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Isaiah 14:5

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 14:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers;
Isaiah 14:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 14

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2And the peoples shall take them, and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of Jehovah for servants and for handmaids: and they shall take them captive whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.
3And it shall come to pass in the day that Jehovah shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy trouble, and from the hard service wherein thou wast made to serve,
4that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
5Jehovah hath broken the staff of the wicked, the sceptre of the rulers;
6that smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, that ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.
7The whole earth is at rest, [and] is quiet: they break forth into singing.
8Yea, the fir-trees rejoice at thee, [and] the cedars of Lebanon, [saying], Since thou art laid low, no hewer is come up against us.
← Isaiah 14:4Isaiah 14:6 →
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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
“The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, &c.] This is an answer to the above question, how the exactor and his tribute came to cease; this was not by man, but by the Lord himself; for though he made use of Cyrus, the work was his own, he broke the power of the wicked kings of Babylon: [and] the sceptre of the rulers; that were under the king of Babylon; or of the several kings themselves, Nebuchadnezzar, Evilmerodach, and Belshazzar; so Kimchi interprets it. This may be applied to the kingdom of antichrist, and the antichristian states, which shall be broken to shivers as a potter’s vessel by Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, (<660227>Revelation 2:27 19:15,16). The “staff”…”
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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
“staff--not the scepter (Psa 2:9), but the staff with which one strikes others, as he is speaking of more tyrants than one (Isa 9:4; Isa 10:24; Isa 14:29) [MAURER]. rulers--tyrants, as the parallelism "the wicked" proves (compare see on Isa 13:2).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Lord hath broken - Yahweh, by the hand of Cyrus. The staff of the wicked - That is, the scepter of the king of Babylon. The word rendered ‘staff’ (מטה maṭēh) may mean either a bough, stick, staff, rod, or a scepter. The scepter was the symbol of supreme power. It was in the form of a staff, and was made of wood, ivory, or gold. It here means that Yahweh had taken away the power from Babylon, and destroyed his dominion. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Isa 14:29, Isa 9:4, Isa 10:5; Psa 125:3; Jer 48:15-17 Isaiah 14:6”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification