Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Keep on, then, with your magic spells and with your many sorceries, which you have labored at since childhood. Perhaps you will succeed, perhaps you will cause terror. New Living Translation “Now use your magical charms! Use the spells you have worked at all these years! Maybe they will do you some good. Maybe they can make someone afraid of you. English Standard Version Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror. Berean Standard Bible So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! Berean Literal Bible Stand now with your spells, and with the multitude of your sorceries with which you have labored from your youth! Perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will inspire terror! King James Bible 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. New King James Version “Stand now with your enchantments And the multitude of your sorceries, In which you have labored from your youth— Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you will prevail. New American Standard Bible “Persist now in your spells And in your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to benefit, Perhaps you may cause trembling. NASB 1995 “Stand fast now in your spells And in your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you may cause trembling. NASB 1977 “Stand fast now in your spells And in your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit, Perhaps you may cause trembling. Legacy Standard Bible “Stand fast now in your spells And in your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit; Perhaps you may cause trembling. Amplified Bible “Persist, then, [Babylon] in your enchantments And your many sorceries With which you have labored from your youth; Perhaps you will be able to profit [from them], Perhaps you may prevail and cause trembling. Berean Annotated Bible So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! Christian Standard Bible So take your stand with your spells and your many sorceries, which you have wearied yourself with from your youth. Perhaps you will be able to succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! Holman Christian Standard Bible So take your stand with your spells and your many sorceries, which you have wearied yourself with from your youth. Perhaps you will be able to succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! American Standard Version Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Contemporary English Version Keep using your magic powers and your charms as you have always done. Maybe--just maybe--you will frighten somebody! English Revised Version 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. GOD'S WORD® Translation Keep practicing your spells and your evil magic. You have practiced them ever since you were young. You may succeed. You may cause terror. Good News Translation Keep all your magic spells and charms; you have used them since you were young. Perhaps they will be of some help to you; perhaps you can frighten your enemies. International Standard Version "But stand up now with your spells and your many incantations, at which you have labored from your childhood until today, NET Bible Persist in trusting your amulets and your many incantations, which you have faithfully recited since your youth! Maybe you will be successful--maybe you will scare away disaster. New Heart English Bible "Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail. Webster's Bible Translation Stand now with thy enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast labored from thy youth; if thou shalt be able to profit, if thou mayest prevail. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! World English Bible “Stand now with your enchantments and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth, as if you might profit, as if you might prevail. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionNow stand in your charms, "" And in the multitude of your sorceries, "" In which you have labored from your youth, "" It may be you are able to profit, "" It may be you terrify! Berean Literal Bible Stand now with your spells, and with the multitude of your sorceries with which you have labored from your youth! Perhaps you will be able to profit, perhaps you will inspire terror! Young's Literal Translation Stand, I pray thee, in thy charms, And in the multitude of thy sorceries, In which thou hast laboured from thy youth, It may be thou art able to profit, It may be thou dost terrify! Smith's Literal Translation Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries in which thou didst labor from thy youth; perhaps thou wilt be able to be of use, perhaps thou wilt cause fear. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleStand now with thy enchanters, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, in which thou hast laboured from thy youth, if so be it may profit thee any thing, or if thou mayst become stronger. Catholic Public Domain Version Stand with your incantations, and with the multitude of your sorceries, in which you have labored from your youth, as if somehow it might benefit you, or as if it were able to make you stronger. New American Bible Keep on with your spells and your many sorceries, at which you toiled from your youth. Perhaps you can prevail, perhaps you can strike terror! New Revised Standard Version Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed, perhaps you may inspire terror. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleStand now with your magicians and with the multitude of your sorceries in which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to profit, perhaps you may strengthen yourself. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Arise now with your Magicians and in your many sorceries in which you labored from your youth. Perhaps you shall find fullness; perhaps you shall be strengthened OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Stand 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. Brenton Septuagint Translation Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the abundance of thy sorcery, which thou hast learned from thy youth; if thou canst be profited. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Fall of Babylon Predicted…11But disaster will come upon you; you will not know how to charm it away. A calamity will befall you that you will be unable to ward off. Devastation will happen to you suddenly and unexpectedly. 12So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! 13You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.… Cross References So take your stand with your spells Jeremiah 27:9-10 But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ / For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish. Exodus 7:11-12 But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts. / Each one threw down his staff, and it became a serpent. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up the other staffs. Acts 8:9-11 Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery. and with your many sorceries, Micah 5:12 I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers. Nahum 3:4 because of the many harlotries of the harlot, the seductive mistress of sorcery, who betrays nations by her prostitution and clans by her witchcraft. Revelation 18:23 The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.” with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Jeremiah 32:30 For the children of Israel and of Judah have done nothing but evil in My sight from their youth; indeed, they have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands, declares the LORD. Jeremiah 22:21 I warned you when you were secure. You said, ‘I will not listen.’ This has been your way from youth, that you have not obeyed My voice. Jeremiah 3:24-25 From our youth, that shameful god has consumed what our fathers have worked for—their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters. / Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth even to this day we have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.” Perhaps you will succeed; Isaiah 8:9-10 Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered! / Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.” Proverbs 19:21 Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail. Job 5:12-13 He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success. / He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning. perhaps you will inspire terror! Ezekiel 28:19 All the nations who know you are appalled over you. You have come to a horrible end and will be no more.’” Jeremiah 51:37 Babylon will become a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals, an object of horror and scorn, without inhabitant. Jeremiah 50:13 Because of the wrath of the LORD, she will not be inhabited; she will become completely desolate. All who pass through Babylon will be horrified and will hiss at all her wounds. Revelation 18:7-8 As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’ / Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Treasury of Scripture Stand now with your enchantments, and with the multitude of your sorceries, wherein you have labored from your youth; if so be you shall be able to profit, if so be you may prevail. Isaiah 47:9,10 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 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Isaiah 19:3 And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards. Jump to Previous Able Arts Attackers Cause Earliest Enchantments Fast Fear Inspire Labored Laboured Magic Mayest Multitude Perhaps Prevail Profit Secret Sorceries Spells Stand Succeed Terror Trembling Wherein Wonder-Working YouthJump to Next Able Arts Attackers Cause Earliest Enchantments Fast Fear Inspire Labored Laboured Magic Mayest Multitude Perhaps Prevail Profit Secret Sorceries Spells Stand Succeed Terror Trembling Wherein Wonder-Working YouthIsaiah 47 1. God's judgment upon Babylon and Chaldea6. For their unmercifulness 7. Pride 10. And over-boldness 11. Shall be irresistible So take your stand with your spells This phrase is a direct challenge to the Babylonians, who were known for their reliance on magic and astrology. In the ancient Near East, spells and incantations were commonly used to manipulate the spiritual realm. The Bible consistently condemns such practices (Deuteronomy 18:10-12), emphasizing reliance on God rather than occult powers. This challenge highlights the futility of trusting in human or demonic powers over divine sovereignty. and with your many sorceries with which you have wearied yourself from your youth Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! Persons / Places / Events 1. BabylonThe city and empire addressed in this chapter, known for its wealth, power, and idolatry. Babylon is often symbolic of human pride and rebellion against God. 2. Sorcerers and Magicians Practitioners of magic and divination in Babylon, representing reliance on human wisdom and power rather than God. 3. Isaiah The prophet who delivers God's message of judgment against Babylon, calling out their reliance on sorcery and false gods. 4. God's Judgment The event prophesied by Isaiah, where God declares the futility of Babylon's sorceries and the impending downfall of the city. 5. The Exile The historical context of Israel's captivity in Babylon, during which this prophecy was given, highlighting God's sovereignty over nations. Teaching Points The Futility of Human WisdomHuman efforts and wisdom, represented by Babylon's sorceries, are ultimately futile against God's sovereign will. We must rely on God's wisdom rather than our own understanding. The Danger of Idolatry Idolatry, in any form, leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God. We must guard our hearts against placing anything above God. God's Sovereignty Over Nations God is in control of all nations and their destinies. This should give us confidence in His plans and purposes, even when worldly powers seem dominant. The Call to Repentance God's warnings are opportunities for repentance. We should heed His call to turn away from sin and seek His forgiveness and guidance. The Assurance of God's Justice God's justice will prevail. We can trust that He will right all wrongs and bring about His righteous judgment in His perfect timing. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 47:12?2. How does Isaiah 47:12 warn against relying on sorcery and enchantments? 3. What does Isaiah 47:12 reveal about the futility of trusting in magic? 4. How can Isaiah 47:12 guide us in avoiding modern-day forms of idolatry? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Isaiah 47:12 and warnings against false security? 6. How can we apply Isaiah 47:12 to strengthen our faith in God alone? 7. What does Isaiah 47:12 reveal about the futility of relying on sorcery and magic? 8. How does Isaiah 47:12 challenge the belief in human power over divine will? 9. Why does Isaiah 47:12 emphasize the failure of Babylon's enchantments? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 47? 11. What defines the witching hour? 12. Should Christians seek guidance from horoscopes? 13. In Nahum 3:4, does the metaphorical language of prostitution and witchcraft reflect actual historical practices in Nineveh, or is it exaggerated prophetic rhetoric? 14. In Revelation 14:8, what historical or archeological basis exists for identifying “Babylon the Great,” and how might contradictory theories weaken its credibility? What Does Isaiah 47:12 Mean So take your stand with your spells“So take your stand with your spells…” (Isaiah 47:12a) • The Lord invites Babylon to lean on the very arts it trusts—much like Pharaoh’s magicians in Exodus 7:11 who tried to match God’s power but quickly met their limits. • It is a divine taunt: if these “spells” were ever going to deliver, now would be the moment. Yet Isaiah 41:21-24 shows how powerless idols and occult practices truly are when confronted by the living God. • The verse exposes the human tendency to clutch at counterfeit power instead of turning to the One “who alone does great wonders” (Psalm 136:4). and with your many sorceries “…and with your many sorceries…” (Isaiah 47:12b) • “Many” emphasizes how entrenched Babylon was in occultism—echoing the condemnation of “one who practices divination” in Deuteronomy 18:10-12. • Like Nineveh, called “the mistress of sorceries” in Nahum 3:4, Babylon made magic a national trademark, weaving it into politics, commerce, and religion (Revelation 18:23). • God exposes that quantity does not equal potency; piling up rituals cannot produce real deliverance (Isaiah 57:12-13). with which you have wearied yourself from your youth “…with which you have wearied yourself from your youth.” (Isaiah 47:12c) • Babylon’s fascination began early and became exhausting. Sin always promises excitement but ends in weariness (Jeremiah 51:58). • Their lifelong commitment mirrors the “golden cup” of Babylon that intoxicated nations from the very start (Jeremiah 51:7; Revelation 17:2). • Spiritual exhaustion signals the bankruptcy of false worship; only the Lord “gives strength to the weary” (Isaiah 40:29). Perhaps you will succeed “Perhaps you will succeed…” (Isaiah 47:12d) • God speaks with biting irony, much like Elijah mocking the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:27. • Success apart from God is an illusion; earlier Isaiah 47:10 notes Babylon’s overconfidence—yet Psalm 33:10 declares, “The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations.” • The line underscores accountability: Babylon must now prove the worth of every charm it accumulated. perhaps you will inspire terror! “…perhaps you will inspire terror!” (Isaiah 47:12e) • Babylon had long terrified others (Isaiah 14:4-6), but the tables are turning. Revelation 18:10 pictures kings standing in terror at her downfall. • God’s sarcasm highlights the contrast between human intimidation and divine judgment; only the Lord “is to be feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:4). • Instead of causing fear, Babylon will soon experience it; verse 47:11 guarantees sudden ruin no spell can avert. summary Isaiah 47:12 is God’s ironic challenge to Babylon: lean fully on your lifelong arsenal of occult practices and see if they can save you. The verse dismantles the illusion of human-manufactured power, revealing that spells and sorceries—no matter how numerous—leave their devotees weary and defenseless before the sovereign Lord. Trust in anything other than God leads to exhaustion and inevitable collapse, while reliance on Him alone provides true security and lasting strength. (12) If so be thou shalt be able . . .--The words come with a subtle tone of irony. Persevere in thy enchantments . . . perchance thou wilt be able to profit, perchance thou wilt strike terror.Verse 12. - Stand now. The fourth and concluding strophe now begins; it opens, like the third, with a single imperative. It has, as Mr. Cheyne observes, "a strongly ironical tinge, reminding us of Elijah's language to the priests of Baal in 1 Kings 18:27." The irony is, however, confined to the first half (vers. 12, 13); giving place in vers. 14 and 15 to a scathing sentence of judgment and ruin. Enchantments... sorceries; rather, spells, enchantments (see the comment on ver. 9). If so be, etc.; rather, perchance thou wilt be able to profit; perchance thou wilt cause terror. The prophet gives a pretended encouragement to Israel's adversaries. "If Babylon uses all the resources of her magical art, perhaps she may succeed - who knows? Perhaps she may strike terror into the hearts of her assailants."Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So take your standעִמְדִי־ (‘im·ḏî-) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations with your spells בַחֲבָרַ֙יִךְ֙ (ḇa·ḥă·ḇā·ra·yiḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 2267: Company, association, spell and with your many וּבְרֹ֣ב (ū·ḇə·rōḇ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 7230: Multitude, abundance, greatness sorceries, כְּשָׁפַ֔יִךְ (kə·šā·p̄a·yiḵ) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 3785: Sorcery with which בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ba·’ă·šer) Preposition-b | Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that you have wearied yourself יָגַ֖עַתְּ (yā·ḡa·‘at) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 3021: To gasp, to be exhausted, to tire, to toil from your youth. מִנְּעוּרָ֑יִךְ (min·nə·‘ū·rā·yiḵ) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 5271: Youth, the state, the persons Perhaps אוּלַ֛י (’ū·lay) Adverb Strong's 194: Perhaps you will תּוּכְלִ֥י (tū·ḵə·lî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 3201: To be able, have power succeed; הוֹעִ֖יל (hō·w·‘îl) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Strong's 3276: To confer or gain profit or benefit perhaps אוּלַ֥י (’ū·lay) Adverb Strong's 194: Perhaps you will inspire terror! תַּעֲרֽוֹצִי׃ (ta·‘ă·rō·w·ṣî) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular Strong's 6206: To cause to tremble, tremble Links Isaiah 47:12 NIVIsaiah 47:12 NLT Isaiah 47:12 ESV Isaiah 47:12 NASB Isaiah 47:12 KJV Isaiah 47:12 BibleApps.com Isaiah 47:12 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 47:12 Chinese Bible Isaiah 47:12 French Bible Isaiah 47:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 47:12 Stand now with your enchantments and (Isa Isi Is) |
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