Isaiah 14:18

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 14:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, every one in his own house.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, every one in his own house.
Isaiah 14:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, every one in his own house.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“All the kings of the nations, &c.] Of other nations, besides those he governed, and even of those whom he had subdued, at least their ancestors, the greatest part of them however; for the word “all” does not always signify every individual, though by the repetition of it, it here bids fair for such a sense, there being but very few, or scarce any exceptions to this observation; for, on some account or another, both good and bad kings are interred in great state: [even] all of them lie in glory; in rich tombs and stately monuments, erected for the honour of them; and where they “sleep”, as the word signifies, with their fathers, their ancestors, and are at rest, in the state of the dead,…”
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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
“All--that is, This is the usual practice. in glory--in a grand mausoleum. house--that is, "sepulchre," as in Ecc 12:5; "grave" (Isa 14:19). To be excluded from the family sepulcher was a mark of infamy (Isa 34:3; Jer 22:19; Kg1 13:22; Ch2 21:20; Ch2 24:25; Ch2 28:27).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“All the kings of the nations - That is, this is the common way in which the kings are buried. Lie in glory - They lie in a magnificent mausoleum; they are surrounded with splendor even in their tombs. It is well known that vast sums of money were expended to rear magnificent mausoleums as the burial place of kings. With this design, probably, the pyramids of Egypt were reared; and the temple of Bel in Babylon, we are told, was employed for this purpose. Josephus says that vast quantities of money were buried in the sepulchre of David. The kings of Israel were buried in a royal burying place on Mount Zion 2 Chronicles 21:20; 2 Chronicles 35:24; Nehemiah 3:16. For a description of 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
“All - That is, other things most commonly do. Lie - Are buried in their own sepulchres, having stately monuments erected to their memory. Isaiah 14:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“14:18-20 The absence of a proper burial was a sign of great shame and dishonor. Unlike other kings, the king of Babylon would be disgraced in judgment.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“all of: Isa 22:16; Ch2 24:16, Ch2 24:25; Ecc 6:3; Eze 32:18-32 house: Job 30:23; Ecc 12:5 Isaiah 14:19”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The prophet, whose own words now follow the words of the spectators, proceeds to describe the state in which the tyrant lies, and which calls for such serious reflections. "All the kings of the nations, they are all interred in honour, every one in his house: but thou art cast away far from thy sepulchre like a shoot hurled away, clothed with slain, with those pierced through with the sword, those that go down to the stones of the pit; like a carcase trodden under feet." Every other king was laid out after his death "in his house" (b'bēthō), i.e. within the limits of his own palace; but the Chaldean lay far away from the sepulchre that was apparently intended for him. The מן in מקברך…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification