What does Isaiah 47:2 mean?
"Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers." - Isaiah 47:2
In Isaiah 47:2, the verse reads in the King James Version (KJV): "Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers." This verse is a part of a larger passage in the book of Isaiah, where the prophet Isaiah delivers a message to the Babylonians, warning them of their impending downfall and the judgment of God.
In this verse, the imagery of taking the millstones and grinding meal is symbolic of the hard labor and toil that the Babylonians will soon experience. Millstones were heavy, hand-powered stones used for grinding grain into meal, a task that required great physical strength and endurance. By commanding the Babylonians to take the millstones and grind meal, Isaiah is portraying their upcoming suffering and hardship as a form of punishment for their pride and arrogance.
The command to "uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh" is a metaphorical description of the Babylonians being stripped of their dignity and pride. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the act of uncovering one's locks, making bare the leg, and uncovering the thigh was associated with shame and humiliation. This imagery serves as a warning to the Babylonians that they will be publicly exposed and disgraced as a result of their wickedness and arrogance.
The phrase "pass over the rivers" further emphasizes the Babylonians' forthcoming exile and displacement from their homeland. In ancient times, crossing rivers often symbolized a journey into unfamiliar territory and an uncertain future. This imagery reinforces the message of impending judgment and the consequences of the Babylonians' sinful behavior.
The larger context of Isaiah 47 reveals that the passage is a prophetic declaration against the pride and arrogance of the Babylonian empire. Throughout the chapter, Isaiah speaks out against the Babylonians' idolatry, sorcery, and reliance on their own power and wisdom. The prophet warns them of the judgment that will befall them as a result of their wickedness and refusal to acknowledge the sovereignty of God.
Themes of judgment, pride, and the consequences of sin are prevalent throughout this passage. The Babylonians' haughty and self-centered attitude has led them to a place of spiritual and moral bankruptcy, and Isaiah's message serves as a reminder of the inevitable consequences of their actions. The imagery of grinding meal, uncovering locks, and passing over rivers serves as a vivid portrayal of the Babylonian's upcoming suffering and exile as a result of their disobedience to God.
Symbolically, this passage can also serve as a warning to individuals and nations who become prideful and self-reliant, placing their trust in their own abilities rather than in God. The ultimate message of this verse is that humility, obedience, and reverence for God are essential qualities for a righteous and fruitful life. It also serves as a reminder that God's judgment is just and inevitable for those who reject His authority and pursue wickedness.
In conclusion, Isaiah 47:2 conveys a powerful message of judgment and consequences for pride and disobedience. Through its vivid imagery and poetic language, the verse serves as a warning to the Babylonians and to all who would follow in their footsteps. This passage reminds us of the importance of humility, obedience, and reverence for God, and it highlights the inevitable consequences of rejecting His authority and pursuing wickedness.
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Isaiah 47:2 - "Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers."
"Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers." - Isaiah 47:2
Isaiah 47:4 - "As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel."
Isaiah 47:5 - "Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms."
Isaiah 47:7 - "¶ And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it."
Ezra 2:47 - "The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,"
"As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." - Isaiah 47:4
Isaiah 47:1 - "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate."
Isaiah 47:14 - "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."
Luke 2:47 - "And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers."
Isaiah 47:13 - "Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee."
Isaiah 47:9 - "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."
Isaiah 47:12 - "Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail."
1 Chronicles 2:47 - "And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Gesham, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph."
Isaiah 47:3 - "Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man." The image should not depict explicit or offensive content but be symbolic.
Psalms 47:2 - "For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth."
Isaiah 47:15 - "Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee."
2 Samuel 22:47 - "The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation."
Genesis 47:2 - "And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh."
Acts 2:47 - "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Isaiah 47:6 - "¶ I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke."
Isaiah 47:8 - "Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:"
Isaiah 47:10 - "¶ For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me."
Isaiah 47:14 - "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."
"The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah," - Ezra 2:47
Isaiah 47:14 - "Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it."
Isaiah 47:11 - "¶ Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know."
"And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." - Luke 2:47
"Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms." - Isaiah 47:5
Daniel 2:47 - "The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret."