The Meaning of Isaiah 47:8 Explained

Isaiah 47:8

KJV: Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

YLT: And now, hear this, O luxurious one, Who is sitting confidently -- Who is saying in her heart, 'I am, and none else, I sit not a widow, nor know bereavement.'

Darby: And now hear this, thou voluptuous one, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thy heart, It is I, and there is none but me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know loss of children:

ASV: Now therefore hear this, thou that art given to pleasures, that sittest securely, that sayest in thy heart, I am, and there is none else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore hear  now this, [thou that art] given to pleasures,  that dwellest  carelessly,  that sayest  in thine heart,  I [am], and none else  beside me; I shall not sit  [as] a widow,  neither shall I know  the loss of children: 

What does Isaiah 47:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Babylon was sensual (a lover of luxury) in that she assumed that what she enjoyed were her rights by virtue of her superiority. Her present condition had led her to think that she would always enjoy provision, protection, status, and security. But she could not avert the doom that would come on her because she had exalted herself to God"s place. The pleasure-loving lady of leisure would become a childless widow.

Context Summary

Isaiah 47:1-15 - The Penalty Of Trusting In Wickedness
Babylon dwelt in careless security. She was given to pleasures, Isaiah 47:8; and said in her heart that her vast crowd of astrologers, magicians, and priests, would certainly warn her of impending evil and deliver her. But nothing could be more absolute than her fall. For centuries she has been buried under mounds of desolation, while the Hebrew people, whom she so cruelly oppressed, are the monument of God's preserving mercy. The fact is that Babylon exceeded her duty. She was used as Jehovah's chastising rod upon the Hebrews, but she was merciless in the extreme in her behavior and for this excess she suffered. Compare Isaiah 47:6 with Zechariah 1:15.
Notice Isaiah 47:4. The prophet turns from the overthrow of the proud city to remind his people that Babylon's tribulation is due to the redeeming arm of God; and we must never forget that in the midst of her overthrow there was a thread of golden mercy. The loved that brooded over Nineveh must have been there. See Jonah 4:10-11. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 47

1  God's judgment upon Babylon and Chaldea
6  For their unmercifulness
7  Pride
10  And over-boldness
11  Shall be irresistible

What do the individual words in Isaiah 47:8 mean?

Therefore now hear this [you who are] given to pleasures who dwell securely who say in your heart I [am] and [there is] none [besides me] else not I shall sit [as] a widow nor shall I know the loss of children
וְעַתָּ֞ה שִׁמְעִי־ זֹ֤את עֲדִינָה֙ הַיּוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת לָבֶ֔טַח הָאֹֽמְרָה֙ בִּלְבָ֔בָהּ אֲנִ֖י וְאַפְסִ֣י ע֑וֹד לֹ֤א אֵשֵׁב֙ אַלְמָנָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א אֵדַ֖ע שְׁכֽוֹל

וְעַתָּ֞ה  Therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
שִׁמְעִי־  hear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, feminine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
זֹ֤את  this 
Parse: Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
עֲדִינָה֙  [you  who  are]  given  to  pleasures 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: עָדִין  
Sense: voluptuous.
הַיּוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת  who  dwell 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
לָבֶ֔טַח  securely 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֶּטַח  
Sense: security, safety adv.
הָאֹֽמְרָה֙  who  say 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בִּלְבָ֔בָהּ  in  your  heart 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
אֲנִ֖י  I  [am] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
וְאַפְסִ֣י  and  [there  is]  none  [besides  me] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, first person common singular
Root: אֶפֶס 
Sense: ceasing, end, finality.
ע֑וֹד  else 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
אֵשֵׁב֙  I  shall  sit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
אַלְמָנָ֔ה  [as]  a  widow 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַלְמָנָה  
Sense: widow.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
אֵדַ֖ע  shall  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
שְׁכֽוֹל  the  loss  of  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁכֹול  
Sense: bereavement, loss of children.