The people in Sheol continue their description of what the king of Babylonia was like when he ruled.

Who made the world like a desert: Not only did he cause turmoil for people, but he also devastated the land. For world see the comments on 13.11. Turning the land into a desert is a figurative expression for complete devastation, though it could also describe a real situation since invading armies usually destroyed crops and cut down trees. This is the first time the Hebrew word for desert occurs in Isaiah. Although its use here is largely figurative, translators will need to find a term that describes a vast area without much water, with some grass, shrubs and trees. It mostly refers to an uninhabited place, a place where people would normally not be able to live. It does not refer to Sahara-type landscapes of endless sand dunes. Desert is often parallel to another Hebrew word rendered “wilderness”; see, for example, 21.1; 35.1.

And overthrew its cities: The Hebrew verb here suggests pulling down city walls and buildings. It may be rendered “demolished,” “razed,” or “destroyed.”

Who did not let his prisoners go home?: This final clause of the rhetorical question that describes the Babylonian king is very revealing. When Cyrus captured Babylon, he released from exile the Israelites who wished to return to Jerusalem. They were free to return home. The Babylonian king never did this. This is a further sign of his heartlessness.

Translation models for this verse are:

• Is this the man who turned the world into a desert and razed its cities, who refused to release captives?’

• This is the man who turned the land into desert, overthrowing its cities and not letting captives return home!’

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .