Isaiah 13:4

Isaiah 13:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.
• New International Version (NIV)Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The Lord Almighty is mustering an army for war.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The sound of a tumult is on the mountains as of a great multitude! The sound of an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The Lord of hosts is mustering a host for battle.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts musters The army for battle.

Context of Isaiah 13:4

2Lift up a signal banner on the bare mountain, Summon them [the Medes and Persians] with a loud voice, Wave the [beckoning] hand so that they may enter the doorways of the [Babylonian] nobles. 3I [the Lord] have commanded My consecrated ones, I have even called My great warriors, My proudly exulting ones [the Medes and the Persians who triumph for My honor]— To execute My anger. A sound of tumult on the mountains, Like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of the kingdoms, Of nations gathered together! The Lord of hosts is mustering an army for battle. 5They are coming from a distant country, From the end of heaven [the farthest horizon]— The Lord and the weapons of His indignation— To destroy the whole land. 6Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty (All Sufficient One—Invincible God)!

Isaiah 13:4 word by word

ק֥וֹל הָמ֛וֹן בֶּֽהָרִ֖ים דְּמ֣וּת עַם־רָ֑ב ק֠וֹל שְׁא֞וֹן מַמְלְכ֤וֹת גּוֹיִם֙ נֶֽאֱסָפִ֔ים יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת מְפַקֵּ֖ד צְבָ֥א מִלְחָמָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The noiseקוֹלqôl qôl · voice: soundH6963
• of a multitudeהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
• in the mountainsהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
• like asדְּמוּתdemûth · likenessH1823
• of a greatרַבrab · manyH7227
• peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• a tumultuousשָׁאוֹןshâ'ôn · roarH7588
• of the kingdomsמַמְלָכָהmamlâkâh · kingdomH4467
• of nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• gathered togetherאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
• musterethפָּקַדpâqad · to reckon: listH6485
• the hostצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · armyH6635
• of the battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421

Cross-references for Isaiah 13:4

• Isaiah 22:1The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning the Valley of Vision: What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops,
• Jeremiah 50:2“Declare among the nations. Lift up a signal [to spread the news]—publish and proclaim it, Do not conceal it; say, ‘Babylon has been taken, Bel [the patron god] has been shamed, Marduk (Bel) has been shattered. Babylon’s images have been shamed, her [worthless] idols have been thrown down.’
• Jeremiah 51:11Sharpen the arrows, take up the shields [and cover yourselves]! The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it; For that is the vengeance of the Lord, vengeance [on Babylon] for [plundering and destroying] His temple.
• Ezekiel 38:3and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief ruler of Meshech and Tubal.
• Joel 3:14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision (judgment)! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision [when judgment is executed].
• Zechariah 14:1Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you (Jerusalem) will be divided in your midst.
• Revelation 19:11And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who was riding it is called Faithful and True (trustworthy, loyal, incorruptible, steady), and in righteousness He judges and wages war [on the rebellious nations].
• Joel 2:4Their appearance is like the appearance of horses, And they run like war horses.
• Revelation 9:7The locusts resembled horses prepared and equipped for battle; and on their heads appeared to be [something like] golden crowns, and their faces resembled human faces.
• Isaiah 10:5Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger [against Israel], The staff in whose hand is My indignation and fury [against Israel’s disobedience]!
• Isaiah 45:1This is what the Lord says to His anointed, to Cyrus [king of Persia], Whose right hand I have held To subdue nations before him, And I will ungird the loins of kings [disarming them]; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
• Jeremiah 50:14Set yourselves in battle formation against Babylon on every side, All you archers. Shoot at her! Do not spare the arrows, For she has sinned against the Lord.
• Jeremiah 51:6Flee out of Babylon, Let every one of you save his life! Do not be destroyed in her punishment, For this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; He is going to pay her what she has earned.
• Joel 2:1Blow the trumpet in Zion [warning of impending judgment], Sound an alarm on My holy mountain [Zion]! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble and shudder in fear, For the [judgment] day of the Lord is coming; It is close at hand,
• Revelation 18:8For this reason in a single day her plagues (afflictions, calamities) will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire and completely consumed; for strong and powerful is the Lord God who judges her.

Commentaries on Isaiah 13:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Of the battle "For the battle" - The Bodleian MS. has למלחמה lemilchamah . Cyrus's army was made up of many different nations. Jeremiah calls it an "assembly of great nations from the north country," Jeremiah 50:9. And afterwards mentions the kingdoms of "Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz, (i.e. Armenia, Corduene, Pontus or Phrygia, Vitring.), with the kings of the Medes," Jeremiah 51:27, Jeremiah 51:28. See Xenophon. Cyrop.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The noise of a multitude in the mountains - The prophet here represents himself as hearing the confused tumult of the nations assembling to the standard reared on the mountains Isaiah 13:2. This is a highly beautiful figure - a graphic and vivid representation of the scene before him. Nations are seen to hasten to the elevated banner, and to engage in active preparations for the mighty war. The sound is that of a tumult, an excited multitude hastening to…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. the mountains--namely, which separate Media and Assyria, and on one of which the banner to rally the hosts is supposed to be reared. tumultuous noise--The Babylonians are vividly depicted as hearing some unwonted sound like the din of a host; they try to distinguish the sounds, but can only perceive a tumultuous noise. nations--Medes, Persians, and Armenians composed Cyrus' army.Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 13:4

• Muster
• War

In the dictionaries

• Lord of Hosts
• Babylon
• Glory
• Haughtiness
• Howl
• Prophecy
• Astronomy
• Canon of the Old Testament
• Esther, the Rest of
• Evil

Commentaries on Isaiah 13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings