Focused Passage

Isaiah 21:11-12

The Fall of Babylon, the Watchman’s Night, and the Oracle Against Arabia

The chapter moves from a terrifying vision of invasion sweeping through the desert, to the prophet’s anguish, to a scene of feasting interrupted by military preparation, to the commissioning of a watchman, to the report that Babylon has fallen and its gods lie shattered, then to Dumah/Edom’s anxious question about the night, and finally to Arabia’s refugee crisis and the timed collapse of Kedar’s glory.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

11 This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”

12 The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 11

Original words

[This is] the burden מַשָּׂ֖א H4853 Noun - masculine singular construct against Dumah דּוּמָ֑ה H1746 Noun - proper - feminine singular One calls קֹרֵ֣א H7121 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular to me אֵלַי֙ H413 Preposition | first person common singular from Seir מִשֵּׂעִ֔יר H8165 Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular Watchman שֹׁמֵר֙ H8104 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular what is left מַה־ H4100 Interrogative of the night מִלַּ֔יְלָה H3915 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Watchman שֹׁמֵ֖ר H8104 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular what is left מַה־ H4100 Interrogative of the night מִלֵּֽיל׃ H3915 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct

BSB notes

  • Dumah is a wordplay on Edom, meaning silence.
  • Seir is another name for Edom.
Verse 12

Original words

The watchman שֹׁמֵ֔ר H8104 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular replies אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Morning בֹ֖קֶר H1242 Noun - masculine singular has come אָתָ֥ה H857 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular but also וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction the night לָ֑יְלָה H3915 Noun - masculine singular If אִם־ H518 Conjunction you would inquire תִּבְעָי֥וּן H1158 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun then inquire בְּעָ֖יוּ H1158 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Come back אֵתָֽיוּ׃ס H857 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural yet again שֻׁ֥בוּ H7725 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.