The Meaning of Isaiah 47:9 Explained

Isaiah 47:9

KJV: But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

YLT: And come in to thee do these two things, In a moment, in one day, childlessness and widowhood, According to their perfection they have come upon thee, In the multitude of thy sorceries, In the exceeding might of thy charms.

Darby: yet these two things shall come upon thee in a moment, in one day, loss of children and widowhood; they shall come upon thee in full measure for the multitude of thy sorceries, for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

ASV: but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood; in their full measure shall they come upon thee, in the multitude of thy sorceries, and the great abundance of thine enchantments.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But these two  [things] shall come  to thee in a moment  in one  day,  the loss of children,  and widowhood:  they shall come  upon thee in their perfection  for the multitude  of thy sorceries,  [and] for the great  abundance  of thine enchantments. 

What does Isaiah 47:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

She would lose her empire and her population with unexpected suddenness. In spite of the sorcery and magic that Babylon relied on for protection, God would bring judgment on her.
"Babylon was proverbial in the ancient world for its development of the magical arts. So firm was this association that in Daniel , "Chaldean" is a term for magician ( Isaiah 1:20; Isaiah 2:2 , 27 , etc....). The great Babylonian interest in astronomy was prompted by an even greater interest in astrology. The names given to the astrological constellations today are translations of the ones originated by the Babylonians. More than anything else, magic is engaged in to ensure good fortune and prevent misfortune." [1]

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 47:9 mean?

but shall come to you two these [things] in a moment in day one the loss of children and widowhood In their fullness they shall come upon you because of the multitude of your sorceries for the abundance of your enchantments great
וְתָבֹאנָה֩ לָּ֨ךְ שְׁתֵּי־ אֵ֥לֶּה רֶ֛גַע בְּי֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד שְׁכ֣וֹל וְאַלְמֹ֑ן כְּתֻמָּם֙ בָּ֣אוּ עָלַ֔יִךְ בְּרֹ֣ב כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ בְּעָצְמַ֥ת חֲבָרַ֖יִךְ מְאֹֽד

וְתָבֹאנָה֩  but  shall  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
לָּ֨ךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
שְׁתֵּי־  two 
Parse: Number, fdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
אֵ֥לֶּה  these  [things] 
Parse: Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
רֶ֛גַע  in  a  moment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֶגַע  
Sense: a moment adv.
בְּי֥וֹם  in  day 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֶחָ֖ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
שְׁכ֣וֹל  the  loss  of  children 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁכֹול  
Sense: bereavement, loss of children.
וְאַלְמֹ֑ן  and  widowhood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אַלְמֹן  
Sense: widowhood.
כְּתֻמָּם֙  In  their  fullness 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: תֹּם  
Sense: integrity, completeness.
בָּ֣אוּ  they  shall  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
עָלַ֔יִךְ  upon  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person feminine singular
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.
בְּרֹ֣ב  because  of  the  multitude 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹב  
Sense: multitude, abundance, greatness.
כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ  of  your  sorceries 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: כֶּשֶׁף  
Sense: sorcery, witchcraft.
בְּעָצְמַ֥ת  for  the  abundance 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עָצְמָה  
Sense: power, strength, might.
חֲבָרַ֖יִךְ  of  your  enchantments 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: חֶבֶר  
Sense: association, company, band.
מְאֹֽד  great 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.