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Isaiah 13:12

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 13:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.
Isaiah 13:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
10For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in its going forth, and the moon shall not cause its light to shine.
11And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity: and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12I will make a man more rare than fine gold, even a man than the pure gold of Ophir.
13Therefore I will make the heavens to tremble, and the earth shall be shaken out of its place, in the wrath of Jehovah of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
14And it shall come to pass, that as the chased roe, and as sheep that no man gathereth, they shall turn every man to his own people, and shall flee every man to his own land.
15Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is taken shall fall by the sword.
← Isaiah 13:11Isaiah 13:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I will make a man more precious than fine gold, &c.] Which may denote either the scarcity of men in Babylon, through the slaughter made of them; so things that are scarce and rare are said to be precious, (<090301>1 Samuel 3:1) or the resolution of the Medes to spare none, though ever so much gold were offered to them, they being not to be bribed therewith, (<231317>Isaiah 13:17) or that such should be the fear of men, that they would not be prevailed upon to take up arms to defend themselves or their king, whatever quantity of gold, even the best, was proposed unto them, a man was not to be got for money: even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir; which designs the same thing in different…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“man . . . precious--I will so cut off Babylon's defenders, that a single man shall be as rare and precious as the finest gold.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I will make a man ... - I will so cut off and destroy the men of Babylon, that a single man to defend the city will be more rare and valuable than fine gold. The expression indicates that there would be a great slaughter of the people of Babylon. Than fine gold - Pure, unalloyed gold. The word used here (פז pâz) is often distinguished from common gold Psalms 19:11; Psalms 119:127; Proverbs 8:19. Than the golden wedge of Ophir - The word (כתם kethem) rendered ‘wedge’ means properly “gold;” yellow gold; what is hidden, precious, or hoarded; and is used only in poetry. It indicates nothing about the shape of the gold, as the word, wedge would seem to suppose. ‘Ophir was a country to which the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“More precious - The city and nation shall be so depopulated. Isaiah 13:13”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:12 Solomon’s imported gold came from Ophir (1 Kgs 9:28).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Isa 13:15-18, Isa 4:1, Isa 24:6; Psa 137:9 Isaiah 13:13”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification