Focused Passage

Isaiah 14:12-15

The Fall of Babylon’s King, the LORD’s Unbreakable Purpose, and the Oracle Against Philistia

The chapter moves from the LORD’s compassion and restoration of Jacob, to Israel’s rest from bondage, to a taunt against the king of Babylon, to the descent of the proud oppressor into Sheol, to the exposure of his failed ambition to ascend above God, to his dishonored end, to the LORD’s decree against Babylon’s descendants, to the LORD’s purpose against Assyria, and finally to the warning against Philistia and the security of Zion.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

12How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.

13You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.

14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

15But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 12

Original words

Howאֵ֛יךְH349Interjectionyou have fallenנָפַ֥לְתָּH5307Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularfrom heavenמִשָּׁמַ֖יִםH8064Preposition-m | Noun - masculine pluralO day starהֵילֵ֣לH1966Noun - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof the dawnשָׁ֑חַרH7837Noun - masculine singularYou have been cut downנִגְדַּ֣עְתָּH1438Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person masculine singularto the groundלָאָ֔רֶץH776Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singularO destroyerחוֹלֵ֖שׁH2522Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularofעַל־H5921Prepositionnationsגּוֹיִֽם׃H1471Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Or morning star or shining one or Lucifer
Verse 13

Original words

Youוְאַתָּ֞הH859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singularsaidאָמַ֤רְתָּH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularin your heartבִֽלְבָבְךָ֙H3824Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singularI will ascendאֶֽעֱלֶ֔הH5927Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularto the heavensהַשָּׁמַ֣יִםH8064Article | Noun - masculine pluralI will raiseאָרִ֣יםH7311Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singularmy throneכִּסְאִ֑יH3678Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularaboveמִמַּ֥עַלH4605Preposition-m | Adverbthe starsלְכֽוֹכְבֵי־H3556Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural constructof Godאֵ֖לH410Noun - masculine singularI will sitוְאֵשֵׁ֥בH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common singularon the mountבְּהַר־H2022Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof assemblyמוֹעֵ֖דH4150Noun - masculine singularin the far reachesבְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥יH3411Preposition-b | Noun - feminine dual constructof the northצָפֽוֹן׃H6828Noun - feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Or in the remote parts of Zaphon or on the heights of Zaphon
Verse 14

Original words

I will ascendאֶעֱלֶ֖הH5927Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularaboveעַל־H5921Prepositionthe topsבָּ֣מֳתֵיH1116Noun - feminine plural constructof the cloudsעָ֑בH5645Noun - common singularI will make myself likeאֶדַּמֶּ֖הH1819Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - first person common singularthe Most Highלְעֶלְיֽוֹן׃H5945Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

Butאַ֧ךְH389Adverbyou will be brought downתּוּרָ֖דH3381Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - second person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413PrepositionSheolשְׁא֛וֹלH7585Noun - common singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe lowest depthsיַרְכְּתֵי־H3411Noun - feminine dual constructof the Pitבֽוֹר׃H953Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.