Isaiah 14:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: All the kings of the nations lie in glory, each in his own tomb;

NIV: All the kings of the nations lie in state, each in his own tomb.

NASB: All the kings of the nations lie in glory, Each in his own tomb.

CSB: All the kings of the nations lie in splendor, each in his own tomb.

NLT: 'The kings of the nations lie in stately glory, each in his own tomb,

KJV: All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.

NKJV: “All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house;

The prophet Isaiah described this defeated and deceased king of Babylon (Isaiah 14:1–16) as a ruler who refused to show mercy to those he defeated in battle. He kept the peoples he conquered in captivity for decades. He wanted to avoid any chance of them returning to their homes and resisting his rule over them (Isaiah 14:17).

To emphasize the massive fall of this mighty king, Isaiah prepares to remark on burial. A typical king would be lain in a special tomb when he died. Or, he would have some sort of memorial. Now, the man who would not let them go home while he was alive is without a "home" now that he is dead and unburied. All the kings he had defeated were laid to rest with dignity and honor in their own tombs. He alone is left unburied (Isaiah 14:19–20).

Chapter 14:3–23 contains a mocking, sarcastic dirge for the fallen king of Babylon. The song imitates the respects otherwise paid to honor a fallen king. Instead, this song describes celebration of both people and trees at his death. The fallen kings in Sheol rise to mock the man for his weakness. The king is sarcastically referred to as the "Day Star"—leading to speculation that this is also a description of Satan's fall from heaven. The fallen one had ambition to become like the Most High among the gods, but instead was cut down to nothing in his death.

After the oracle against Babylon in the previous chapter, Isaiah briefly describes what will follow for Judah. In compassion, the Lord will choose His people once more. He will return them to their homeland. They will sing a mocking taunt-song against the fallen king of Babylon. Isaiah pronounces oracles from the Lord against Assyria and Philistia. The Lord will break the Assyrians in His land. With heavy symbolism, Isaiah seems to prophecy that the Assyrians will defeat the Philistines with a siege four years before it happens. God's people will find refuge in Zion.

Chapter 14 follows the oracle about the destruction of Babylon with a brief encouragement to the people of Judah. The Lord will restore them to the land. They will taunt the fallen Babylonian king, using phrases many also associate with the fall of Satan. Isaiah pronounces oracles from the Lord against Assyria and Philistia. He declares that He will break the Assyrians in His land, freeing His people from their oppression. Philistia will fall at the Lord's hand to a famine inflicted on them by a power from the north. Next, Isaiah's prophecy will turn to Moab.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 4/29/2024 11:17:07 AM