◄ Isaiah 14:4 ►
you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!
Study Bible
you will sing this proverb
The phrase "you will sing this proverb" indicates a future action of expressing a message through song or poetry. In Hebrew culture, proverbs were often used as a means of conveying wisdom and truth. The Hebrew word for "proverb" is "mashal," which can also mean a parable or a taunt. This suggests that the message to be sung is not just a simple saying but a profound truth or lesson, often with a moral or spiritual implication. The act of singing implies a communal and memorable way of sharing this truth, emphasizing its importance and the joy or relief in its proclamation.

against the king of Babylon
The "king of Babylon" refers to the ruler of the Babylonian empire, a significant power in the ancient Near East. Historically, Babylon was known for its grandeur and its role as a dominant force, often seen as an oppressor of Israel. The mention of Babylon here is symbolic of pride, arrogance, and opposition to God. In the biblical narrative, Babylon often represents the epitome of human rebellion against divine authority. The prophecy against the king of Babylon is a declaration of God's judgment against such pride and tyranny, offering hope to those who have been oppressed.

How the oppressor has ceased
The word "oppressor" denotes one who imposes harsh or authoritarian control over others. In the context of Babylon, it refers to the empire's oppressive rule over the nations, including Israel. The Hebrew root for "oppressor" is "nagash," which conveys the idea of driving or forcing. The cessation of the oppressor signifies a divine intervention where God puts an end to the tyranny and injustice perpetrated by Babylon. This is a message of liberation and justice, highlighting God's sovereignty and His commitment to righteousness.

and how his fury has ended!
The term "fury" speaks to the intense anger and destructive power wielded by the king of Babylon. The Hebrew word "ebrah" can mean overflowing rage or wrath. The ending of this fury indicates a divine act of restraint and judgment. It underscores the theme that no matter how powerful or wrathful a human ruler may be, God's authority is supreme, and He can bring an end to any earthly power. This serves as a reminder of God's ultimate control over history and His ability to bring peace and justice to His people.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book that bears his name. He prophesied during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.

2. King of Babylon
This refers to the ruler of Babylon, a powerful empire known for its oppression and idolatry. In Isaiah's time, Babylon was a symbol of pride and rebellion against God.

3. Babylon
An ancient city and empire located in Mesopotamia, Babylon is often depicted in the Bible as a symbol of human pride and opposition to God.

4. Proverb
In this context, a proverb is a short, pithy saying or song that conveys a moral or truth. It is used here as a form of taunt or lament against the fallen oppressor.

5. Oppression
The act of subjugating or exercising harsh control over others. In this verse, it refers to the tyrannical rule of the Babylonian king.
Teaching Points
The End of Oppression
God's justice will ultimately prevail over all forms of oppression. Believers can find hope in the assurance that God will bring an end to all tyrannical powers.

The Folly of Pride
The king of Babylon represents human pride and self-exaltation. This verse serves as a reminder of the dangers of pride and the inevitable downfall it brings.

God's Sovereignty
The fall of Babylon illustrates God's control over history. Trust in God's sovereignty, knowing that He orchestrates events according to His divine plan.

The Power of Prophecy
Isaiah's prophecy demonstrates the power and accuracy of God's word. Believers are encouraged to study and trust in the prophetic scriptures.

Hope for the Oppressed
This verse offers hope to those who are oppressed, assuring them that God sees their plight and will act in His time to deliver them.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the fall of the king of Babylon in Isaiah 14:4 illustrate the theme of divine justice?

2. In what ways does the pride of the Babylonian king serve as a warning for us today?

3. How can the assurance of God's sovereignty, as seen in the fall of Babylon, provide comfort in times of personal or global turmoil?

4. What parallels can you draw between the prophecy in Isaiah 14:4 and the events described in Revelation 18?

5. How can believers today apply the message of hope and deliverance found in Isaiah 14:4 to situations of oppression or injustice they encounter?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Revelation 18
This chapter describes the fall of Babylon the Great, symbolizing the ultimate defeat of worldly powers opposed to God. It echoes the themes of judgment and the end of oppression found in Isaiah 14:4.

Daniel 5
The fall of Babylon under King Belshazzar is a historical event that illustrates the fulfillment of prophetic judgment against Babylon, similar to the themes in Isaiah 14.

Jeremiah 50-51
These chapters contain prophecies against Babylon, predicting its downfall and the end of its oppressive reign, paralleling the message in Isaiah 14:4.
Sermons
God's Judgments on Other Nations than Our OwnR. Tuck Isaiah 14:4
Song of Redeemed IsraelE. Johnson Isaiah 14:1-23
An Image of the SoulF. Delitzsch.Isaiah 14:4-23
An Ode of TriumphProf . E. R. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 14:4-23
Deliverance from an Evil DominionR. Macculloch.Isaiah 14:4-23
Destruction of the King of BabylonIsaiah 14:4-23
HellProf. S. R. Driver, D. D.Isaiah 14:4-23
HellW. Day, M. A.Isaiah 14:4-23
Impious Expectations DisappointedProf. J. Skinner, D. D.Isaiah 14:4-23
LuciferProf. J. Skinner, D. D.Isaiah 14:4-23
PrideR. Macculloch.Isaiah 14:4-23
Sin and its HumiliationsW. Clarkson Isaiah 14:4-23
The BitternJ. Duns, D. D., F. R. S. E.Isaiah 14:4-23
The Bosom of DestructionIsaiah 14:4-23
The Church's Exultation Over Her FoesF. B. Meyer, B. A.Isaiah 14:4-23
The Golden CityR. Macculloch.Isaiah 14:4-23
The Proverb Against the King of BabylonSir E. Strachey, Bart.Isaiah 14:4-23
People
Ahaz, Isaiah, Jacob, Lucifer, Saraph
Places
Babylon, Lebanon, Philistia, Zion
Topics
Babylon, Bitter, Ceased, Cruel, Cut, Ended, Exactor, Exactress, Fury, Gold, Golden, Hast, Insolent, Lifted, Oppressor, Overseer, Parable, Pride, Proverb, Simile, Song, Taunt
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 14:3-4

     8792   oppression, God's attitude

Isaiah 14:3-6

     8739   evil, examples of

Isaiah 14:3-23

     4215   Babylon

Library
The victory of Life (Preached at the Chapel Royal. )
ISAIAH xxxviii. 18, 19. The grave cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee. I may seem to have taken a strange text on which to speak,--a mournful, a seemingly hopeless text. Why I have chosen it, I trust that you will see presently; certainly not that I may make you hopeless about death. Meanwhile, let us consider it; for it is in the Bible, and, like all words in the Bible, was written …
Charles Kingsley—The Water of Life and Other Sermons

The Life and Death of Mr. Badman,
Presented to the World in a Familiar Dialogue Between Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Attentive. By John Bunyan ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The life of Badman is a very interesting description, a true and lively portraiture, of the demoralized classes of the trading community in the reign of King Charles II; a subject which naturally led the author to use expressions familiar among such persons, but which are now either obsolete or considered as vulgar. In fact it is the only work proceeding from the prolific …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The First Trumpet.
The first trumpet of the seventh seal begins from the final disturbance and overthrow of the Roman idolarchy at the close of the sixth seal; and as it was to bring the first plague on the empire, now beginning to fall, it lays waste the third part of the earth, with a horrible storm of hail mingled with fire and blood; that is, it depopulates the territory and people of the Roman world, (viz. the basis and ground of its universal polity) with a terrible and bloody irruption of the northern nations, …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

The Evil of Sin visible in the Fall of Angels and Men.
1 When the great Builder arch'd the skies, And form'd all nature with a word, The joyful cherubs tun'd his praise, And every bending throne ador'd. 2 High in the midst of all the throng, Satan, a tall archangel, sat, Amongst the morning stars he sung [1] Till sin destroy'd his heavenly state. 3 ['Twas sin that hurl'd him from his throne, Grov'ling in fire the rebel lies: "How art thou sunk in darkness down, "Son of the morning, from the skies!" [2] 4 And thus our two first parents stood Till sin …
Isaac Watts—Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Epistle xviii. To John, Bishop.
To John, Bishop. Gregory to John, Bishop of Constantinople [1586] . At the time when your Fraternity was advanced to Sacerdotal dignity, you remember what peace and concord of the churches you found. But, with what daring or with what swelling of pride I know not, you have attempted to seize upon a new name, whereby the hearts of all your brethren might have come to take offence. I wonder exceedingly at this, since I remember how thou wouldest fain have fled from the episcopal office rather than …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Epistle xxi. To Constantina Augusta .
To Constantina Augusta [1593] . Gregory to Constantina, &c. Almighty God, who holds in His right hand the heart of your Piety, both protects us through you and prepares for you rewards of eternal remuneration for temporal deeds. For I have learnt from the letters of the deacon Sabinianus my responsalis with what justice your Serenity is interested in the cause of the blessed Prince of the apostles Peter against certain persons who are proudly humble and feignedly kind. And I trust in the bounty …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

That the Ruler Should Be, through Humility, a Companion of Good Livers, But, through the Zeal of Righteousness, Rigid against the vices of Evildoers.
The ruler should be, through humility, a companion of good livers, and, through the zeal of righteousness, rigid against the vices of evil-doers; so that in nothing he prefer himself to the good, and yet, when the fault of the bad requires it, he be at once conscious of the power of his priority; to the end that, while among his subordinates who live well he waives his rank and accounts them as his equals, he may not fear to execute the laws of rectitude towards the perverse. For, as I remember to …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Doctrine of Satan.
I. HIS EXISTENCE AND PERSONALITY. 1. EXISTENCE. 2. PERSONALITY. II. HIS PLACE AND POWER. 1. A MIGHTY ANGEL. 2. PRINCE OF POWER OF THE AIR. 3. GOD OF THIS WORLD. 4. HEAD OF KINGDOM OF DARKNESS. 5. SOVEREIGN OVER DEATH. III. HIS CHARACTER. 1. ADVERSARY. 2. DIABOLOS. 3. WICKED ONE. 4. TEMPTER. IV. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS SATAN. 1. LIMITED POWER OF SATAN. 2. RESIST HIM. V. HIS DESTINY. 1. A CONQUERED ENEMY. 2. UNDER ETERNAL CURSE. VI. DEMONS. THE DOCTRINE OF SATAN. Throughout the Scriptures Satan is set …
Rev. William Evans—The Great Doctrines of the Bible

The Disciple, -- Master, Some People Say that the Comfort and Joy that Believers Experience...
The Disciple,--Master, some people say that the comfort and joy that believers experience are simply the outcome of their own thoughts and ideas. Is this true? The Master,--1. That comfort and abiding peace which believers have within themselves is due to My presence in their hearts, and to the life-giving influence of the fullness of the Holy Spirit. As for those who say that this spiritual joy is the result only of the thoughts of the heart, they are like a foolish man who was blind from his birth, …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

The Power of God
The next attribute is God's power. Job 9:19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong.' In this chapter is a magnificent description of God's power. Lo, he is strong.' The Hebrew word for strong signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. He is strong.' The superlative degree is intended here; viz., He is most strong. He is called El-shaddai, God almighty. Gen 17:7. His almightiness lies in this, that he can do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish between authority and power. God has both. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Sargon of Assyria (722-705 B. C. )
SARGON AS A WARRIOR AND AS A BUILDER. The origin of Sargon II.: the revolt of Babylon, Merodach-baladan and Elam--The kingdom of Elam from the time of the first Babylonian empire; the conquest's of Shutruh-nalkunta I.; the princes of Malamir--The first encounter of Assyria and Elam, the battle of Durilu (721 B.C.)--Revolt of Syria, Iaubidi of Hamath and Hannon of Gaza--Bocchoris and the XXIVth Egyptian dynasty; the first encounter of Assyria with Egypt, the battle of Raphia (720 B.C.). Urartu …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7

Use to be Made of the Doctrine of Providence.
Sections. 1. Summary of the doctrine of Divine Providence. 1. It embraces the future and the past. 2. It works by means, without means, and against means. 3. Mankind, and particularly the Church, the object of special care. 4. The mode of administration usually secret, but always just. This last point more fully considered. 2. The profane denial that the world is governed by the secret counsel of God, refuted by passages of Scripture. Salutary counsel. 3. This doctrine, as to the secret counsel of …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Holy War,
MADE BY SHADDAI UPON DIABOLUS, FOR THE REGAINING OF THE METROPOLIS OF THE WORLD; OR, THE LOSING AND TAKING AGAIN OF THE TOWN OF MANSOUL. THE AUTHOR OF 'THE PILGRIM'S PROGRESS.' 'I have used similitudes.'--Hosea 12:10. London: Printed for Dorman Newman, at the King's Arms in the Poultry; and Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Bunyan's account of the Holy War is indeed an extraordinary book, manifesting a degree of genius, research, and spiritual …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Covenanting According to the Purposes of God.
Since every revealed purpose of God, implying that obedience to his law will be given, is a demand of that obedience, the announcement of his Covenant, as in his sovereignty decreed, claims, not less effectively than an explicit law, the fulfilment of its duties. A representation of a system of things pre-determined in order that the obligations of the Covenant might be discharged; various exhibitions of the Covenant as ordained; and a description of the children of the Covenant as predestinated …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Opposition to Messiah in Vain
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision. T he extent and efficacy [effects] of the depravity of mankind cannot be fully estimated by the conduct of heathens destitute of divine revelation. We may say of the Gospel, in one sense, what the Apostle says of the Law, It entered that sin might abound (Romans 5:20) . It afforded occasion for displaying the alienation of the heart of man from the blessed God, in the strongest light. The sensuality, oppression and …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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