Isaiah 47:10 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness - The word ‘wickedness’ here refers doubtless to the pride, arrogance, ambition, and oppressions of Babylon. It means, that she had supposed that she was able by these to maintain the ascendancy over other nations, and perpetuate her dominion. She supposed that by her great power, her natural advantages, and her wealth, she could resist the causes which had operated to destroy other nations. Men often confide in their own wickedness - their cunning, their artifices, their frauds, their acts of oppression and cruelty, and suppose that they are secure against the judgments of God.

None seeth me - Compare Psalms 10:11 : ‘He said in his heart, God hath forgotten; he hideth his thee; he will never see it.’ See also Psalms 94:7.

Thy wisdom - Probably the wisdom here referred to, was that for which Babylon was distinguished, the supposed science of astrology, and the arts of divination and of incantation. It may, however, refer to the purposes of the kings and princes of Babylon; and the meaning may be, that it had been perverted and ruined by relying on their counsels. But it more probably refers to the confidence in the wisdom and science which prevailed there.

Hath perverted thee - Margin, ‘Caused thee to turn away.’ That is, hath turned thee away from the path of virtue, truth, and safety. It has been the cause of thy downfall.

I am ... - (See Isaiah 47:8)

Isaiah 47:10

10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverteda thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.