Isaiah 13:15
ESV
Whoever is found will be thrust through, and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.
NIV
Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword.
NASB
Anyone who is found will be thrust through, And anyone who is captured will fall by the sword.
CSB
Whoever is found will be stabbed, and whoever is caught will die by the sword.
NLT
Anyone who is captured will be cut down — run through with a sword.
KJV
Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.
NKJV
Everyone who is found will be thrust through, And everyone who is captured will fall by the sword.
What does Isaiah 13:15 mean?
As Isaiah looks beyond his time to what were then future events, he sees the doomed city-state of Babylon producing a flood of refugees fleeing from its borders. These evacuees will run for their hometowns and native peoples, trying to escape the slaughter (Isaiah 13:14). This calls to mind images from more recent times, of waves of refugees making their way across empty country with what few possessions they can carry.In the instance Isaiah predicted, the armies that have come to destroy Babylon will not allow refugees to survive. They will hunt down those who run. Any they find will be put to death. Some of this may be vengeance and blood lust. It is also intended to keep the conquered enemy beat down and unable to rebuild into a powerful nation. Babylon's judgment from the Lord will be severe, in keeping with the severity of the nation's sins (Isaiah 13:11).
