The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

ISAIAH 13:1KJV
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Isaiah 13:1 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 13:1 mean?

Isaiah 13:1 introduces a serious message concerning Babylon that Isaiah received in a vision. The verse identifies Isaiah, son of Amoz, as the person who saw the message. It prepares the reader for words addressed to and about Babylon in the passage that follows.

The KJV calls the message a “burden,” a word that gives the heading a weighty tone. After Isaiah’s song of praise in chapter 12, this heading marks a shift to a message concerning a foreign power.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 13:1

  • “burden” — מַשָּׂא (massaʾ): The word can mean a load or a weighty message. Here it serves as a heading for a message about Babylon, rather than a physical load.
  • “see” — חָזָה (ḥazah): The word can mean to see, including seeing in a vision. It describes Isaiah as receiving the message through sight, even though the message is then expressed in words.

Why Isaiah 13:1 matters

  • The heading identifies Babylon as the subject, not necessarily the first audience. The message is “of Babylon,” while Isaiah is the one named as receiving it.
  • The words “son of Amoz” identify which Isaiah is meant. They distinguish the prophet by naming his father.
  • The heading helps the reader recognize the force of the words that follow. Isaiah 13:11 speaks of judgment on the world and punishment for evil, giving substance to the weight carried by “burden.”

Where else these words appear

“Amoz” Hebrew H531 · used in 13 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:20 And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
  • Isaiah 20:2 At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

“Isaiah” Hebrew H3470 · used in 39 verses

  • 2 Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
  • 2 Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
  • Isaiah 7:3 Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field;

“see” Hebrew H2372 · used in 47 verses

  • Exodus 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
  • Psalms 17:2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
  • Isaiah 33:17 Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.

“burden” Hebrew H4853 · used in 60 verses

  • Exodus 23:5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:11 Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven thousand and seven hundred he goats.
  • Isaiah 23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.