Isaiah 14:23 Meaning and Explanation
“I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will transform Babylon into marshland and wasteland, swept clean of human presence.
The Context of Isaiah 14:23
Babylon will become a wasteland, untouched by human rebuilding.
What Does Isaiah 14:23 Mean?
The bittern is a water bird; pools of water replace cities. The transformation is complete: from the golden city to swampland, from human civilization to wilderness. This is not occupation by another kingdom but abandonment and desolation.
The broom of destruction sweeps the land clean. Nothing will remain but wetland and silence. This vivid reversal of fortune spans from imperial city to ruined marsh.
Isaiah 14:23 in the Original Language
kippa (כִּפָּה), 'besom' (broom) — an instrument for sweeping; here used metaphorically for thorough destruction and erasure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 14:23
What does Isaiah 14:23 mean?
God will transform Babylon into marshland and wasteland, swept clean of human presence.
What is the context of Isaiah 14:23?
Babylon will become a wasteland, untouched by human rebuilding.