Isaiah 13:12
New International Version
I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.

New Living Translation
I will make people scarcer than gold— more rare than the fine gold of Ophir.

English Standard Version
I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir.

Berean Standard Bible
I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.

King James Bible
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

New King James Version
I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.

New American Standard Bible
I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir.

NASB 1995
I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir.

NASB 1977
I will make mortal man scarcer than pure gold, And mankind than the gold of Ophir.

Legacy Standard Bible
I will make mortal man scarcer than fine gold And mankind than the gold of Ophir.

Amplified Bible
I will make mortal man more rare than fine gold, And mankind [scarcer] than the pure gold of Ophir.

Christian Standard Bible
I will make a human more scarce than fine gold, and mankind more rare than the gold of Ophir.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I will make man scarcer than gold, and mankind more rare than the gold of Ophir.

American Standard Version
I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.

Contemporary English Version
Survivors will be harder to find than the purest gold.

English Revised Version
I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will make people harder to find than pure gold and human beings more rare than gold from Ophir.

Good News Translation
Those who survive will be scarcer than gold.

International Standard Version
I'll make people scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than gold from Ophir.

Majority Standard Bible
I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir.

NET Bible
I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir.

New Heart English Bible
I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.

Webster's Bible Translation
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

World English Bible
I will make people more rare than fine gold, even a person than the pure gold of Ophir.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I make man more rare than fine gold, "" And a common man than pure gold of Ophir.

Young's Literal Translation
I make man more rare than fine gold, And a common man than pure gold of Ophir.

Smith's Literal Translation
I will make a man precious above pure gold, and a man above the gold of Ophir.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A man shall be more precious than gold, yea a man than the finest of gold.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A man will be more precious than gold, and mankind will become like pure refined gold.

New American Bible
I will make mortals more rare than pure gold, human beings, than the gold of Ophir.

New Revised Standard Version
I will make mortals more rare than fine gold, and humans than the gold of Ophir.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I will make a man more precious than gold; even a man than the gold of Ophir.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I shall make a man rarer than gold and men more so than the gold of Ophir
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I will make man more rare than fine gold, Even man than the pure gold of Ophir.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they that are left shall be more precious than gold tried in the fire; and a man shall be more precious than the stone that is in Suphir.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
An Oracle Concerning Babylon
11I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless. 12I will make man scarcer than pure gold, and mankind rarer than the gold of Ophir. 13Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place at the wrath of the LORD of Hosts on the day of His burning anger.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:21-22
For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again. / If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.

Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. / And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. / For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

Zephaniah 1:14-18
The great Day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. / That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness, / a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers. ...

Joel 2:1-11
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near— / a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. / Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them. ...

Revelation 18:11-13
And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo— / cargo of gold, silver, precious stones, and pearls; of fine linen, purple, silk, and scarlet; of all kinds of citron wood and every article of ivory, precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; / of cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, and frankincense; of wine, olive oil, fine flour, and wheat; of cattle, sheep, horses, and carriages; of bodies and souls of slaves.

Ezekiel 7:19
They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.

Malachi 3:17
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.

Daniel 12:1
“At that time Michael, the great prince who stands watch over your people, will rise up. There will be a time of distress, the likes of which will not have occurred from the beginning of nations until that time. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.

Revelation 3:18
I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Zechariah 14:1-2
Behold, a day of the LORD is coming when your plunder will be divided in your presence. / For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.

Jeremiah 30:7
How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.

Amos 8:11-12
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. / People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.

Luke 21:25-26
There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves. / Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Revelation 16:14-16
These are demonic spirits that perform signs and go out to all the kings of the earth, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. / “Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.” / And they assembled the kings in the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.

Job 28:12-19
But where can wisdom be found, and where does understanding dwell? / No man can know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. / The ocean depths say, ‘It is not in me,’ while the sea declares, ‘It is not with me.’ ...


Treasury of Scripture

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Isaiah 13:15-18
Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword…

Isaiah 4:1
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

Isaiah 24:6
Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

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Isaiah 13
1. God musters the armies of his wrath
6. He threatens to destroy Babylon by the Medes
19. The desolation of Babylon














I will make
This phrase indicates a divine action, emphasizing God's sovereignty and power. The Hebrew root for "make" is "עָשָׂה" (asah), which means to do, make, or accomplish. It underscores God's active role in shaping history and executing judgment. In the context of Isaiah, it reflects God's authority to bring about change and fulfill His purposes, often through judgment or redemption.

man scarcer
The word "scarcer" comes from the Hebrew "יָקַר" (yaqar), meaning to be precious, rare, or esteemed. This suggests a significant reduction in the population, highlighting the severity of God's judgment. Historically, this can be seen as a reference to the impending destruction and desolation that would come upon Babylon, making human life rare and valuable due to its scarcity.

than pure gold
Gold, especially "pure gold," is a symbol of immense value and rarity. In ancient times, gold was highly prized for its beauty and durability. The comparison here elevates the worth of human life, suggesting that it will become more precious and rare than even the most valued material possessions. This serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the resulting divine judgment.

and mankind rarer
The repetition of the theme of rarity emphasizes the thoroughness of the coming judgment. The Hebrew word for "rarer" is "מִפְּזָר" (mipzar), which also conveys the idea of being scattered or dispersed. This could imply not only a reduction in numbers but also a dispersion of people, reflecting the historical context of exile and conquest.

than the gold of Ophir
Ophir is a location mentioned in the Bible known for its fine gold, though its exact historical location remains uncertain. It is often associated with wealth and abundance. By comparing mankind to the gold of Ophir, the text underscores the extreme rarity and value of human life post-judgment. This serves as a powerful metaphor for the devastating impact of God's wrath and the preciousness of life in His eyes.

(12) I will make a man more precious.--Both the words for man (e?nosh and a?dam) express, as in Psalm 8:2, the frailty of man's nature. The words may point to the utter destruction, in which but few men should be left. The "gold of Ophir" (the gold coast near the mouth of the Indus) was proverbial for its preciousness (Job 22:24; Job 28:16; 1Chronicles 29:4; 1Kings 9:28; 1Kings 22:48). . . . Verse 12. - I will make a man more precious than fine gold (comp. Isaiah 4:1). Population shall he so diminished that man shall be the most highly esteemed of commodities. The more scanty the supply of a thing, the greater its value. The golden wedge of Ophir; rather, pure gold of Ophir. Ophir is mentioned as a gold-region in 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:11; 1 Kings 22:48; 1 Chronicles 29:4; 2 Chronicles 8:18; 2 Chronicles 9:10; Job 22:24; Job 28:16; Psalm 45:9. Its locality is uncertain. Gold of Ophir appears to have been considered especially pure.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
{I will make} man
אֱנ֖וֹשׁ (’ĕ·nō·wōš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

scarcer
אוֹקִ֥יר (’ō·w·qîr)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3365: To be heavy, valuable, to make rare

than pure gold,
מִפָּ֑ז (mip·pāz)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6337: Refined, pure gold

and mankind
וְאָדָ֖ם (wə·’ā·ḏām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

rarer than the gold
מִכֶּ֥תֶם (mik·ke·ṯem)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3800: Something carved out, ore, gold

of Ophir.
אוֹפִֽיר׃ (’ō·w·p̄îr)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 211: Ophir -- a son of Joktan, also his descendants, also a region from which gold comes


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 13:12 I will make people more rare than (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 13:11
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