Isaiah 25:2
For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Isaiah's audience knew fortified cities seemed invincible—thick walls, strategic locations, military might. Yet history records their falls: Babylon (539 BC to Persia), Nineveh (612 BC to Babylon), Tyre (332 BC to Alexander). Each appeared permanent, yet 'never rebuilt' describes many ancient sites—archaeologists excavate heap ruins exactly as Isaiah prophesied. This vindicated God's word and warned proud powers: human strength cannot withstand divine judgment. Jesus prophesied similar destruction for Jerusalem (Luke 19:44), fulfilled in 70 AD when Rome reduced the city to rubble. The lesson: every human system opposing God will ultimately become a 'heap.'
Questions for Reflection
- What modern 'fortified cities' (systems of power, wealth, influence) appear permanent but will ultimately fall under divine judgment?
- How does God's destruction of oppressive systems ('palace of strangers') demonstrate His justice and care for the oppressed?
- What does 'it shall never be built' teach about the finality and completeness of God's judgments against evil?
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Analysis & Commentary
For thou hast made of a city an heap (כִּי שַׂמְתָּ מֵעִיר לְגָל, ki samta me'ir legal)—The Hebrew גַּל (gal, heap) means a pile of ruins, rubble. God actively reduced a proud city to waste. Of a defenced city a ruin (עִיר מִבְצָר לְמַפֵּלָה, ir mivtsar lemapelah)—Even fortified cities (מִבְצָר, mivtsar, fortress-cities thought impregnable) collapse into ruins (מַפֵּלָה, mapelah, ruin, downfall).
A palace of strangers to be no city (אַרְמוֹן זָרִים מֵעִיר, armon zarim me'ir)—The foreigners' palace ceases to be a city at all, so thorough is the destruction. It shall never be built (לְעוֹלָם לֹא יִבָּנֶה, le'olam lo yibaneh)—Perpetual desolation, never restored. This judgment is final and irrevocable.
The identity of this city is debated—Babylon? A composite representing all God-opposing powers? The ambiguity may be intentional: every proud, oppressive system eventually falls to divine judgment. Revelation uses similar imagery for 'Babylon the great' (Revelation 18:2, 21).