Isaiah 47:6

I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

Isaiah 47:6 (KJV)

Context

Isaiah 47 is a prophecy against Babylon, the empire that carried Judah into exile. In this verse, God speaks directly to Babylon, explaining that He had been angry with His people and had given them into Babylon’s hand as judgment for their sin.

Meaning

God calls Israel “my people” and “mine inheritance,” showing the special covenant bond He had with them. His wrath was not random; it was a response to their disobedience and unfaithfulness. By allowing Babylon to conquer them, He “polluted” or profaned His inheritance, treating them as no longer His own because of their sin. Yet Babylon overstepped its role as God’s instrument of discipline. Instead of showing mercy, it showed no compassion, even laying a very heavy yoke on the aged and vulnerable among God’s people.

Biblical connections

The Hebrew words for “inheritance” (nachalah) and “mercy” (rachamim) emphasize the covenant relationship and the compassion Babylon withheld. This excessive cruelty becomes part of the basis for Babylon’s own judgment, which follows in the rest of Isaiah 47. The immediate context shows Babylon’s pride and self-confidence, which lead to its downfall. Babylon’s harsh treatment of the aged reveals a deeper contempt for God’s people, and this arrogance sets the stage for the judgment that God pronounces in the following verses.

Application

This verse reminds us that God’s discipline of His people is real, but He also holds nations and individuals accountable for how they treat His people. It warns against pride and cruelty, and it calls us to show mercy, knowing that God sees and judges oppression. When we are given authority or power, we must remember that God uses even flawed instruments to accomplish His purposes, yet He still expects compassion and humility from those He uses.

Reflection

God’s justice and mercy are both at work here. He disciplines His own, yet He does not abandon them forever. His covenant faithfulness remains, and His judgment on Babylon shows that He will not let the proud and merciless go unpunished. This truth invites us to trust that God’s discipline is always purposeful and that His mercy will ultimately triumph over human cruelty.