Isaiah – Chapter 14

Old Testament32 Verses

Chapter Summary

Isaiah 14 opens with the words: "Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of Israel,…" Jacob stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 32 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and justice and care for the poor. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of Israel, and will make them rest upon their own ground: and the stranger shall be joined with them, and shall adhere to the house of Jacob.

2And the people shall take them, and bring them into their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the Lord for servants and handmaids: and they shall make them captives that had taken them, and shall subdue their oppressors.

3And it shall come to pass in that day, that when God shall give thee rest from thy labour, and from thy vexation, and from the hard bondage, wherewith thou didst serve before,

4Thou shalt take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and shalt say: How is the oppressor come to nothing, the tribute hath ceased?

5The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of the rulers,

6That struck the people in wrath with an incurable wound, that brought nations under in fury, that persecuted in a cruel manner.

7The whole earth is quiet and still, it is glad and hath rejoiced.

8The fir trees also have rejoiced over thee, and the cedars of Libanus, saying: Since thou hast slept, there hath none come up to cut us down.

9Hell below was in an uproar to meet thee at thy coming, it stirred up the giants for thee. All the princes of the earth are risen up from their thrones, all the princes of nations.

10All shall answer, and say to thee: Thou also art wounded as well as we, thou art become like unto us.

11Thy pride is brought down to hell, thy carcass is fallen down: under thee shall the moth be strewed, and worms shall be thy covering.

12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, who didst rise in the morning? how art thou fallen to the earth, that didst wound the nations?

13And thou saidst in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit in the mountain of the covenant, in the sides of the north.

14I will ascend above the height of the clouds, I will be like the most High.

15But yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, into the depth of the pit.

16They that shall see thee, shall turn toward thee, and behold thee. Is this the man that troubled the earth, that shook kingdoms,

17That made the world a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof, that opened not the prison to his prisoners?

18All the kings of the nations have all of them slept in glory, every one in his own house.

19But thou art cast out of thy grave, as an unprofitable branch defiled, and wrapped up among them that were slain by the sword, and art gone down to the bottom of the pit, as a rotten carcass.

20Thou shalt not keep company with them, even in burial: for thou hast destroyed thy land, thou hast slain thy people: the seed of the wicked shall not be named for ever.

21Prepare his children for slaughter for the iniquity of their fathers: they shall not rise up, nor inherit the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.

22And I will rise up against them, saith the Lord of hosts: and I will destroy the name of Babylon, and the remains, and the bud, and the offspring, saith the Lord.

23And I will make it a possession for the ericius and pools of waters, and I will sweep it and wear it out with a besom, saith the Lord of hosts.

24The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying: Surely as I have thought, so shall it be: and as I have purposed,

25So shall it fall out: That I will destroy the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: and his yoke shall be taken away from them, and his burden shall be taken off their shoulder.

26This is the counsel, that I have purposed upon all the earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all nations.

27For the Lord of hosts hath decreed, and who can disannul it? and his hand is stretched out: and who shall turn it away?

28In the year that king Achaz died, was this burden:

29Rejoice not thou, whole Philistia, that the rod of him that struck thee is broken in pieces: for out of the root of the serpent shall come forth a basilisk, and his seed shall swallow the bird.

30And the firstborn of the poor shall be fed, and the poor shall rest with confidence: and I will make thy root perish with famine, and I will kill thy remnant.

31Howl, O gate; cry, O city: all Philistia is thrown down: for a smoke shall come from the north, and there is none that shall escape his troop.

32And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his people shall hope in him.

Important Verses in Isaiah 14

Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of Israel, and will make them rest upon their own ground: and the stranger shall be joined with them, and shall adhere to the house of Jacob.

Isaiah 14:1

The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, the rod of the rulers,

Isaiah 14:5

And thou saidst in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, I will sit in the mountain of the covenant, in the sides of the north.

Isaiah 14:13

And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his people shall hope in him.

Isaiah 14:32

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Isaiah was written with judah in crisis, the exiles in Babylon, and all who await the Messiah in view. Chapter 14 of 66 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a legal and cultic instruction given to Israel regarding worship, holiness, and daily life with 32 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Jacob appear at the center of the events recorded here. It opens with the line: "Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet…" The chapter ends with: "And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his…" In terms of historical background, Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem during the Assyrian crisis, calling kings to trust God rather than alliances. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples

When It Was Written

Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, Isaiah 14 delivers commandments and ritual instructions given under the old covenant. A pivotal line is verse 1: "Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of Israel, and will make them…" The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of judgment, comfort, and messianic hope. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 1095).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • God defends the poor and the oppressed, and calls His people to act with justice.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.

People in This Chapter

Jacob2 mentions

Reflection for Today

Isaiah Chapter 14 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). Here the believer is invited to ponder the beatitudes as a program of life.

May your reading of Isaiah Chapter 14 become true lectio divina: read the words, meditate on their meaning, respond in prayer, and rest in God's presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to show how God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth applies to your life today.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah Chapter 14 about?

Isaiah 14 contains 32 verses. It opens with "Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet…" and closes with "And what shall be answered to the messengers of the nations? That the Lord hath founded Sion, and the poor of his…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles and poetry.

What is a key verse in Isaiah 14?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "Her time is near at hand, and her days shall not be prolonged. For the Lord will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose out of Israel, and will make them rest upon their own…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Isaiah Chapter 14?

This chapter mentions Jacob.

Who wrote Isaiah and when?

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples. Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

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