New English Translation
Isaiah 13:12
12I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir.
Isaiah 13:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
- New International Version (NIV)I will make people scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I will make people more rare than fine gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir.
Context of Isaiah 13:12
10Indeed the stars in the sky and their constellations no longer give out their light; the sun is darkened as soon as it rises, and the moon does not shine. 11I will punish the world for its evil, and wicked people for their sin. I will put an end to the pride of the insolent, I will bring down the arrogance of tyrants. I will make human beings more scarce than pure gold, and people more scarce than gold from Ophir. 13So I will shake the heavens, and the earth will shake loose from its foundation, because of the fury of the Lord who commands armies, in the day he vents his raging anger. 14Like a frightened gazelle or a sheep with no shepherd, each will turn toward home, each will run to his homeland.
Read all of Isaiah 13Isaiah 13:12 word by word
אוֹקִ֥יר אֱנ֖וֹשׁ מִפָּ֑ז וְאָדָ֖ם מִכֶּ֥תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 13:12
- Isaiah 13:15Everyone who is caught will be stabbed; everyone who is seized will die by the sword.
- Isaiah 4:1Seven women will grab hold of one man at that time. They will say, “We will provide our own food, we will provide our own clothes; but let us belong to you – take away our shame!”
- Isaiah 24:6So a treaty curse devours the earth; its inhabitants pay for their guilt. This is why the inhabitants of the earth disappear, and are reduced to just a handful of people.
- Psalms 137:9How blessed will be the one who grabs your babies and smashes them on a rock!
Commentaries on Isaiah 13:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12I will make a man more precious than fine gold-wedge of Ophir - The Medes and Persians will not be satisfied with the spoils of the Babylonians. They seek either to destroy or enslave them; and they will accept no ransom for any man - either for אנוש enosh, the poor man, or for אדם adam, the more honorable person. All must fall by the sword, or go into captivity together; for the Medes, ( Isaiah 13:17;), regard not silver, and delight not in gold.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12I will make a man - I will so cut off and destroy the men of Babylon, that a single man to defend the city will be more rare and valuable than fine gold. The expression indicates that there would be a great slaughter of the people of Babylon. Than fine gold - Pure, unalloyed gold. The word used here (פז pâz ) is often distinguished from common gold Psalm 19:11; Psalm 119:127; Proverbs 8:19. Than the golden wedge of Ophir - The word (כתם kethem )…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-18Verses 6-18 We have here the terrible desolation of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. Those who in the day of their peace were proud, and haughty, and terrible, are quite dispirited when trouble comes. Their faces shall be scorched with the flame. All comfort and hope shall fail. The stars of heaven shall not give their light, the sun shall be darkened. Such expressions are often employed by the prophets, to describe the convulsions of governments. God…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Solomon’s imported gold came from Ophir (1 Kings 9:28).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. man ... precious--I will so cut off Babylon's defenders, that a single man shall be as rare and precious as the finest gold.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 13:12
In the dictionaries
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries