Keraia
Isaiah 14

Isaiah 14:12

The Fall of the King of Babylon · Isaiah 14:3–23
Read Isaiah 14

Translations

Modern
How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.
Traditional
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Literal
How you have fallen from the heavens, O shining one, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O weakener of nations!
Latin
Quomodo cecidisti de cælo, Lucifer, qui mane oriebaris? corruisti in terram, qui vulnerabas gentes?

Original

Hebrew
English
How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations.

Notes

Isaiah 14:12

  • fallen from heaven, O day star: These words refer to a well-known Canaanite story. In that story, the god Helel rebelled against the god El, who was the chief god of the Canaanite people. Helel was cast down from heaven.

    Isaiah uses this image to describe the fall of the king of Babylon. Some interpret the fall of the king of Babylon as symbolizing the fall of Satan (see Ezekiel 28; Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:9). However, there is little evidence that Isaiah meant this directly. He was speaking about the historical king of Babylon.

  • son of the dawn: This refers to the morning star, which appears briefly at dawn and then disappears as the sun rises. In the Latin Vulgate, this term is translated Lucifer, which means “morning star.” In later Christian tradition, Lucifer became a name for Satan. However, the Hebrew text here does not clearly refer to Satan.

Isaiah 14:3–23

This taunting song about the king of Babylon is written like a funeral song. It speaks as if the king has already died.

The song mocks him and announces his downfall (compare Revelation 18).

Events

People

Lucifer: Symbolic name referring to the king of Babylon's fall

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Dayspring, Day Star Evil Isaiah, Book of Lucifer Satan

Topics

Ambition: Lucifer Ambition: Punishment of Babylon: City of Prophecies Concerning Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Destruction of Isaiah: Prophecies, Reproofs, and Exhortations of Denunciation Against the Philistines Isaiah: Prophecies, Reproofs, and Exhortations of The Burden of Babylon Lucifer: Nebuchadnezzar Called by This Name Pride: General Scriptures Concerning Rulers: Wicked Satan's Fall