Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 13:13
Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
13. By the outbreak of Jehovah’s wrath the material universe is shaken to its foundations. Such representations are common in the descriptions of the day of the Lord, and are not to be dismissed as merely figurative. Cf. ch. Isa 2:12 ff.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Therefore I will shake the heavens – A strong, but common figure of speech in the Scriptures, to denote great commotions, judgments, and revolutions. The figure is taken from the image of a furious storm and tempest, when the sky, the clouds, the heavens, appear to be in commotion; compare 1Sa 22:8 :
Then the earth shook and trembled,
The foundation of heaven moved and shook,
Because he was wroth.
See also Isa 24:19-20; Hag 2:6-7.
And the earth shall remove out of her place – A common figure in the Scriptures to denote the great effects of the wrath of God; as if even the earth should be appalled at his presence, and should tremble and flee away from the dread of his anger. It is a very sublime representation, and, as carried out often by the sacred writers, it is unequalled in grandeur, probably, in any language. Thus the hills, the mountains, the trees, the streams, the very heavens, are represented as shaken, and thrown into consternation at the presence of God; see Hab 3:6, Hab 3:10 :
He stood and measured the earth;
He beheld and drove asunder the nations;
And the everlasting mountains were scattered.
The perpetual hills did bow;
His ways are everlasting.
The mountains saw thee and they trembled;
The overflowing of the water passed by;
The deep uttered his voice,
And did lift up his hands on high.
See Rev 20:11 : And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. The figure in Isaiah is a strong one to denote the terror of the anger of God against Babylon.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place; a poetical and prophetical description of great errors and confusions, as if heaven and earth were about to meet together.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Image for mighty revolutions(Isa 24:19; Isa 34:4;Hab 3:6; Hab 3:10;Hag 2:6; Hag 2:7;Rev 20:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore will I shake the heavens,…. Some think this was literally fulfilled at the taking of Babylon, when the heavens were shook with dreadful thunders and lightnings; as well as what is said above of the sun, moon, and stars, not giving their light; and so is likewise what follows,
and the earth shall remove out of her place; and that there was a violent shock by an earthquake at the same time; but rather all this is to be understood figuratively, as expressive of the great confusion men would then be in, it being as if all nature was convulsed, and heaven and earth were coming together, or rather dissolving:
in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger; when that should be; or through it, or because of it, as the Septuagint, see Isa 13:6 compare with this Re 16:18 which expresses the destruction of mystical Babylon in much such language.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Thus does the wrath of God prevail among men, casting down and destroying; and the natural world above and below cannot fail to take part in it. “Therefore I shake the heavens, and the earth trembles away from its place, because of the wrath of Jehovah of hosts, and because of the day of His fierce anger.” The two Beths have a causative meaning (cf., Isa 9:18). They correspond to al – cen (therefore), of which they supply the explanation. Because the wrath of God falls upon men, every creature which is not the direct object of the judgment must become a medium in the infliction of it. We have here the thought of Isa 13:9 repeated as a kind of refrain (in a similar manner to Isa 5:25). Then follow the several disasters. The first is flight.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
13. Therefore I will shake the heavens. This is another figure of speech which contributes in a similar manner to heighten the picture. God cannot too earnestly urge this doctrine, not only to terrify the wicked, but to afford consolation to the godly, who are often distressed when it is well with the wicked, and when everything succeeds to their wish. David acknowledges that this happened to himself; for he says,
Surely in vain have I purified my heart, and washed any hands in innocency. (Psa 73:13.)
Properly, therefore, are these pictures set before our eyes, that they may plainly declare to us the destruction of the wicked. Thus it is as if Isaiah had said, “Though heaven and earth be moved, that the ungodly may be shaken and destroyed, nevertheless this will take place.” They think that they are out of all danger, and that they have struck their roots so deep that they cannot be rooted out; but he shows that they are greatly deceived, for the Lord will move both heaven and earth rather than not cast them down headlong. Hence it follows that, though the world present to us a thousand supports both above and below, still there will be no permanency but through the favor of God. And if this is made known in judgments of God relating to particular cases, how much more in the universal judgment, when Christ will ascend his magnificent judgment-seat, to destroy the ungodly!
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(13) Therefore I will shake.The description of the great day of the Lord meets us in like terms in Hag. 2:6, Heb. 12:26, carried in both instances beyond the overthrow of Babylon or any particular kingdom to that of every world-power that resists the righteousness of God.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. Therefore Rather, because; because of the wickedness described in Isa 13:11.
Shake the heavens earth shall remove Strong figures are now resumed; and what the darkening of the lights of heaven before expressed is here denoted by the general commotion of the frame of nature. Similar examples in the use of such figures are in 1Sa 22:8; Hab 3:6; Hab 3:10; Rev 20:11.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 13:13-16. Therefore I will shake the heavens Every one who reads and compares these words with those preceding, must observe, that they contain an explanation of what the prophet had said concerning the mighty storm to be raised against the Babylonians; so that here the same subject is continued and amplified. The same figure is employed in the 13th verse, setting forth the manifestation of the divine justice as the cause of the calamity, the effects of which are related in the following verses; and in the 14th the fear and flight of the Babylonians, in consequence of that fear. And every one shall be as a goat driven away, and as sheep whom no man takes the pains to collect together. They shall look every man to his own people, and shall flee every one to his own land. The metaphor is taken from a dispersed flock of timid sheep and goats; and the prophet refers to those inhabitants in Babylon who were of different nations, and had settled there. See Jer 50:28. The next effect is, the slaughter and desolation of those who should be found; Isa 13:15-16. Every one that is joined unto them, according to some, means those soldiers who were called in and hired to their assistance: see Jer 50:30-32. Vitringa, however, seems to prefer the interpretation of Kimchi, who renders it, And every one who is fainting [sick or near to death]: as if the prophet had said, “Not only they who are found, who are at hand, strong and in health, shall be thrust through with the sword, but also the fainting and dying: who, though in a state without hope to escape death, will not be able to obtain from the cruel conqueror, that they may pay this debt to nature. They too shall fall by his bloody and relentless hand.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
In these verses we have a continuation of the subject concerning the destruction of Babylon, with the effects to be wrought by it on all the people. And, what is very observable, so hardened against all impressions of mercy shall be the enemies of Babylon, that, contrary to the usage of armies, this army shall totally disregard plunder. They are not fighting for silver nor gold: they are the Lord’s instruments of destruction; and as such, their minds are all instinctively directed to the accomplishment of this one purpose. Probably in answer to the prayers of his people, who cried to him under the oppression of Babylon. Let the Reader consult to this purpose those scriptures, and then judge: Lam 4:21-22 ; Psa 137 throughout.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
Ver. 13. Therefore I will shake the heavens, ] i.e., For the pride, arrogance, cruelty, and other impieties of these Babylonians, I will bring upon them tragic calamities and horrid confusions, so that they shall think that heaven and earth are blended together, and each be ready to say,
“ In me omnis terraeque, polique, marisque, ruiua est. ”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I will: Joe 3:16, Hag 2:6, Hag 2:7, Hag 2:21, Hag 2:22, Mat 24:29, Heb 12:26, Heb 12:27, Rev 6:13, Rev 6:14
the earth: Jer 4:23, Jer 4:24, Mat 24:35, 2Pe 3:10, Rev 20:11
in the wrath: Psa 110:5, Psa 110:6, Lam 1:12, Nah 1:4-6
Reciprocal: Job 9:6 – shaketh Psa 29:8 – shaketh Jer 51:29 – the land Luk 21:25 – signs