47:1 virgin daughter of Babylon The prophets referred to cities in danger of judgment as virgin daughters (see 23:12). The image reflects the sheer helplessness of unmarried girls in an invasion; they faced the loss of potential husbands and their own virginity in a military defeat.

Sit on the ground without a throne The fall of Babylon is described as a riches to rags tale: the princess becomes a slave girl.

47:2 Take the pair of mill stones and grind flour Grinding grain for flour was one of the most menial jobs for a slave girl, symbolizing the complete reversal of her status in society. There may also be some euphemistic sexual connotation based on the following lines where she is to remove her marital veil and expose herself. Compare Job 31:9–10.

Uncover your veil The veil may signify a betrothed or married status (see Gen 24:65). It may also simply be a symbol of wealth and beauty, now stripped away along with the robe (compare Isa 3:23).

uncover your thigh Slave girls or prisoners were depicted in ancient Near Eastern art with bared legs, while upper class women wore long skirts. The personified city is being exposed and humiliated. The Hebrew word for legs (shoq) may more accurately refer to the upper leg or thigh in this case, highlighting the sexual connotation of her nakedness.

pass through the rivers Babylon is described as slave, prisoner, and now fugitive. The reference to uncovering the legs could also refer to the practical needs of crossing a river or running away from pursuers. However, the context of the lines immediately before and after this phrase suggests a possible sexual euphemism.

47:3 Your nakedness The Hebrew term erwah (“nakedness”) often indicates a shameful exposure of a sexual nature (see Gen 9:22–23; Lam 1:8; Ezek 16:37). The term is also common in descriptions of unlawful sexual relationships in Leviticus (e.g., Lev 18:10).

your shame The Hebrew term cherpah indicates the shamefulness of full exposure and sexual violation (see 2 Sam 13:13).

47:4 Yahweh of hosts A title identifying God as the leader of the heavenly armies. See note on Isa 1:9.

the holy one of Israel A title emphasizing God’s holiness. See note on 1:4.

47:5 mistress of kingdoms The Babylonian Empire controlled a large swath of the Fertile Crescent that included many formerly independent powerful kingdoms such as Assyria, Aram (Syria), Phoenicia, Philistia, Israel and Judah.

47:6 I was angry with my people Yahweh used Babylon to punish His own people. But like Assyria (10:12–15), they will be held accountable and judged for their arrogant, self-sufficient attitudes.

47:7 I shall be an eternal mistress forever Babylon is condemned by her own arrogant words—just as the king of Assyria was judged for his own haughty claims in 10:8–11, 13–14. See note on v. 5.

47:8 I am, and besides me there is no one Babylon’s prideful claim to unique authority and status echoes Yahweh’s in 45:5–6 (compare Exod 3:14).

I shall not sit as a widow Babylon is overconfident that she would lose neither husband nor children (compare Rev 18:7).

47:9 the loss of children and widowhood In the extended metaphor of Babylon as queen mother, the loss of children refers to the death or capture of the city’s inhabitants in an invasion.

in spite of your many sorceries Babylon had a reputation for magic and divination in the ancient Near East. Spells, incantations, amulets, and rituals used to manipulate supernatural powers or predict the future were a common part of religion in the ancient world.

47:10 besides me there is no one Babylon’s prideful statement echoes Yahweh’s rightful claim to be unique. See Isa 47:8 and note.

47:11 you will not know; it will be on the lookout for Sorcery and spells were used to ward off evil and bind the supernatural powers that were thought to be causing the disaster or calamity (see note v. 9).

you do not know Despite their reputation for fortune-telling and sorcery, Babylon’s overthrow would come unexpectedly and without warning. The Persian army takes the city in 539 bc with very little resistance.

47:13 those who see the stars Refers to astrology, a form of divination that looked for omens of future events in the movements of the stars and planets. Ancient Mesopotamian archives contain many records of observed celestial phenomena, from the recurring new moons to the rarer solar eclipses.

47:14 Look! They are like stubble For all the perceived power of Babylon’s sorcerers, enchanters, and astrologers, they are unable to stand up to the consuming fire of Yahweh’s judgment.