King James Version

Isaiah 23:13

Behold the land of the Chaldeans; this people was not, till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness: they set up the towers thereof, they raised up the palaces thereof; and he brought it to ruin.

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Hebrew

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הֵ֣ןhenifהֵןparticle, demonstrative — “if”H2005lo!; also (as expressing surprise) ifbehold, if, lo, though.אֶ֣רֶץeretsearthאֶרֶץnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “earth”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)[idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.כַּשְׂדִּ֗יםkasdimChaldeansכַּשְׂדִּיnoun, proper name — “Chaldeans”H3778a Kasdite, or descendant of Kesed; by implication, a Chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that peopleChaldeans, Chaldees, inhabitants of Chaldea.זֶ֤הzehthe one...the otherזֶהpronoun, demonstrative, masculine, singular — “the one...the other”H2088the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or thathe, [idiom] hence, [idiom] here, it(-self), [idiom] now, [idiom] of him, the one...the other, [idiom] than the other, ([idiom] out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, [idiom] thus,…הָעָם֙haamthe peopleעַםdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the people”, the ordinary formH5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flockfolk, men, nation, people.לֹ֣אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…הָיָ֔הhayahbeהָיָהverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “be”, a completed actionH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.אַשּׁ֖וּרashurAssyriaאַשּׁוּרnoun, proper name — “Assyria”H804Ashshur, the second son of Shem; also his descendants and the country occupied by them (i.e. Assyria), its region and its empireAsshur, Assur, Assyria, Assyrians. See H838 (אָשֻׁר).יְסָדָ֣הּyesadahfoundיָסַדverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “found”, a completed actionH3245to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down together, i.e. settle, consultappoint, take counsel, establish, (lay the, lay for a) found(-ation), instruct, lay, ordain, set, [idiom] sure.לְצִיִּ֑יםletsiyimto wild beast of the desertצִיִּיpreposition, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “to wild beast of the desert”, the ordinary formH6728a desert-dweller, i.e. nomad or wild beastwild beast of the desert, that dwell in (inhabiting) the wilderness.הֵקִ֣ימוּheqimvriseקוּםverb, hiphil, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “rise”, a completed actionH6965to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (u…בחיניוvchynyvtowerבַּחִיןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “tower”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH971a watch-tower of besiegerstower.בַחוּנָ֗יוvachunayvtowerבַּחִיןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “tower”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH971a watch-tower of besiegerstower.עֹרְרוּ֙orervmake bareעָרַרverb, poel, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “make bare”, a completed actionH6209to bare; figuratively, to demolishmake bare, break, raise up (perhaps by clerical error for raze), [idiom] utterly.אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֔יהָarmenoteyhacastleאַרְמוֹןnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “castle”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH759a citadel (from its height)castle, palace. Compare H2038 (הַרְמוֹן).שָׂמָ֖הּsamahputשׂוּםverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “put”, a completed actionH7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)[idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase]…לְמַפֵּלָֽהlemapelahto ruinמַפָּלָהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “to ruin”, the ordinary formH4654something fallen, i.e. a ruinruin(-ous).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Behold, the land of the Chaldeans — this is the people that was not, when Asshur founded it for shipmen — they set up their towers, they overthrew the palaces thereof; it is made a ruin.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

Behold, the land of the Chaldeans: this people was not; the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the wilderness; they set up their towers; they overthrew the palaces thereof; they made it a ruin.

Young’s Literal Translation

Lo, the land of the Chaldeans — this people was not, Asshur founded it for the Ziim, They raised its watch-towers, They lifted up her palaces, — He hath appointed her for a ruin!

World English Bible

Behold, the land of the Chaldeans. This people didn’t exist. The Assyrians founded it for those who dwell in the wilderness. They set up their towers. They overthrew its palaces. They made it a ruin.

Darby Translation

Behold the land of the Chaldeans: this people did not exist; the Assyrian founded it for the dwellers in the desert: they set up their towers, they destroyed the palaces thereof; he brought it to ruin.

Douay-Rheims

Behold the land of the Chaldeans, there was not such a people, the Assyrian founded it: they have led away the strong ones thereof into captivity, they have destroyed the houses thereof, they have brought it to ruin.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Behold, the land of the Chaldeans — this is the people that was not, when Asshur founded it for shipmen — they set up their towers, they overthrew the palaces thereof; it is made a ruin.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And if thou depart to the land of the Chaldeans, this also is laid waste by the Assyrians, for her wall is fallen.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ εἰς γῆν Χαλδαίων, καὶ αὕτη ἠρήμωται ἀπὸ τῶν Ἀσσυρίων, ὅτι ὁ τοῖχος αὐτῆς πέπτωκεν.