Isaiah 14:23

The NET Bible®

"I will turn her into a place that is overrun with wild animals and covered with pools of stagnant water. I will get rid of her, just as one sweeps away dirt with a broom," says the Lord who commands armies.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“I will make her a swampland and a region for herons, and I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction.”

Hebrew Names Version
I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of Hosts.

King James Version
I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.

English Standard Version
"And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," declares the Lord of hosts.

New American Standard Bible
"I will also make it the property of the hedgehog and swamps of water, and I will sweep it away with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of armies.

New Century Version
"I will make Babylon fit only for owls and for swamps. I will sweep Babylon as with a broom of destruction," says the Lord All-Powerful.

Amplified Bible
"I will also make Babylon a possession of the hedgehog and of swamps of water, and I will sweep it away with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of hosts.

World English Bible
I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says Yahweh of Hosts.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And I wil make it a possession to ye hedgehogge, and pooles of water, and I will sweepe it with the besome of destruction, sayeth the Lorde of hostes.

Legacy Standard Bible
"I will also make it a possession for the hedgehog and swamps of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," declares Yahweh of hosts.

Berean Standard Bible
"I will make her a place for owls and swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of Hosts.

Contemporary English Version
The Lord will sweep out the people, and the land will become a swamp for wild animals.

Complete Jewish Bible
"I will make it a haunt for hedgehogs, it will become a swampy waste, I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," says Adonai -Tzva'ot.

Darby Translation
And I will make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Easy-to-Read Version
"I will change Babylon. It will be a place for animals, not people. It will be a swamp. I will use the ‘broom of destruction' to sweep Babylon away." The Lord All-Powerful said this.

George Lamsa Translation
I will also make it a possession for owls, and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts.

Good News Translation
I will turn Babylon into a marsh, and owls will live there. I will sweep Babylon with a broom that will sweep everything away. I, the Lord Almighty, have spoken."

Lexham English Bible
"And I will make her a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction," declares Yahweh of hosts.

Literal Translation
Also I will make it a possession of the hedgehog and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the broom of ruin, says Jehovah of Hosts.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& wil geue it to the Otters, and wil make water poddels of it. And I wil swepe them out with the besome of destruccion, sayeth the LORDE of hoostes.

American Standard Version
I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Bible in Basic English
And I will make you a heritage for the hedgehog, and pools of water: and I will go through it with the brush of destruction, says the Lord of armies.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water; and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

King James Version (1611)
I will also make it a possession for the Bitterne, and pooles of water: and I will sweepe it with the besome of destruction, sayth the Lord of hostes.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
I wyll geue it to the Otters, and wyll make water puddels of it, and I wyll sweepe them out with the besome of destruction saith the Lorde of hoastes.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I will make the region of Babylon desert, so that hedgehogs shall dwell there, and it shall come to nothing: and I will make it a pit of clay for destruction.

English Revised Version
I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y schal sette that Babiloyne in to possessioun of an irchoun, and in to mareisis of watris; and Y schal swepe it with a beesme, and Y schal stampe, seith the Lord of oostis.

Update Bible Version
I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, says Yahweh of hosts.

Webster's Bible Translation
I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.

New King James Version
"I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," says the LORD of hosts.

New Living Translation
"I will make Babylon a desolate place of owls, filled with swamps and marshes. I will sweep the land with the broom of destruction. I, the Lord of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!"

New Life Bible
"I will turn it into a place for hedgehogs, full of pools of water. And I will go over it and destroy it," says the Lord of All.

New Revised Standard
And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the Lord of hosts.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And will make her a possession for the bittern, And marshes of water, - And will sweep it with the besom of destruction, Declareth Yahweh of hosts.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will make it a possession for the ericius and pools of waters, and I will sweep it and wear it out with a besom, saith the Lord of hosts.

Revised Standard Version
And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of hosts."

Young's Literal Translation
And have made it for a possession of a bittern, And ponds of waters, And daubed it with the mire of destruction, The affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts!

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I will also make it a possession for the hedgehog and swamps of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction," declares the LORD of hosts.

Contextual Overview

⁴ you will taunt the king of Babylon with these words: "Look how the oppressor has met his end! Hostility has ceased! ⁵ The Lord has broken the club of the wicked, the scepter of rulers. ⁶ It furiously struck down nations with unceasing blows. It angrily ruled over nations, oppressing them without restraint. ⁷ The whole earth rests and is quiet; they break into song. ⁸ The evergreens also rejoice over your demise, as do the cedars of Lebanon, singing, ‘Since you fell asleep, no woodsman comes up to chop us down!' ⁹ Sheol below is stirred up about you, ready to meet you when you arrive. It rouses the spirits of the dead for you, all the former leaders of the earth; it makes all the former kings of the nations rise from their thrones. ¹⁰ All of them respond to you, saying: ‘You too have become weak like us! You have become just like us! ¹¹ Your splendor has been brought down to Sheol, as well as the sound of your stringed instruments. You lie on a bed of maggots, with a blanket of worms over you. ¹² Look how you have fallen from the sky, O shining one, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O conqueror of the nations! ¹³ You said to yourself, "I will climb up to the sky. Above the stars of El I will set up my throne. I will rule on the mountain of assembly on the remote slopes of Zaphon.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

make: Isaiah 13:21, Isaiah 13:22, Isaiah 34:11-15, Jeremiah 50:39, Jeremiah 50:40, Jeremiah 51:42, Jeremiah 51:43, Zephaniah 2:14, Revelation 14:8, Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:21-23

I will sweep: 1 Kings 14:10, 2 Kings 21:13, Jeremiah 51:25, Jeremiah 51:26

Reciprocal: Job 12:14 - he breaketh Psalms 9:6 - memorial Psalms 149:9 - to execute Isaiah 13:20 - General Isaiah 21:1 - the desert Isaiah 25:2 - For Isaiah 25:12 - to the dust Isaiah 27:7 - he smitten Isaiah 32:19 - the city shall be low Isaiah 47:5 - silent Isaiah 47:9 - they shall come Jeremiah 25:12 - perpetual Jeremiah 27:7 - until Jeremiah 49:33 - a dwelling Jeremiah 50:26 - destroy Jeremiah 51:29 - every Jeremiah 51:37 - become Jeremiah 51:62 - to cut Nahum 2:10 - empty

Cross-References

Genesis 14:9
Kedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar. Four kings fought against five.

Genesis 14:12
They also took Abram's nephew Lot and his possessions when they left, for Lot was living in Sodom.

Genesis 14:15
Then, during the night, Abram divided his forces against them and defeated them. He chased them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.

Genesis 14:16
He retrieved all the stolen property. He also brought back his nephew Lot and his possessions, as well as the women and the rest of the people.

1 Kings 13:8
But the prophet said to the king, "Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I could not go with you and eat and drink in this place.

2 Kings 5:16
But Elisha replied, "As certainly as the Lord lives (whom I serve), I will take nothing from you." Naaman insisted that he take it, but he refused.

2 Kings 5:20
Gehazi, the prophet Elisha's servant, thought, "Look, my master did not accept what this Syrian Naaman offered him. As certainly as the Lord lives, I will run after him and accept something from him."

2 Corinthians 12:14
Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Hebrews 13:5
Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, " I will never leave you and I will never abandon you ."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I will also make it a possession for the bittern,.... Instead of being possessed by any of the family of the king of Babylon. The "bittern" is a kind of water fowl, which, by putting its bill into mire, or a broken reed, is said to make a most horrible noise. Some think the "owl" is meant, which dwells in desolate and ruinous places; and others take it to be the "ospray", a sort of eagle that preys upon fish and ducks; according to Kimchi, the "tortoise" is meant; some will have it that the "beaver" or castor is intended; Jarchi understands it of the porcupine or "hedgehog"; and in the Arabic language this creature is called "kunphud", which is pretty near the Hebrew word "kippod", here used; to which Bochartus agrees; but, whatever creature is meant, the design is to show that Babylon should not be inhabited by men, but by birds or beasts of prey, or noxious animals; and so mystical Babylon is said to be a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, Revelation 18:2:

and pools of water; Babylon being situated in a marshy ground, and by the river Euphrates; and when that river was turned by Cyrus i, and afterwards its banks neglected, in course of time the water overflowed the place where the city was, and all about it, and so easily came to be what is here predicted it should; see Revelation 18:21:

and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts; and so clear it at once of all its inhabitants, wealth, and riches, and entirely remove its large walls and stately buildings, no more to be seen, just as a house is swept clean of all its dust; intimating, that this superb city, and all belonging to it, should be reduced to dust, and be as easily swept away as dust is with a besom. The word for "sweep", and a "besom", is only used in this place, and has this signification in the Arabic language; it is said in the Talmud k, that the Rabbins knew not the meaning of this word, till they heard an Arabian girl say to her fellow servant,

"take this besom, and sweep the house.''

expressing the word here used.

i Xenophon. Cyropaedia, l. 7. c. 23. k Roshhashana, fol. 26. 2. Megilla, fol. 18. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I will also make it a possession for the bittern - The word ‘bittern,’ in English, means a bird with long legs and neck, that stalks among reeds and sedge, feeding upon fish. The Hebrew word (קפד qı̂ppod), occurs but five times Isaiah 34:11; Zephaniah 2:14. According to Bochart and Gesenius, it means the hedgehog. It has been variously rendered. Some have supposed it to be a land animal; some an aquatic animal; and most have regarded it as a fowl. Bochart has proved that the hedgehog or porcupine is found on the shores of the Euphrates. He translates this place, ‘I will place Babylon for an habitation of the porcupine, even the pools of water;’ that is, the pools that are round about Babylon shall become so dry that porcupines may dwell there (see Bochart, “Hieroz.” iii. 36. pp. 1036-1042).

And pools of water - Bochart supposes this means, even the pools of water shall become dry. But the common interpretation is to be preferred, that Babylon itself should become filled with pools of water. This was done by Cyrus’ directing the waters of the Euphrates from their channel when the city was taken, and by the fact that the waters never returned again to their natural bed, so that the region was overflowed with water (see the notes at Isaiah 13:0.)

And I will sweep it with the besom of destruction - A besom is a broom; and the sense here is, that God would entirely destroy Babylon, and render it wholly uninbabitable.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 14:23. I will sweep it with the besom of destruction - "I will plunge it in the miry gulf of destruction"] I have here very nearly followed the Version of the Septuagint; the reasons for which see in the last note on De Poesi Hebr. Praelect, xxviii.

The besom of destruction, as our Version renders it. במטאטא bematate. This, says Kimchi, is a Chaldee word: and it is worthy of remark that the prophet, writing to the Chaldeans, uses several words peculiar to their own language to point out the nature of the Divine judgments, and the causes of them. Jeremiah 10:11. Sixteen of Kennicott's MSS., and seventeen of De Rossi's, and one ancient of my own, have the word במטאטי bematatey, in the plural. "I will sweep her with the besoms of destruction."