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Isaiah 13:15

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 13:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is taken shall fall by the sword.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is taken shall fall by the sword.
Isaiah 13:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
16Their infants also shall be dashed in pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be rifled, and their wives ravished.
17Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who shall not regard silver, and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.
18And [their] bows shall dash the young men in pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
← Isaiah 13:14Isaiah 13:16 →
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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
“Every one that is found shall be thrust through, &c.] With a sword, spear, or lance, and be slain; that is, everyone that is found in the city of Babylon; and so the Targum adds, “and everyone that is found in it shall be slain;” so Kimchi, in the midst of it, or without; in the street, as Jarchi. The orders of Cyrusf251 were, that those that were found without (in the streets) should be slain; and to proclaim in the Syriac language, that those that were within doors should continue there, but, if they were found without, they should be put to death; which orders were executed, and well agrees with this prophecy: and everyone that is joined [unto them] shall fall by the sword; or “added”…”
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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
“found--in the city. joined--"intercepted" [MAURER]. "Every one that has withdrawn himself," namely, to hide in the houses [GESENIUS].”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Every one that is found - In Babylon, or that is overtaken in fleeing from it. This is a description of the capture of the city, and of the slaughter that would ensue, when the invaders would spare neither age nor sex. Every one that is joined unto them - Their allies and friends. There shall be a vast, indiscriminate slaughter of all that are found in the city, and of those that attempt to flee from it. Lowth renders this, ‘And all that are collected in a body;’ but the true sense is given in our translation. The Chaldee renders it, ‘And every one who enters into fortified cities shall be slain with the sword.’ return to 'Top of Page'”
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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
“Found - In Babylon, at the taking of it. Isaiah 13:17”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Isa 14:19-22, Isa 47:9-14; Jer 50:27, Jer 50:35-42, Jer 51:3 Isaiah 13:16”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"Every one that is found is pierced through, and every one that is caught falls by the sword." By "every one that is found," we understand those that are taken in the city by the invading conquerors; and by "every one that is caught," those that are overtaken in their flight (sâphâh, abripere, Isa 7:20). All are put to the sword. - The third and fourth disasters are plunder and ravage. Isa 13:16 "And their infants are dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses plundered, and their wives ravished." Instead of tisshâgalnâh, the keri has the euphemistic term tisshâcabnâh (concubitum patientur), a passive which never occurs in the Old Testament text itself. The keri readings shuccabt…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification