The Hermeneutical Challenge that Lays Behind Attaching Isaiah 14:12-14 to Satan Himself

By Mark W. Christy, PhD

In a taunt directed at the King of Babylon as their empire was about to meet its end, Isaiah writes,

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” (14:12-14).[i]

Some interpret this judgement of the Babylonian King to be a reference to Satan himself because, in part, “star of the morning” is the literal meaning of Lucifer, a name for Satan. In keeping with this interpretation, Satan is viewed as the ultimate source of the evil that has been attached to the King. In this article, the significance of Isaiah 14:12-14 as it relates to Satan will be addressed.

Though it may seem odd for Isaiah to be addressing the King of Babylon and then, without any warning, shift the focus of his comments to Satan, this pattern is not uncommon in the Bible. In Psalm 22 for example, David is discussing himself on the surface (cf. vv16-18), but in reality, his comments have their greatest fulfillment in Christ. A similar situation can be found in Psalm 118 where the writer intertwines the following clear messianic statements into his message: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner stone. This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes” (22-23).

Following the same pattern of Psalmist, Isaiah speaks of the King of Babylon while also addressing Satan, who lays behind the King’s actions much in the same way as he did when Peter found himself rebuked by Christ. At that occurrence, Peter, not Satan, had the audacity to redress Jesus for prophesying about His coming death, but Jesus curiously rebuked him in this manner: “Get behind Me, Satan” (Matt 16:23). From this, it seems that Jesus personally attaches the evils committed by people directly to Satan. This, it would appear, is exactly what Isaiah was doing.

In line with Isaiah, Ezekiel offers a rebuke to Satan which is written in a similar manner. In Ezekiel 28, the prophet is addressing the leader of Tyre and speaking against his prideful arrogance. In the middle of his discourse however, he without warning begins to address Satan directly. In vv.11-12, Ezekiel clearly references Satan when he mentions one who had been perfect and had lived in the Garden of Eden. In v.14, Ezekiel mentions that the person whom he is addressing is a cherub (i.e., angel). Given that Satan was indeed an angel and no human can claim such, this should weigh heavily against any thought that his comments are meant exclusively for the leader of Tyre.

In consideration of Isaiah 14:12-14, one should quickly observe that the King of Babylon could have in no way literally fallen from heaven, and yet the person whom Isaiah is addressing is said to have “fallen from heaven.” Satan, however, is prophesied to have been cast out of heaven and down upon the earth (Rev 7:7-9). As Isaiah moves forward in his judgement, he reveals the evils of Satan which had been found in the Babylonian King as well. These five evils of Satan are all declarations of prideful exaltation over God Himself with no deference for the will and Person of God.

Setting God completely aside, Satan boldly asserted, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’” (Isaiah 14:13-14). Satan’s evil desire was to establish his ascendency in heaven by his own strength and will. Among the heavenly host, he sought to place himself first among all others and even to stand in the place of God Himself.

In conclusion, the words of the prophet Isaiah in 14:12-14 should be understood to be declarations about Satan himself as the context in part reveals. Further evidence from the Psalmist and Ezekiel demonstrates the inclusion of comments that find more complete fulfillment in someone else other than the one being addressed directly in the larger context.

[i]All Scripture references are taken from NASB1995.