Isaiah 13 — Dead Sea Scrolls
22 verses • 10 variants • Columns XI–XII of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 13 opens the 'Oracles against the Nations' section (chs. 13–23) with a vision of Babylon's destruction. The 22 verses contain mostly orthographic variants typical of 1QIsaiah-a's fuller spelling conventions. A few moderate variants appear in the cosmic imagery.
Notable Variants
Verse 10 has a variant in the description of cosmic darkening. Verse 15 has a minor morphological difference. Overall the DSS and MT are in close agreement for this chapter.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible throughout.
The oracle concerning Babylon, which Isaiah son of Amoz saw.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 4
On a bare hilltop raise a banner! Lift your voice to them! Wave your hand so they enter the gates of the nobles.
Masoretic (WLC)
הָרִימוּ
raise
Dead Sea Scroll
הרימו
raise
1QIsaiah-a writes הרימו without the yod mater lectionis present in the MT's vocalized form. A minor orthographic difference. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 5
I have given orders to my consecrated ones; I have summoned my warriors for my anger — my proudly exulting ones.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 6
The sound of a multitude in the mountains — like a vast people! The roar of kingdoms, nations assembling! The LORD of Hosts is mustering an army for war.
Masoretic (WLC)
קוֹל
sound
Dead Sea Scroll
קול
sound
Identical consonantal text. The MT's pointing distinguishes this from other possible readings, but 1QIsaiah-a's unpointed text supports the same reading. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 7
They come from a distant land, from the edge of the heavens — the LORD and the weapons of his fury — to devastate the whole earth.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 8
Wail! For the day of the LORD is near — it comes as devastation from the Almighty.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 9
Therefore every hand will go limp, and every human heart will melt.
Masoretic (WLC)
יִרְפּוּ
will drop
Dead Sea Scroll
ירפו
will drop
1QIsaiah-a writes ירפו in a slightly shorter form. The reading is the same: all hands will go limp. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 10
They are terrified — pangs and agony seize them; they writhe like a woman in labor. They stare at one another in horror, their faces ablaze.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 11
Look — the day of the LORD is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
Masoretic (WLC)
חַטָּאֶיהָ
its sinners
Dead Sea Scroll
חטאיה
its sinners
1QIsaiah-a spells without the mappiq he of the MT. The possessive suffix is still clear from context. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 12
For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not flash their light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shed its glow.
Masoretic (WLC)
כּוֹכְבֵי
stars of
Dead Sea Scroll
כוכבי
stars of
1QIsaiah-a reads identically for 'stars of' but writes כסיליהם (with plene spelling) for MT's כְּסִילֵיהֶם (their constellations/Orions). The fuller spelling is typical Qumran orthography. The cosmic darkening imagery — stars, constellations, sun, and moon all failing — is preserved identically in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 13
I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their guilt. I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant and bring low the insolence of tyrants.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 14
I will make a mortal rarer than fine gold, a human rarer than the gold of Ophir.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 15
Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place in the fury of the LORD of Hosts, on the day of his burning anger.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 16
Then it will be like a hunted gazelle, like sheep with no one to gather them. Each will turn to his own people; each will flee to his own land.
Masoretic (WLC)
מֵסִיר
stirring up
Dead Sea Scroll
מסיר
stirring up
Identical consonantal text. The MT vocalization as a hiphil participle is supported by the DSS context. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 17
Everyone who is found will be pierced through; everyone who is captured will fall by the sword.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַנִּמְצָא
is found
Dead Sea Scroll
הנמצה
is found
1QIsaiah-a writes הנמצה with a final he instead of aleph, a common Qumran scribal interchange of final aleph and he in passive participles. The meaning remains identical: 'everyone found' will be thrust through. This aleph/he interchange is one of the most frequent scribal patterns in the scroll.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 18
Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be plundered, their wives violated.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XI, line 19
Look — I am rousing the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and take no delight in gold.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XII, line 1
Their bows will cut down the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb. Their eyes will not spare children.
Masoretic (WLC)
תְּרַחֵמְנָה
will have compassion
Dead Sea Scroll
תרחמנה
will have compassion
The consonantal text is identical. 1QIsaiah-a preserves the same reading: Median bows will not have compassion on the fruit of the womb. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XII, line 2
And Babylon — the jewel of kingdoms, the splendor of the Chaldeans' pride — will be like God's overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Masoretic (WLC)
סְדֹם
Sodom
Dead Sea Scroll
סדום
Sodom
1QIsaiah-a adds a vav mater lectionis to Sodom, writing סדום. This plene spelling of Sodom is attested elsewhere in Qumran manuscripts and is purely orthographic.
1QIsaᵃ col. XII, line 3
It will never be inhabited, nor will anyone dwell there from generation to generation. No nomad will pitch a tent there; no shepherds will rest their flocks there.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XII, line 4
But desert creatures will crouch there, and their houses will be filled with howling animals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will leap about.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XII, line 5
Jackals will howl in her fortresses, and wild dogs in her luxurious palaces. Her time is close at hand; her days will not be prolonged.
Masoretic (WLC)
קָרוֹב
near
Dead Sea Scroll
קרוב
near
Identical consonantal text. The Qumran spelling confirms the same reading: Babylon's appointed time is near. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XII, line 6