and totality of the Babylonians' downfall, portraying a picture of overwhelming devastation and ruin that they will be unable to avert or mitigate.
Symbolically, this verse serves as a powerful reminder of the universal principle of divine justice and the consequences of moral and spiritual depravity. The Babylonians, as representatives of oppressors and evildoers throughout history, embody the archetype of those who defy God's laws and trample upon the rights and dignity of others. Their ultimate downfall serves as a testament to the enduring reality of divine judgment and the triumph of righteousness over wickedness.
Furthermore, this verse conveys a message of hope and reassurance to the oppressed and downtrodden. It affirms the belief that God is ultimately in control of human affairs and will not allow injustice and tyranny to prevail indefinitely. The sudden and unexpected nature of the Babylonians' demise also serves as a powerful reminder of the transitory nature of worldly power and the ultimate futility of human arrogance and pride.
In conclusion, Isaiah 47:11 encapsulates profound themes of divine justice, moral accountability, and the inevitability of retribution for those who defy God's will. Its potent imagery and unyielding language serve as a poignant reminder of the consequences of wickedness and the ultimate triumph of righteousness. This verse continues to resonate with timeless relevance, offering a timeless message of hope, warning, and redemption for all who heed its wisdom.
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Isaiah 47:11 Artwork
Isaiah 47:11 - "¶ Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know."
Isaiah 47:11 Therefore evil shall come upon you; You shall not know from where it arises. And trouble shall fall upon you; You will not be able to put it off. And desolation shall come upon you suddenly, Which you shall not know.
"¶ Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know." - Isaiah 47:11
Isaiah 47:4 - "As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel."
1 Chronicles 11:47 - "Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite."
Ezekiel 47:11 - "But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt."
Luke 11:47 - "Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them."
Isaiah 47:5 - "Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms."
Isaiah 47:2 - "Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers."
"Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite." - 1 Chronicles 11:47
Leviticus 11:47 - "To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten."
John 11:47 - "¶ Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles."
Isaiah 47:7 - "¶ And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it."
"As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 47:4
Isaiah 47:1 - "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate."
Isaiah 47:14 - "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."
Genesis 47:11 - "¶ And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded."
Isaiah 47:13 - "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."
Isaiah 47:9 - "But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments."
Isaiah 47:12 - "Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail."
Isaiah 47:3 - "Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.
Isaiah 47:15 - "Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee."
philippians 4:7
Isaiah 11
Ephesians 4:7
philippians 4:7
Isaiah 47:6 - "¶ 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."
"But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt." - Ezekiel 47:11
Luke 15: 4-7
Isaiah 47:8 - "Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:"