2 Nephi 23
People in this chapter
Babylon mattered to Nephi's family in a way it never could to us. Lehi had read in a heavenly book that the people of Jerusalem would be carried away captive into Babylon (1 Nephi 1:13). By the time Nephi copied this chapter, the Lord had shown both Jacob and Nephi that it had happened: Jerusalem was destroyed and its people carried away (2 Nephi 6:8; 25:10). Here Isaiah, writing long before Babylon became the empire that conquered Jerusalem, announces that Babylon itself will fall.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
2 Nephi 23:1-5Lift Ye Up a Banner upon the High Mountain
1The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
3I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness. 4The noise of the 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 hosts of the battle. 5They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, yea, the Lord, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.
The Book of Mormon reads that the Lord's anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness. Those who rejoice in God's greatness, instead of their own, are safe.
2 Nephi 23:6-13The Day of the Lord Is at Hand
6Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7Therefore shall all hands be faint, every man's heart shall melt; 8And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. 9Behold, the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
The day of the Lord is a day of judgment. Proud people who felt secure will be afraid. The Lord removes the sinners from the land.
10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
11And I will punish the world for evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay down the haughtiness of the terrible. 12I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. 13Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of Hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
The Lord names the sin He is judging: the arrogancy of the proud and the haughtiness of the terrible.
2 Nephi 23:14-18I Will Stir Up the Medes
14And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up; and they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land. 15Every one that is proud shall be thrust through; yea, and every one that is joined to the wicked shall fall by the sword. 16Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished.
The Bible says every one that is found will be killed. The Book of Mormon says every one that is proud. The judgment falls on pride.
17Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver and gold, nor shall they delight in it. 18Their bows shall also dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.
2 Nephi 23:19-22I Will Be Merciful unto My People
19And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.
Babylon was the glory of kingdoms, yet it would end up like Sodom: empty, with only wild animals living in its ruins.
22And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces; and her time is near to come, and her day shall not be prolonged. For I will destroy her speedily; yea, for I will be merciful unto my people, but the wicked shall perish.
The Book of Mormon adds a line the Bible does not have: I will be merciful unto my people, but the wicked shall perish. The chapter about judgment ends with mercy.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- Babylon or BabelA short history of Babylon from the tower of Babel to Nebuchadnezzar's capital, and a note that in D&C 1:16 Babylon means "the world."
- Second Coming of Jesus ChristGathers the scriptures about the signs and events of the Savior's return, including the darkened sun and moon of verse 10.
- PrideScripture references on pride, the sin this chapter singles out for judgment (vv. 11, 15, 19).
Where this echoes in Scripture
Lift Ye Up a Banner upon the High Mountain
- 2 Nephi 21:12He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel.The same kind of banner, raised to gather Israel home.
- Isaiah 13:3I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.The Bible wording of verse 3.
- 1 Nephi 1:13Many should be carried away captive into Babylon.What Lehi read about Babylon in his first vision.
- Psalm 34:2My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
The Day of the Lord Is at Hand
- Matthew 24:29-30The sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light... they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven.
- D&C 45:42Before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood.
- Joel 2:31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
- D&C 18:10Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.
- Malachi 4:1All the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble.
I Will Stir Up the Medes
- Isaiah 13:15Every one that is found shall be thrust through.The Bible wording of verse 15.
- Daniel 5:28-31Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.The night Babylon fell.
- Jeremiah 51:11The LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
I Will Be Merciful unto My People
- Isaiah 13:22Her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.The Bible ends here; the Book of Mormon adds a promise of mercy.
- Revelation 18:4Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.
- D&C 133:14Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.
- D&C 1:16Babylon the great, which shall fall.
- 2 Nephi 24:1For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel.The next chapter picks up the promise.