Focused Passage

Isaiah 14:9-11

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

9 Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you—all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones.

10 They will all respond to you, saying, “You too have become weak, as we are; you have become like us!”

11 Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 9

Original words

Sheol שְׁא֗וֹל H7585 Noun - common singular beneath מִתַּ֛חַת H8478 Preposition-m is eager רָגְזָ֥ה H7264 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular to meet לִקְרַ֣את H7122 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct you לְךָ֖ Preposition | second person masculine singular upon your arrival בּוֹאֶ֑ךָ H935 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular It stirs עוֹרֵ֨ר H5782 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular the spirits of the dead רְפָאִים֙ H7496 Noun - masculine plural to greet you לְךָ֤ Preposition | second person masculine singular all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the rulers עַתּ֣וּדֵי H6260 Noun - masculine plural construct of the earth אָ֔רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular It makes all כֹּ֖ל H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the kings מַלְכֵ֥י H4428 Noun - masculine plural construct of the nations גוֹיִֽם׃ H1471 Noun - masculine plural rise הֵקִים֙ H6965 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular from their thrones מִכִּסְאוֹתָ֔ם H3678 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 10

Original words

They will all כֻּלָּ֣ם H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural respond יַֽעֲנ֔וּ H6030 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural to you אֵלֶ֑יךָ H413 Preposition | second person masculine singular saying וְיֹאמְר֖וּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural You אַתָּ֛ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular too גַּם־ H1571 Conjunction have become weak חֻלֵּ֥יתָ H2470 Verb - Pual - Perfect - second person masculine singular as כָמ֖וֹנוּ H3644 Preposition | first person common plural we are אֵלֵ֥ינוּ H413 Preposition | first person common plural you have become like us נִמְשָֽׁלְתָּ׃ H4911 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

Your pomp גְּאוֹנֶ֖ךָ H1347 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular has been brought down הוּרַ֥ד H3381 Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to Sheol שְׁא֛וֹל H7585 Noun - common singular along with the music הֶמְיַ֣ת H1998 Noun - feminine singular construct of your harps נְבָלֶ֑יךָ H5035 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Maggots רִמָּ֔ה H7415 Noun - feminine singular are your bed יֻצַּ֣ע H3331 Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . תַּחְתֶּ֙יךָ֙ H8478 Preposition | second person masculine singular and worms תּוֹלֵעָֽה׃ H8438 Noun - feminine singular your blanket וּמְכַסֶּ֖יךָ H4374 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person 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.