Isaiah 13:6

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 13:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wail ye; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wail ye; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
Isaiah 13:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 13

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6Wail ye; for the day of Jehovah is at hand; as destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand, &c.] These words are an address to the Babylonians, who instead of rejoicing and feasting, as Belshazzar and his nobles were the night that Babylon was taken, had reason to howl and lament; seeing the day that the Lord had fixed for their destruction was very near, and he was just about to come forth as a judge to take vengeance on them; for though it was about two hundred and fifty years from the time of this prophecy, to the taking of Babylon, yet it is represented as at hand, to show the certainty of it, both for the comfort of the Jewish captives, when they should be in it, and for the awakening of the sluggish inhabitants, who were secure,…”
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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
“day of the Lord--day of His vengeance on Babylon (Isa 2:12). Type of the future "day of wrath" (Rev 6:17). destruction--literally, "a devastating tempest." from the Almighty--not from mere man; therefore irresistible. "Almighty," Hebrew, Shaddai.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Howl ye - Ye inhabitants of Babylon, in view of the approaching destruction. The day of the Lord - The time when Yahweh will inflict vengeance on you draws near (see the note at Isaiah 2:12; compare Isaiah 13:9). As a destruction from the Almighty - Not as a desolation from man, but as destruction sent from him who has all power in heaven and on earth. Destruction meditated by man might be resisted; but destruction that should come from the Almighty must be final and irresistible. The word ‘Almighty’ שׁדי shadday, one of the names given to God in the Scriptures, denotes, properly, “one who is mighty,” or who has all power; and is correctly rendered Almighty, or Omnipotent; Genesis 17:1;…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“13:6 When pronouncing judgment that is still in the future, the prophets sometimes spoke as though it had already arrived. This emphasized the urgency of turning back to God (Ezek 30:3; Joel 1:15; 3:14; Obad 1:15; Zeph 1:7).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Howl ye: Isa 14:31, Isa 23:1, Isa 52:5, Isa 65:14; Jer 25:34, Jer 49:3, Jer 51:8; Eze 21:12, Eze 30:2; Joe 1:5, Joe 1:11, Joe 1:13; Zep 1:14; Jam 5:1; Rev 18:10 for the day: Isa 13:9, Isa 34:8; Eze 30:3; Joe 2:11, Joe 2:31; Amo 5:18; Zep 1:7, Zep 2:2, Zep 2:3; Mal 4:5; Th1 5:2, Th1 5:3 as a: Job 31:23; Joe 1:15 Isaiah 13:7”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Then all sink into anxious and fearful trembling. "Howl; for the day of Jehovah is near; like a destructive force from the Almighty it comes. Therefore all arms hang loosely down, and every human heart melts away. And they are troubled: they fall into cramps and pangs; like a woman in labour they twist themselves: one stares at the other; their faces are faces of flame." The command הילילוּ (not written defectively, הלילוּ) is followed by the reason for such a command, viz., "the day of Jehovah is near," the watchword of prophecy from the time of Joel downwards. The Caph in ceshod is the so-called Caph veritatis, or more correctly, the Caph of comparison between the individual and its genus.…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification