Isaiah 13:16

Modern

Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.

Traditional

Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.

Literal

…and their children will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives will be ravished.

Latin

…infantes eorum allidentur in oculis eorum, diripientur domus eorum, et uxores eorum violabuntur.

Hebrew

English

Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished.

These terrible acts of war would happen to Babylon. Babylon was a cruel conquering power (see also Psalm 137:8–9; Jeremiah 6:11–12; Nahum 3:10).

Theme notes and profiles

Hosea 10:14
…the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be demolished as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel in the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to pieces along with their children.
Nahum 3:10
Yet she became an exile; she went into captivity. Her infants were dashed to pieces at the head of every street. They cast lots for her dignitaries, and all her nobles were bound in chains.
Psalm 137:8–9
O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, blessed is he who repays you as you have done to us.
Isaiah 13:18
Their bows will dash young men to pieces; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; they will not look with pity on the children.
Zechariah 14:2
For I will gather all the nations for battle against Jerusalem, and the city will be captured, the houses looted, and the women ravished. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be removed from the city.
Lamentations 5:11
Women have been ravished in Zion, virgins in the cities of Judah.