I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.
Parallel translations
- WEB I have commanded my consecrated ones; yes, I have called my mighty men for my anger, even my proudly exulting ones.
- BSB I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have even summoned My warriors to execute My wrath and exult in My triumph.
- NKJV I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger— Those who rejoice in My exaltation.”
- NASB I have commanded My consecrated ones, I have also called for My warriors Who boast in My eminence, To execute My anger.
- NLT I, the Lord, have dedicated these soldiers for this task. Yes, I have called mighty warriors to express my anger, and they will rejoice when I am exalted.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God calls these warriors his 'consecrated ones,' set apart to execute his wrath. Even pagan armies serve God's sovereign purposes.
Overview
The Lord designates the attackers as his 'mighty men,' summoned for his anger — language showing his complete control over the agents of judgment. Though they are foreign soldiers, they are 'consecrated' for his appointed task. The verse affirms God's sovereignty over history, directing even those who do not know him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Joel 3:11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
- Jer 51:20–24Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;
- Rev 17:12–18And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
- Ps 149:2Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
- Isa 44:27–28That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
- Isa 45:4–5For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
- Ps 149:5–9Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
- Isa 23:11He stretched out his hand over the sea, he shook the kingdoms: the LORD hath given a commandment against the merchant city, to destroy the strong holds thereof.
- Rev 18:20Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
- Ezra 6:1–22Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.
- Ezra 1:1–11Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,
- Jer 50:21–46Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.
- Ezra 7:12–26Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
- Rev 18:4–8And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 13:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.