Aquifer Open Bible Dictionary (2026) · CC BY-SA 4.0 EN
Besom
An old English word meaning “broom” (Isaiah 14:23, King James Version). The Berean Standard Bible and other modern translations use "broom" instead of "besom." The besom, or broom, of destruction, is a metaphor in the Near East, signifying total destruction. It refers to the destruction or “sweeping away” of Babylon by the Lord.