Isaiah 14:29
in Isaiah 14Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of thee, because the rod that smote thee is broken; for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
KJV
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
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This verse in Isaiah 14
Commentary
11 notes on this verseTherefore, it is commanded to the Philistines, whom they now call Palestinians, and always by the LXX called ἀλλόφυλοι, that is, foreigners; and it is said to them not to rejoice or be glad, because they have broken the rod or yoke of their oppressor (Heb. XII, 6). For whom the Lord loves, he chastises, and he punishes every son he receives. And as God instructs our children, when He visits our iniquities with a rod, and our sins with chastisements, so that He does not take away His mercy from us (Ps. 88).
This site's exposition
the year that King Ahaz died
on Isaiah 14:28-32
The Philistia burden is dated plainly, "In the year that King Ahaz died," a shorter burden. Philistia is told not to rejoice, because "a viper will spring from the root of the snake," a worse danger. Zion's poor find safety while smoke comes from the north against Philistia.
This site's exposition
Do not rejoice, all you Philistines
The broken rod is read two ways. Henry takes it as Uzziah, and Barnes as Ahaz, whose death dates the oracle. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown name Hezekiah as the viper, and 2 Kings 18:8 records that he struck the Philistines as far as Gaza.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 29.) Do not rejoice, O Philistia, all of you, because the rod of your striker is broken; for from the root of the serpent a little king will come forth, and his offspring will consume the flying creature. It is natural that we say: when the king of the enemy nations dies, the enemies always rejoice, waiting for civil wars, seditions, and the incompetence of ruling from new things. Therefore, with the sinner Ahaz dead, who had walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and had been joined to them by kinship, we understand that the Philistines were pleased to be nearby and insulted the Israelites because with the mature king lost, they would be subject to the young Hezekiah. But, as we said above, Philisthaeos signifies the Palestinians, whom the Vulgate edition of the Bible refers to as foreigners: even though this is not the name of one particular nation, but of all foreign nations. Do not, he says, rejoice, O Philisthaea, do not insult my people because the rod of your smiter Achaz is broken; because the staff that used to strike you appears to be shattered; because the snake is killed. For this reason, a more harmful ruler will be born, whom the Greeks call the basilisk, who will put you to death with his gaze and the breath of his mouth. For no bird of prey can pass through unharmed: however far away it may be, it is sucked up by its mouth. So too, you will perish from the sight of King Hezekiah. And he preserved the metaphor well: for he had mentioned both a snake and a bird of prey, and he says that birds are devoured by its mouth and breath. As for no king of Judah having struck the Philistines like Hezekiah devastated them, listen to the Book of Kings: He struck the Philistines as far as Gaza, and as far as its borders: from the tower of the keepers to the fortified cities (2 Kings 18:8). […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
But because this Leviathan is called in another place not merely a serpent, but also a basilisk, because he rules over unclean spirits, or reprobate men, as Isaiah says, Out of the serpent's root shall come forth a basilisk, we must attentively observe how a basilisk destroys, that by the doings of the basilisk, his malice may be more plainly made known to us. For a basilisk does not destroy with its bite, but consumes with its breath. It often also infects the air with its breath, and withers with the mere blast of its nostrils whatever it has touched, even when placed at a distance.
Concerning the first, he does three things. For first, he excludes foolish joy: rejoice not you, over this, namely, that the rod, that is, the power, of him that struck you, that is, Achaz, is broken in pieces, by death: laughter I counted error (Eccl …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But when Uzziah died, or rather abdicated, it was told with joy in Gath and published in the streets of Ashkelon. It is inhuman thus to rejoice in our neighbour's fall. But let them not be secure; for though when Uzziah was dead they made reprisals upon Ahaz, and took many of the cities of Judah ( 2 Chron. xxviii.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The injuries done to them must be reckoned for and revenged upon their persecutors. Mercy to Jacob will be wrath and ruin to Jacob's impenitent implacable adversaries, such as Babylon was.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Rejoice not thou - Rejoice not at the death of Ahaz, king of Judah. It shall be no advantage to thee. It shall not be the means of making an invasion on Judah more practicable. Whole Palestina - We apply the name “Palestine” to the whole land of Canaan. Formerly, the name referred only to Philistia, from which we have derived the name Palestine.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Uzziah was doubtless regarded by the Philistines as a biting "serpent." But though the effects of his bite have been got rid of, a more deadly viper, or "cockatrice" (literally, "viper's offspring," as Philistia would regard him), namely, Hezekiah awaits you (2Ki 18:8).
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַֽל־ | ʾal- | may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּשְׂמְחִ֤י | tismechi | you rejoice | H8055 → | 155 times |
| פְלֶ֙שֶׁת֙ | feleshet | O Philistia | H6429 → | |
| כֻּלֵּ֔ךְ | kulekh | all of you | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| כִּ֥י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| נִשְׁבַּ֖ר | nishbar | it has been broken | H7665 → | 147 times |
| שֵׁ֣בֶט | shevet | [the] rod of | H7626 → | 190 times |
| מַכֵּ֑ךְ | makekh | [the] [one who] struck you | H5221 → | 499 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| מִשֹּׁ֤רֶשׁ | mishoresh | from [the] root of | H8328 → | 33 times |
| נָחָשׁ֙ | nachash | a snake | H5175 → | 31 times |
| יֵ֣צֵא | yetze' | it will go forth | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| צֶ֔פַע | tzefa' | a viper | H6848 → | 5 times |
| וּפִרְי֖וֹ | ufiryo | and fruit its | H6529 → | 119 times |
| שָׂרָ֥ף | saraf | [will be] a serpent | H8314 → | 7 times |
| מְעוֹפֵֽף׃ | meofef | flying | H5774 → | 26 times |
אַֽל־may not
ʾal-H408 →724 times
תִּשְׂמְחִ֤יyou rejoice
tismechiH8055 →155 times
פְלֶ֙שֶׁת֙O Philistia
feleshetH6429 →
כֻּלֵּ֔ךְall of you
kulekhH3605 →5413 times
כִּ֥יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
נִשְׁבַּ֖רit has been broken
nishbarH7665 →147 times
שֵׁ֣בֶט[the] rod of
shevetH7626 →190 times
מַכֵּ֑ךְ[the] [one who] struck you
makekhH5221 →499 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
מִשֹּׁ֤רֶשׁfrom [the] root of
mishoreshH8328 →33 times
נָחָשׁ֙a snake
nachashH5175 →31 times
יֵ֣צֵאit will go forth
yetze'H3318 →1067 times
צֶ֔פַעa viper
tzefa'H6848 →5 times
וּפִרְי֖וֹand fruit its
ufiryoH6529 →119 times
שָׂרָ֥ף[will be] a serpent
sarafH8314 →7 times
מְעוֹפֵֽף׃flying
meofefH5774 →26 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Micah 7:8Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
it leads to
- John 8:12
Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Psalms 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?
- Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
- Psalms 112:4
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright— for the gracious, compassionate, and righteous.
- Psalms 107:10–15
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and chains,
- John 8:12
Through
Isaiah 30:6This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 8:15
He led you through the vast and terrifying wilderness with its venomous snakes and scorpions, a thirsty and waterless land. He brought you water from the rock of flint.
- Deuteronomy 8:15
Through
Obadiah 1:12But you should not gloat in that day, your brother’s day of misfortune, nor rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their destruction, nor boast proudly in the day of their…
it leads to
- Proverbs 17:5
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
- Ezekiel 35:15
As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then…
- Proverbs 17:5
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah

This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gregory the Dialogist, MORALS ON THE BOOK OF JOB 6:33.62; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.
