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Selected Verse: Isaiah 13:10 - Darby

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 13:10	Darby	For the stars of the heavens and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
	King James	For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
stars, &c.--figuratively for anarchy, distress, and revolutions of kingdoms (Isa 34:4; Joe 2:10; Eze 32:7-8; Amo 8:9; Rev 6:12-14). There may be a literal fulfilment finally, shadowed forth under this imagery (Rev 21:1). constellations--Hebrew, "a fool," or "impious one"; applied to the constellation Orion, which was represented as an impious giant (Nimrod deified, the founder of Babylon) chained to the sky. See on Job 38:31.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

stars, &c.--figuratively for anarchy, distress, and revolutions of kingdoms (Isa 34:4; Joe 2:10; Eze 32:7-8; Amo 8:9; Rev 6:12-14). There may be a literal fulfilment finally, shadowed forth under this imagery (Rev 21:1).

constellations--Hebrew, "a fool," or "impious one"; applied to the constellation Orion, which was represented as an impious giant (Nimrod deified, the founder of Babylon) chained to the sky. See on Job 38:31.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
For the stars of heaven - This verse cannot be understood literally, but is a metaphorical representation of the calamities that were coming upon Babylon The meaning of the figure evidently is, that those calamities would be such as would be appropriately denoted by the sudden extinguishment of the stars, the sun, and the moon. As nothing would tend more to anarchy, distress, and ruin, than thus to have all the lights of heaven suddenly and forever quenched, this was an apt and forcible representation of the awful calamities that were coming upon the people. Darkness and night, in the Scriptures, are often the emblem of calamity and distress (see the note at Mat 24:29). The revolutions and destructions of kingdoms and nations are often represented in the Scriptures under this image. So respecting the destruction of Idumea Isa 34:4 : And all the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; And all their host shall fall down, As the leaf falleth from off the vine, And as a falling fig from the fig-tree. So in Eze 32:7-8, in a prophecy respecting the destruction of Pharaoh, king of Egypt: And when I shall put time out, I will cover the heavens, and make the stoa thereof dark, I will cover the sun with a cloud, And the moon shall not give her light. And the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee. And set darkness upon thy land. (Compare Joe 2:10; Joe 3:15-16.) Thus in Amo 8:9 : I will cause the sun to go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in a clear day. See also Rev 6:12-14 : And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo, The sun became black as sackcloth of hair, And the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, Even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs When she is shaken of a mighty wind: And the heaven deputed as a scroll when it is rolled together. Many have supposed that these expressions respecting the sun, moon, and stars, refer to kings, and princes, and magistrates, as the "lights" of the state; and that the sense is, that their power arid glory should cease. But it is rather a figurative representation, denoting calamity "in general,' and describing a state of extreme distress, such as would be if all the lights of heaven should suddenly become extinct. And the constellations thereof - (וּכסיליהם ûkı̂sı̂ylēyhem). The word (כסיל kesı̂yl) means properly "a fool;" Pro 1:32; Pro 10:1, Pro 10:18; Pro 13:19-20, "et al." It also denotes "hope, confidence, expectation" Job 31:24; Pro 3:26; Job 8:14; also "the reins, the flanks or loins" Lev 3:4, Lev 3:10, Lev 3:15; Psa 38:7. It is also, as here, applied to a constellation in the heavens, but the connection of this meaning of the word with the other significations is uncertain. In Job 9:9; Job 38:31, it is translated 'Orion.' In Amo 5:8, it is translated the 'seven stars' - the Pleiades. In Arabic, that constellation is called 'the giant.' According to an Eastern tradition, it was Nimrod, the founder of Babylon, afterward translated to the skies; and it has been supposed that the name the "impious" or "foolish one" was thus given to the deified Nimrod, and thus to the constellation. The rabbis interpret it "Simis." The word 'constellations' denotes clusters of stars, or stars that appear to be near to each other in the heavens, and which, on the celestial globe, are reduced to certain figures for the convenience of classification and memory, as the bear, the bull, the virgin, the balance. This arrangement was early made, and there is no reason to doubt that it existed in the time of Isaiah (compare the notes at Job 9:9).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

For the stars of heaven - This verse cannot be understood literally, but is a metaphorical representation of the calamities that were coming upon Babylon The meaning of the figure evidently is, that those calamities would be such as would be appropriately denoted by the sudden extinguishment of the stars, the sun, and the moon. As nothing would tend more to anarchy, distress, and ruin, than thus to have all the lights of heaven suddenly and forever quenched, this was an apt and forcible representation of the awful calamities that were coming upon the people. Darkness and night, in the Scriptures, are often the emblem of calamity and distress (see the note at Mat 24:29). The revolutions and destructions of kingdoms and nations are often represented in the Scriptures under this image. So respecting the destruction of Idumea Isa 34:4 :

And all the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved,

And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll;

And all their host shall fall down,

As the leaf falleth from off the vine,

And as a falling fig from the fig-tree.

So in Eze 32:7-8, in a prophecy respecting the destruction of Pharaoh, king of Egypt:

And when I shall put time out,

I will cover the heavens, and make the stoa thereof dark,

I will cover the sun with a cloud,

And the moon shall not give her light.

And the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee.

And set darkness upon thy land.

(Compare Joe 2:10; Joe 3:15-16.) Thus in Amo 8:9 :

I will cause the sun to go down at noon,

And I will darken the earth in a clear day.

See also Rev 6:12-14 :

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo,

The sun became black as sackcloth of hair,

And the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,

Even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs

When she is shaken of a mighty wind:

And the heaven deputed as a scroll when it is rolled together.

Many have supposed that these expressions respecting the sun, moon, and stars, refer to kings, and princes, and magistrates, as the "lights" of the state; and that the sense is, that their power arid glory should cease. But it is rather a figurative representation, denoting calamity "in general,' and describing a state of extreme distress, such as would be if all the lights of heaven should suddenly become extinct.

And the constellations thereof - (וּכסיליהם ûkı̂sı̂ylēyhem). The word (כסיל kesı̂yl) means properly "a fool;" Pro 1:32; Pro 10:1, Pro 10:18; Pro 13:19-20, "et al." It also denotes "hope, confidence, expectation" Job 31:24; Pro 3:26; Job 8:14; also "the reins, the flanks or loins" Lev 3:4, Lev 3:10, Lev 3:15; Psa 38:7. It is also, as here, applied to a constellation in the heavens, but the connection of this meaning of the word with the other significations is uncertain. In Job 9:9; Job 38:31, it is translated 'Orion.' In Amo 5:8, it is translated the 'seven stars' - the Pleiades. In Arabic, that constellation is called 'the giant.' According to an Eastern tradition, it was Nimrod, the founder of Babylon, afterward translated to the skies; and it has been supposed that the name the "impious" or "foolish one" was thus given to the deified Nimrod, and thus to the constellation. The rabbis interpret it "Simis." The word 'constellations' denotes clusters of stars, or stars that appear to be near to each other in the heavens, and which, on the celestial globe, are reduced to certain figures for the convenience of classification and memory, as the bear, the bull, the virgin, the balance. This arrangement was early made, and there is no reason to doubt that it existed in the time of Isaiah (compare the notes at Job 9:9).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Constellations - Which consist of many stars, and therefore give a greater sight. Darkened - All things shall look darkly and dismally; men shall have no comfort or hope. Going forth - As soon as he rises. As soon as they have any appearance or hope of amendment, they shall be instantly disappointed.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
For the stars of heaven "Yea, the stars of heaven" - The Hebrew poets, to express happiness, prosperity, the instauration and advancement of states, kingdoms, and potentates, make use of images taken from the most striking parts of nature, from the heavenly bodies, from the sun, moon, and stars: which they describe as shining with increased splendor, and never setting. The moon becomes like the meridian sun, and the sun's light is augmented sevenfold; (see Isa 30:26); new heavens and a new earth are created, and a brighter age commences. On the contrary, the overflow and destruction of kingdoms is represented by opposite images. The stars are obscured, the moon withdraws her light, and the sun shines no more! The earth quakes, and the heavens tremble; and all things seem tending to their original chaos, See Joe 2:10; Joe 3:15, Joe 3:16; Amo 8:9; Mat 24:29; and De S. Poes. Herb. Prael. 6 et IX. And the moon shall not cause her light to shine - This in its farther reference may belong to the Jewish polity, both in Church and state, which should be totally eclipsed, and perhaps shine no more in its distinct state for ever.

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³¹ Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

¹ And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea exists no more.

¹² And I saw when it opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as hair sackcloth, and the whole moon became as blood,
¹³ and the stars of heaven fell upon the earth, as a fig tree, shaken by a great wind, casts its unseasonable figs.
¹⁴ And the heaven was removed as a book rolled up, and every mountain and island were removed out of their places.

⁹ And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the land in the clear day.

⁷ And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heavens, and make the stars thereof black; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
⁸ All the bright lights of the heavens will I make black over thee, and bring darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord Jehovah.

¹⁰ The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

⁴ And all the host of the heavens shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll; and all their host shall fade away, as a leaf fadeth from off the vine, and as the withered fruit from the fig-tree.

⁹ Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;

⁸ seek him that made the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: Jehovah is his name.

³¹ Canst thou fasten the bands of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?

⁹ Who maketh the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south;

⁷ For my loins are full of burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.

¹⁵ and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the net above the liver which he shall take away as far as the kidneys;

¹⁰ and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the net above the liver which he shall take away as far as the kidneys;

⁴ and the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the net above the liver which he shall take away as far as the kidneys;

¹⁴ Whose confidence shall be cut off, and his reliance is a spider's web.

²⁶ for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁴ If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, My confidence!

¹⁹ The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil.
²⁰ He that walketh with wise men becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.

¹⁸ He that covereth hatred hath lying lips, and he that sendeth forth a slander is a fool.

¹ The Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

³² For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of the foolish shall cause them to perish.

⁹ And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the land in the clear day.

¹⁵ The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
¹⁶ And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: and Jehovah will be a shelter for his people, and the refuge of the children of Israel.

¹⁰ The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

²⁹ But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.

⁹ And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord Jehovah, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the land in the clear day.

¹⁶ And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: and Jehovah will be a shelter for his people, and the refuge of the children of Israel.

¹⁵ The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

¹⁰ The earth quaketh before them; the heavens tremble; the sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

²⁶ And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the wound of their stroke.