Isaiah 14:11
Isaiah 14:11 in Multiple Translations
Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
Thy pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and worms cover thee.
Your pride has gone down into the underworld, and the noise of your instruments of music; the worms are under you, and your body is covered with them.
Your pride is now buried with you in the grave, along with the harp music you loved. Maggots are the bed you lie on, and worms are your blanket.’
Thy pompe is brought downe to ye graue, and the sounde of thy violes: the worme is spred vnder thee, and the wormes couer thee.
Brought down to Sheol hath been thine excellency, The noise of thy psaltery, Under thee spread out hath been the worm, Yea, covering thee is the worm.
Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, with the sound of your stringed instruments. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you.
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.
Thy pride is brought down to hell, thy carcass is fallen down: under thee shall the moth be strewed, and worms shall be thy covering.
You were very proud and powerful, but all that ended when you died, along with the sounds of harps being played in your palace. Now in your grave maggots will be under you like a sheet [MET], and worms will cover you like a blanket [MET].
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 14:11
BAB
Word Study
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Isaiah 14:11 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הוּרַ֥ד
שְׁא֛וֹל
גְּאוֹנֶ֖/ךָ
הֶמְיַ֣ת
נְבָלֶ֑י/ךָ
תַּחְתֶּ֨י/ךָ֙
יֻצַּ֣ע
רִמָּ֔ה
וּ/מְכַסֶּ֖י/ךָ
תּוֹלֵעָֽה
הוּרַ֥ד
yârad
H3381
to go down
V-Hophal-Perf-3ms
שְׁא֛וֹל
shᵉʼôwl
H7585
hell
N-proper
גְּאוֹנֶ֖/ךָ
gâʼôwn
H1347
pride
N-ms | Suff
הֶמְיַ֣ת
hemyâh
H1998
sound
N-fs
נְבָלֶ֑י/ךָ
nebel
H5035
bag
N-mp | Suff
תַּחְתֶּ֨י/ךָ֙
tachath
H8478
underneath
Prep | Suff
יֻצַּ֣ע
yatsaʻ
H3331
to lay
V-Hophal-Imperf-3ms
רִמָּ֔ה
rimmâh
H7415
worm
N-fs
וּ/מְכַסֶּ֖י/ךָ
mᵉkaççeh
H4374
covering
Conj | N-ms | Suff
תּוֹלֵעָֽה
tôwlâʻ
H8438
worm
N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 14:11
הוּרַ֥ד
yârad
H3381
"to go down"
V-Hophal-Perf-3ms
To go down or descend, like going to a lower place or falling. It appears in Genesis and Exodus, describing people and things moving downwards.
Definition: 1) to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go or come down 1a2) to sink 1a3) to be prostrated 1a4) to come down (of revelation) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to bring down 1b2) to send down 1b3) to take down 1b4) to lay prostrate 1b5) to let down 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be brought down 1c2) to be taken down
Usage: Occurs in 345 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. See also: Genesis 11:5; Judges 3:28; 2 Kings 1:15.
שְׁא֛וֹל
shᵉʼôwl
H7585
"hell"
N-proper
Sheol refers to the underworld or grave, a place of no return where the dead reside, as seen in the Old Testament. It is often translated as hell or pit in the KJV. This concept is mentioned in various books, including Psalms and Isaiah.
Definition: Sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit 1a) the underworld 1b) Sheol-the OT designation for the abode of the dead 1b1) place of no return 1b2) without praise of God 1b3) wicked sent there for punishment 1b4) righteous not abandoned to it 1b5) of the place of exile (fig) 1b6) of extreme degradation in sin
Usage: Occurs in 64 OT verses. KJV: grave, hell, pit. See also: Genesis 37:35; Psalms 139:8; Psalms 6:6.
גְּאוֹנֶ֖/ךָ
gâʼôwn
H1347
"pride"
N-ms | Suff
This Hebrew word means pride or majesty, describing something excellent or arrogant, like nations or God's power, as seen in the KJV translations of Isaiah and Psalms.
Definition: 1) exaltation, majesty, pride 1a) majesty, exaltation, excellence 1a1) of nations 1a2) of God 1a3) of the Jordan 1b) pride, arrogance (bad sense)
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: arrogancy, excellency(-lent), majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling. See also: Exodus 15:7; Jeremiah 13:9; Psalms 47:5.
הֶמְיַ֣ת
hemyâh
H1998
"sound"
N-fs
This Hebrew word means sound or music, often referring to the sound of instruments. It is used in various contexts, including Psalm 98, to describe joyful noises.
Definition: sound, music (of instruments)
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: noise. See also: Isaiah 14:11.
נְבָלֶ֑י/ךָ
nebel
H5035
"bag"
N-mp | Suff
A harp is a musical instrument, and this word is also used to describe a skin-bag for liquids or a vase. It is often translated as a psaltery or viol in the Bible.
Definition: 1) a skin-bag, jar, pitcher 1a) skin-bottle, skin 1b) jar, pitcher (earthen)
Usage: Occurs in 37 OT verses. KJV: bottle, pitcher, psaltery, vessel, viol. See also: 1 Samuel 1:24; Nehemiah 12:27; Psalms 33:2.
תַּחְתֶּ֨י/ךָ֙
tachath
H8478
"underneath"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means underneath or below, often used to describe physical locations or positions. It appears in various books, including Genesis, Exodus, and Psalms, to indicate something is under or beneath something else. The word has several related meanings.
Definition: : under/below 1) the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas n m 1a) the under part adv accus 1b) beneath prep 1c) under, beneath 1c1) at the foot of (idiom) 1c2) sweetness, subjection, woman, being burdened or oppressed (fig) 1c3) of subjection or conquest 1d) what is under one, the place in which one stands 1d1) in one's place, the place in which one stands (idiom with reflexive pronoun) 1d2) in place of, instead of (in transferred sense) 1d3) in place of, in exchange or return for (of things mutually interchanged) conj 1e) instead of, instead of that 1f) in return for that, because that in compounds 1g) in, under, into the place of (after verbs of motion) 1h) from under, from beneath, from under the hand of, from his place, under, beneath
Usage: Occurs in 450 OT verses. KJV: as, beneath, [idiom] flat, in(-stead), (same) place (where...is), room, for...sake, stead of, under, [idiom] unto, [idiom] when...was mine, whereas, (where-) fore, with. See also: Genesis 1:7; Deuteronomy 7:24; 1 Kings 20:42.
יֻצַּ֣ע
yatsaʻ
H3331
"to lay"
V-Hophal-Imperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to lay or spread something out, like making a bed or laying out a surface. It appears in various forms, such as in Exodus 7:28. In the Bible, it's often used to describe everyday activities.
Definition: 1) to spread out, make a bed 1a) (Hiphil) to lay, spread out 1b) (Hophal) to be laid, be spread out
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: make (one's) bed, [idiom] lie, spread. See also: Esther 4:3; Isaiah 14:11; Psalms 139:8.
רִמָּ֔ה
rimmâh
H7415
"worm"
N-fs
A worm or maggot, symbolizing decay, is described in the Bible as a sign of corruption.
Definition: maggot, worm (as cause and sign of decay)
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: worm. See also: Exodus 16:24; Job 21:26; Isaiah 14:11.
וּ/מְכַסֶּ֖י/ךָ
mᵉkaççeh
H4374
"covering"
Conj | N-ms | Suff
This word describes a covering, like a garment, bed cover, or awning, and is also used to describe the omentum in the body. It appears in various books, including Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Definition: covering, that which covers
Usage: Occurs in 4 OT verses. KJV: clothing, to cover, that which covereth. See also: Leviticus 9:19; Isaiah 23:18; Isaiah 14:11.
תּוֹלֵעָֽה
tôwlâʻ
H8438
"worm"
N-fs
The Hebrew word for worm or maggot, this term is also used to describe a deep red or crimson color. It's associated with a specific type of worm that produces a vibrant dye. In the Bible, it's used to describe the color of cloth or other materials.
Definition: 1) worm, scarlet stuff, crimson 1a) worm-the female 'coccus ilicis' 1b) scarlet stuff, crimson, scarlet 1b1) the dye made from the dried body of the female of the worm "coccus ilicis" Also means: to.le.ah (תּוֹלֵעָה "worm" H8438B)
Usage: Occurs in 43 OT verses. KJV: crimson, scarlet, worm. See also: Exodus 16:20; Exodus 39:2; Psalms 22:7.
Study Notes — Isaiah 14:11
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 14:11 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 14:11
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 14:11
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 14:11
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 14:11
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
- Sermons on Isaiah 14:11
Context — The Fall of the King of Babylon
9Sheol beneath is eager to meet you upon your arrival. It stirs the spirits of the dead to greet you— all the rulers of the earth. It makes all the kings of the nations rise from their thrones.
10They will all respond to you, saying, “You too have become weak, as we are; you have become like us!”
11Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol, along with the music of your harps. Maggots are your bed and worms your blanket.
12How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. 13You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 5:25–30 | Now this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.” Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar king of the Chaldeans was slain, |
| 2 | Job 21:11–15 | They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about, singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’ |
| 3 | Isaiah 66:24 | “As they go forth, they will see the corpses of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never be quenched, and they will be a horror to all mankind.” |
| 4 | Job 17:13–14 | If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ |
| 5 | Daniel 5:1–4 | Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. |
| 6 | Isaiah 22:2 | O city of commotion, O town of revelry? Your slain did not die by the sword, nor were they killed in battle. |
| 7 | Mark 9:43–48 | If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.’ |
| 8 | Job 24:19–20 | As drought and heat consume the melting snow, so Sheol steals those who have sinned. The womb forgets them; the worm feeds on them; they are remembered no more. So injustice is like a broken tree. |
| 9 | Isaiah 21:4–5 | My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror. They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields! |
| 10 | Amos 6:3–7 | You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence. You lie on beds inlaid with ivory, and lounge upon your couches. You dine on lambs from the flock and calves from the stall. You improvise songs on the harp like David and invent your own musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and anoint yourselves with the finest oils, but you fail to grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore, you will now go into exile as the first of the captives, and your feasting and lounging will come to an end. |
Isaiah 14:11 Summary
[This verse is talking about how the king of Babylon, who was very proud and thought he was above everyone else, has been brought low and is now in a place of darkness and decay, much like what happens to those who oppose God in Psalms 73:18-19. His beautiful music and comfortable life have been replaced with maggots and worms, which shows that our earthly glory is not lasting. As it says in 1 Peter 1:24, our earthly bodies will one day decay, but our spirits can live on with God if we humble ourselves and follow Him. This is a reminder that true glory and honor come from God, not from our own achievements or possessions, as seen in the example of Jesus in Matthew 20:26-28.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for pomp to be brought down to Sheol?
In Isaiah 14:11, the pomp being brought down to Sheol means that the pride and glory of the king of Babylon have been humbled and defeated, much like the downfall of Satan in Isaiah 14:12 and as seen in the fall of Lucifer in Job 38:15 and Ezekiel 28:17
Why are maggots and worms mentioned as a bed and blanket?
The mention of maggots and worms as a bed and blanket in Isaiah 14:11 symbolizes the complete decay and corruption that awaits those who are prideful and oppose God, as also seen in the fate of the wicked in Psalms 9:17 and Job 24:20
How does this verse relate to the overall message of Isaiah 14?
Isaiah 14:11 is part of a larger passage that condemns the pride and arrogance of the king of Babylon, and serves as a warning to all who would exalt themselves against God, as seen in the example of the Babylonian king in Daniel 4:37 and the warning in Proverbs 16:18
What can we learn from the contrast between the king's former glory and his current state?
The contrast between the king's former glory and his current state in Isaiah 14:11 teaches us that earthly glory and power are fleeting, and that true glory and honor come from humility and a relationship with God, as seen in the example of Jesus in Philippians 2:5-11 and the teaching in 1 Peter 5:6
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I may be exhibiting pride or a sense of self-importance, and how can I humble myself before God?
- How does the image of maggots and worms as a bed and blanket challenge my understanding of the consequences of sin and the importance of living a life pleasing to God?
- In what ways can I apply the lesson of Isaiah 14:11 to my own life, recognizing that true glory and honor come from God and not from earthly achievements or possessions?
- What does this verse teach me about the nature of God and His response to human pride and arrogance?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 14:11
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave,.... Or "hell"; all the state and majesty in which he appeared, when sitting on the throne of his kingdom, with a glittering crown on his head, a sceptre in his
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 14:11
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
Thy pomp is brought down to the grave; all thy glory is lost and buried with thee. The noise of thy viols; all thy musical and melodious instruments, which were much used in Babylon, ,7,10, and were doubtless used in Belshazzar’ s solemn feast, , at which time the city was taken; to which possibly the prophet here alludes. The worm is spread under thee, instead of those rich and stately carpets upon which thou didst frequently tread.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
Isaiah 14:11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, [and] the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.Ver. 11. Thy pomp is brought down to the grave.] Ipsaque iusta sepulta iacent, funeral rites, those dues of the dead, are wanting to thee. This was fulfilled in Belshazzar, slain at his impious feast, while he profaned the vessels of God’ s house to quaff in to the honour of Shac, his drunken god, and had no doubt variety of music. See Jeremiah 51:39; Jeremiah 51:41; Jeremiah 51:47 Daniel 5:1; Daniel 5:30. The worm is spread under thee, and worms cover thee.] Pro linteamine tinea sternitur: pro lodice vermes superimponuntur. For sheets thou hast maggots, and for a coverlet, worms; and this the rather because, whereas the Assyrian kings, as Strabo testifieth, and the Babylonian kings, as Herodotus, were wont to be embalmed after their death, that they might keep sweet, Belshazzar was not so These feast days were called σακεαιημηραι, like the Roman saturnalia. Lib. xv. Lib. i.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
(11) Thy pomp is brought down to the grave. Literally, to Sheol, as in Isaiah 14:9. The “pomp” is the same as the “beauty” of Isaiah 13:19. The noise of thy viols.—Perhaps harps, or cymbals, representing one of the prominent features of Babylonian culture (Daniel 3:5). The singers see, as it were, all this kingly state mouldering in the grave, maggots and worms (the two words are different in the Hebrew) taking the place of the costly shawls and carpets on which the great king had been wont to rest.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
Verse 11. Cover thee - "Thy covering."] Twenty-eight MSS. (ten ancient) of Kennicott's, thirty-nine of De Rossi's, twelve editions, with the Septuagint and Vulgate, read ומכסך umechassecha, in the singular number.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 14:11
11. It is doubtful whether this verse continues the address of the shades. It certainly does not extend further. For the grave read Sheol. the noise of thy viols] possibly indicating that the king had been cut down suddenly at a riotous feast (see Isaiah 21:5; Daniel 5). the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee] (The Heb. uses two distinct words for “worm.”) His lot is far worse than that of other potentates. No kingly throne is reserved for him in Sheol, but as one who has been denied honourable burial on earth (Isaiah 14:19) he is laid in the “recesses of the pit” (Isaiah 14:15) and makes his bed in corruption.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 14:11
Thy pomp - Thy magnificence (see the note at Isaiah 5:14). The noise of thy viols - Instruments of music were often used in their feasts; and the meaning here is, that instead of being surrounded
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 14:11
11. If so, the triumphal elegiac song begun at Isaiah 14:4 is here resumed; strong ethical sentiment, not thoughts of propriety as to condition or place, being dominant with the restored Jews, the chief actors in this scene.
Sermons on Isaiah 14:11
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Basics) 72. God's Plan for Those Who Have Failed by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that God can take a person who has made a mess of their life and turn it into something glorious. He uses the stories of the prodigal son and |
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Satan Has Victims, but Jesus Is the Victor by Ken Pierpont | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the existence of a real enemy that Christians face. He emphasizes that sin is always present and waiting to tempt believers. The preacher use |
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Generations Remade by K.P. Yohannan | K.P. Yohannan explores the theme of creation and the fall, emphasizing that everything God created was initially good, but something went wrong, leading to a state of formlessness |
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4) Ministry From Spring Harvest - Chapter 6 by George Verwer | In this video, the speaker reviews the main themes of the previous chapters in the book of Daniel, focusing on sovereignty, discipline, holiness, perseverance, pressure, courage, d |
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(Daniel) the Writing on the Wall by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Belshazzar and the writing on the wall from the book of Daniel in the Bible. Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, throws a la |
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(Daniel: The Man God Uses #5) Fragrance of Christ by Ed Miller | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes three main points. Firstly, he states that life is like a party and should not be taken seriously. He argues that people should not be conce |
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Daniel 5 by Robert F. Adcock | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Belshazzar from the Bible. He emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the unexpected and being spiritually ready to leav |