Isaiah 13:15

Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Isaiah pronounces this judgment immediately after describing the hunted fleeing to their native lands in 13:14 and directly before detailing the destruction of infants, homes, and wives in 13:16.

The words — יִדָּקֵ֑ר (yi.da.Ker) translates literally to "he will be pierced through," and יִפּ֥וֹל בֶּ/חָֽרֶב (yi.Pol be./Cha.rev) means "he will fall by the sword."

The thread — The sword appears in Isaiah 14:19, sudden familial loss appears in Jeremiah 47:9, and the opening of divine weapons of wrath appears in Jeremiah 50:25.

Why it lands — The text states that capture guarantees death by the sword, leaving no room for escape or negotiation. It demands the reader acknowledge that divine judgment operates with absolute finality.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כָּל־kol-every הַנִּמְצָ֖אha./nim.Tza'<the>/ [one who] is found יִדָּקֵ֑רyi.da.Kerhe will be pierced through וְכָל־ve./kholand/ every הַנִּסְפֶּ֖הha./nis.Peh<the>/ [one who] is captured יִפּ֥וֹלyi.Polhe will fall בֶּחָֽרֶב׃be./Cha.revby the/ sword

King James Version

Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.

Cross-references

Isaiah 14:19 But you are cast out of your grave like a rejected branch, covered by those slain with the sword, and dumped into a rocky pit like a carcass trampled underfoot.
Isaiah 47:9 These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.
Jeremiah 50:25 The LORD has opened His armory and brought out His weapons of wrath, for this is the work of the Lord GOD of Hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.
Jeremiah 50:27 Kill all her young bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come—the time of their punishment.
Jeremiah 50:35 A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against those who live in Babylon, and against her officials and wise men.
Jeremiah 51:3 Do not let the archer bend his bow or put on his armor. Do not spare her young men; devote all her army to destruction!