This verse presents the beginning of a sweeping revelation of judgment against Babylon.
“The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.” (v.1) This brief yet weighty statement introduces a prophetic pronouncement of judgment directed at the empire of Babylon. The word rendered here as “oracle” is the Hebrew term massa, which often means a burden or pronouncement of disaster. Through this single verse, Isaiah, who prophesied sometime between 740 and 681 BC, makes it clear that the message to be revealed is one he “saw”—that is, a divine revelation he received regarding Babylon’s future.
Babylon, located in ancient Mesopotamia near the Euphrates River, was a powerful city-state known for its grandeur and might. It frequently appears in Scripture as a symbol of pride and opposition to God. The prophet Isaiah introduces his audience to a sober vision that warns of Babylon’s downfall, foreshadowing the fate of a nation destined to be humbled by the Lord’s sovereign hand (see also passages portraying oracles, such as Nahum 1:1, where the very same term massa is used to convey imminent judgment).
By referencing Isaiah the son of Amoz, the verse underscores the authority of the prophet: one who spoke into turbulent political times and warned against trusting worldly power. Isaiah’s prophetic ministry aligned with major events impacting both the northern and southern kingdoms, yet here he points beyond Israel’s immediate horizon all the way to mighty Babylon, establishing a sweeping scope for God’s plans.
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Isaiah 13:1 meaning
“The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.” (v.1) This brief yet weighty statement introduces a prophetic pronouncement of judgment directed at the empire of Babylon. The word rendered here as “oracle” is the Hebrew term massa, which often means a burden or pronouncement of disaster. Through this single verse, Isaiah, who prophesied sometime between 740 and 681 BC, makes it clear that the message to be revealed is one he “saw”—that is, a divine revelation he received regarding Babylon’s future.
Babylon, located in ancient Mesopotamia near the Euphrates River, was a powerful city-state known for its grandeur and might. It frequently appears in Scripture as a symbol of pride and opposition to God. The prophet Isaiah introduces his audience to a sober vision that warns of Babylon’s downfall, foreshadowing the fate of a nation destined to be humbled by the Lord’s sovereign hand (see also passages portraying oracles, such as Nahum 1:1, where the very same term massa is used to convey imminent judgment).
By referencing Isaiah the son of Amoz, the verse underscores the authority of the prophet: one who spoke into turbulent political times and warned against trusting worldly power. Isaiah’s prophetic ministry aligned with major events impacting both the northern and southern kingdoms, yet here he points beyond Israel’s immediate horizon all the way to mighty Babylon, establishing a sweeping scope for God’s plans.