Isaiah 14:12

Isaiah 14:12

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

a. I was unaware of the disagreement about this verse, beginning with the different translations. The disagreement centers on the rendering of the Hebrew word “heylel”, translated “Lucifer” in the KJV, “morning star” in the NIV,

1). [NIV] How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!

2). [ASV] How art thou fallen from heaven, O day-star, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, that didst lay low the nations!

3). [Amplified Bible] How have you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened and laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!]

1. “How art thou fallen from heaven…”

a. fallen [5307 * naphal][Strong: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.]

b. Lucifer fell or was cast down from heaven because he ascended into heaven to exalt his throne above God’s throne.

1). Isaiah 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

2. “O Lucifer, son of the morning…”

a. Lucifer [1966 * heylel][Strong: (in the sense of brightness); the morning-star:--lucifer.

b. [Adam Clark’s Commentary]The Versions in general agree in this translation, and render heilel as signifying Lucifer, the morning star, whether Jupiter or Venus; as these are both bringers of the morning light, or morning stars, annually in their turn. And although the context speaks explicitly concerning Nebuchadnezzar, yet this has been, I know not why, applied to the chief of the fallen angels, who is most incongruously denominated Lucifer, (the bringer of light!) an epithet as common to him as those of Satan and Devil. That the Holy Spirit by his prophets should call this arch-enemy of God and man the light-bringer, would be strange indeed. But the truth is, the text speaks nothing at all concerning Satan nor his fall, nor the occasion of that fall, which many divines have with great confidence deduced from this text. O how necessary it is to understand the literal meaning of Scripture, that preposterous comments may be prevented! Besides, I doubt much whether our translation be correct. heilel, which we translate Lucifer, comes from yalal, yell, howl, or shriek, and should be translated, "Howl, son of the morning;" and so the Syriac has understood it; and for this meaning Michaelis contends: see his reasons in Parkhurst, under halal.

c. Adam Clark’s statement: “That the Holy Spirit by his prophets should call this arch-enemy of God and man the light-bringer, would be strange indeed”, is made null and void by the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11.

1). 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.