Bible Strands
Isaiah 13:18
Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God announces through Isaiah that He will mobilize the Medes against Babylon to execute judgment. The Medes, indifferent to wealth, will carry out this devastation as part of a divine overthrow.
The words — The Hebrew תְּרַטַּ֑שְׁנָה (te.ra.Tash.nah) means "they will dash in pieces," describing the violent action of the bows against youths (נְעָרִים, ne.'a.Rim). The phrase יְרַחֵ֔מוּ (ye.ra.Che.mu) translates to "they will have compassion on," negated by לֹ֣א (lo'), indicating an absolute refusal to show mercy to the fruit of the womb (פְרִי־בֶ֙טֶן).
The thread — The text parallels Isaiah 13:16, which describes infants being dashed to pieces before their eyes. It also aligns with the historical fulfillment in 2 Chronicles 36:17, where the king of the Chaldeans spares no young men, and echoes the prophetic warning in 2 Kings 8:12 regarding future evil against Israel.
Why it lands — The passage demands recognition that divine judgment operates without human sentimentality or selective mercy. It confronts the reader with the reality that God's purposes will be executed regardless of human appeals or cultural norms.
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
King James Version
Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 8:12 “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”
- 2 Chronicles 36:17 So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,
- Isaiah 13:16 Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.
- Ezekiel 9:5 And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone!
- Ezekiel 9:10 But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”
- Hosea 13:16 Samaria will bear her guilt because she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword; their little ones will be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.
- Nahum 2:1 One who scatters advances against you, O Nineveh. Guard the fortress! Watch the road! Brace yourselves! Summon all your strength!
- Nahum 3:10 Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.