The Meaning of Isaiah 14:4 Explained

Isaiah 14:4

KJV: That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

YLT: That thou hast taken up this simile Concerning the king of Babylon, and said, How hath the exactor ceased,

Darby: that thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased, the exactress of gold ceased!

ASV: that thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That thou shalt take up  this proverb  against the king  of Babylon,  and say,  How hath the oppressor  ceased!  the golden city  ceased! 

What does Isaiah 14:4 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 14

1  God's merciful restoration of Israel
3  Their triumphant exultation over Babel
24  God's purpose against Assyria
29  Philistia is threatened

What do the individual words in Isaiah 14:4 mean?

That you will take up proverb this against the king of Babylon and say how has ceased the oppressor ceased the golden city
וְנָשָׂ֜אתָ הַמָּשָׁ֥ל הַזֶּ֛ה עַל־ מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל וְאָמָ֑רְתָּ אֵ֚יךְ ! שָׁבַ֣ת נֹגֵ֔שׂ ! שָׁבְתָ֖ה מַדְהֵבָֽה

וְנָשָׂ֜אתָ  That  you  will  take  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
הַמָּשָׁ֥ל  proverb 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָשָׁל  
Sense: proverb, parable.
הַזֶּ֛ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
עַל־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מֶ֥לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
בָּבֶ֖ל  of  Babylon 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּבֶל  
Sense: Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates.
וְאָמָ֑רְתָּ  and  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵ֚יךְ  how 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
! שָׁבַ֣ת  has  ceased 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַת 
Sense: to cease, desist, rest.
נֹגֵ֔שׂ  the  oppressor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַשׂ  
Sense: to press, drive, oppress, exact, exert demanding pressure.
! שָׁבְתָ֖ה  ceased 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁבַת 
Sense: to cease, desist, rest.
מַדְהֵבָֽה  the  golden  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַדְהֵבָה 
Sense: boisterous, raging, behaviour, boisterous behaviour.