The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

ISAIAH 13:4KJV
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Isaiah 13:4 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 13:4 mean?

Isaiah 13:4 describes the sound of many nations assembling for war under the LORD’s command. The noise in the mountains makes the scene vivid: a force is gathering to carry out the judgment against Babylon announced at the start of the passage.

After the call to assemble in verse 3, Isaiah presents the approaching force as something heard before it is seen. The verse moves from the sound of a crowd to the recognition that kingdoms have gathered and that the LORD is preparing them for battle.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 13:4

  • “noise” — קוֹל (qol): This word can mean a sound or a voice. Here its repeated use draws attention to what can be heard in the mountains before the gathering army is described.

  • “mustereth” — פָּקַד (paqad): Here the word carries the sense of assembling or preparing people for a task. The LORD is pictured as a commander bringing troops together for battle.

Why Isaiah 13:4 matters

  • The force comes from more than one kingdom. The phrase “kingdoms of nations gathered together” presents the attack as a gathering of peoples, rather than the movement of a single city’s army.

  • The verse gives the coming attack a place in the message about Babylon. Isaiah 13:1 introduces a declaration against Babylon, and verse 4 presents the gathering of a force within that setting.

  • The title “LORD of hosts” fits the military scene. In the KJV, “hosts” can mean armies; the title stands alongside the picture of the LORD assembling an army for battle.

Where else these words appear

“tumultuous” Hebrew H7588 · used in 16 verses

  • Psalms 40:2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
  • Isaiah 17:13 The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind.
  • Jeremiah 46:17 They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.

“as” Hebrew H1823 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
  • Ezekiel 1:5 Also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance; they had the likeness of a man.
  • Ezekiel 8:2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

“multitude” Hebrew H1995 · used in 78 verses

  • Genesis 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
  • Psalms 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
  • Ezekiel 7:14 They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goeth to the battle: for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.

“kingdoms” Hebrew H4467 · used in 113 verses

  • Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
  • 2 Kings 14:5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
  • Isaiah 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;