Isaiah 47:15
“Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Babylon's trading partners and allies, who enriched her in prosperity, abandon her in the moment of judgment.
Context
The oracle concludes by returning to earthly realities. Babylon's merchants, her partners in commerce and power, are the last to be addressed. In times of prosperity, they brought wealth and connection. But at the moment of crisis, each one flees to his own country, leaving Babylon alone.
What Does Isaiah 47:15 Mean?
There is a particular cruelty in this final verse: those whom Babylon enriched, those whom she partnered with in profit and power, vanish when she needs them most. Each merchant turns to his own quarter, his own survival. This is not betrayal (for they were never truly loyal) but the revelation of what commerce and power-seeking relationships actually are: temporary alliances of mutual advantage.
Jesus teaches a different kind of relationship. He binds himself to us not because we benefit him but out of covenantal love. His disciples are called to love not for return but for its own sake. And in the end, when we face judgment, those we have served in love will stand with us; those we have served for advantage will have vanished. We are called to invest in the kingdom, not the kingdom of Babylon.
In the Original Language
sochar (סוחר), 'merchants' - traders and dealers who trafficked in Babylon's goods.
Application
Relationships built on mutual advantage are inherently unstable. The bonds that hold in judgment are those built on sacrificial love.