Isaiah 17:12 “Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and…”

Isaiah 17:12

Alas, the tumult of many peoples; they rage like the roaring seas and clamoring nations; they rumble like the crashing of mighty waters.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters!

World English Bible

Ah, the uproar of many peoples who roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

American Standard Version

Ah, the uproar of many peoples, that roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

Geneva Bible 1599

Ah, the multitude of many people, they shall make a sounde like the noyse of the sea: for the noyse of the people shall make a sounde like the noyse of mightie waters.

Darby Translation

Ha! a tumult of many peoples! they make a noise as the noise of the seas; — and the rushing of nations! they rush as the rushing of mighty waters.

Young's Literal Translation

Woe [to] the multitude of many peoples, As the sounding of seas they sound; And [to] the wasting of nations, As the wasting of mighty waters they are wasted.

Bible in Basic English

Ah! the voice of peoples, like the loud sounding of the seas, and the thundering of great nations rushing on like the bursting out of waters!

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Cross references

“multitude”

Isaiah 9:5

Isaiah 9:5 · BSB

For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

“make a noise”

Psalm 18:4 Jeremiah 6:23 Luke 21:25 Ezekiel 43:2 Isaiah 5:26–30 Isaiah 28:17

Psalm 18:4 · BSB

The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me.

Jeremiah 6:23 · BSB

They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Zion.”

Luke 21:25 · BSB

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.

Ezekiel 43:2 · BSB

and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.

Isaiah 5:26–30 · BSB

He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come!

Isaiah 28:17 · BSB

I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place.

“mighty”

Revelation 17:1 Revelation 17:15 Psalm 29:3

Revelation 17:1 · BSB

Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters.

Revelation 17:15 · BSB

Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute was seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.

Psalm 29:3 · BSB

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters.

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

11though on the day you plant you make them grow, and on that morning you help your seed sprout— yet the harvest will vanish on the day of disease and incurable pain.

13The nations rage like the rush of many waters. He rebukes them, and they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweeds before a gale.

Read Isaiah 17