New King James Version
Isaiah 14:17
17Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
Isaiah 14:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
- New International Version (NIV)the man who made the world a wilderness, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)who made the world like a desert and overthrew its cities, who did not let his prisoners go home?'
- New Living Translation (NLT)Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wasteland? Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?’
Context of Isaiah 14:17
15Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. 16“Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’ 18“All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house; 19But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, Like the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot.
Read all of Isaiah 14Isaiah 14:17 word by word
שָׂ֥ם תֵּבֵ֛ל כַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְעָרָ֣יו הָרָ֑ס אֲסִירָ֖יו לֹא־פָ֥תַח בָּֽיְתָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- madeשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
- the worldתֵּבֵלtêbêl · worldH8398
- as a wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
- and destroyedהָרַסhâras · to overthrowH2040
- the citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- openedפָּתַחpâthach · to openH6605
- not the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- of his prisonersאָסִיר'âsîyr · prisonerH615
Cross-references for Isaiah 14:17
- Isaiah 13:19And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
- Isaiah 64:10Your holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
- Ezekiel 6:14So I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land desolate, yes, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblah, in all their dwelling places. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’ ” ’ ”
- Joel 2:3A fire devours before them, And behind them a flame burns; The land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; Surely nothing shall escape them.
- Zephaniah 2:13And He will stretch out His hand against the north, Destroy Assyria, And make Nineveh a desolation, As dry as the wilderness.
- Isaiah 45:13I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward,” Says the Lord of hosts.
- Isaiah 58:6“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?
- 2 Chronicles 28:8And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand women, sons, and daughters; and they also took away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria.
- Ezra 1:2Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
Commentaries on Isaiah 14:17
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17That made the world as a wilderness - That made cities and kingdoms desolate. That opened not the house of his prisoners - This is a description of his oppression and cruelty. Of course many prisoners would be taken in war. Instead of giving them liberty, he threw them into prison and kept them there. This may be rendered, his prisoners he did not release that they might return home‘ (see the Margin). The Chaldee renders it, To his prisoners he did not…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-17This is a restatement of 14:9–11. The spirits in the place of the dead will be surprised and amazed that the Babylonian king, who ruled the world with his merciless might, has absolutely no power in death.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. opened not ... house ... prisoners--But Maurer, as Margin, "Did not let his captives loose homewards."Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 14:17
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 14
- 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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries