Focused Passage

Isaiah 21:13-17

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

13 This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.

14 Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food.

15 For they flee from the sword—the sword that is drawn—from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.

16 For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.

17 The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 13

Cross-references

Jeremiah 25:23 Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 1:32 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 27:15 Classic cross-references Genesis 25:3 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 49:8 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:24-25 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 13:14 OliveGrove study links James 4:13-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

[This is] the burden מַשָּׂ֖א H4853 Noun - masculine singular against Arabia בַּעְרָ֑ב H6152 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular In the thickets בַּיַּ֤עַר H3293 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular of Arabia בַּעְרַב֙ H6152 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular you must lodge תָּלִ֔ינוּ H3885 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural O caravans אֹֽרְח֖וֹת H736 Noun - feminine plural construct of Dedanites דְּדָנִֽים׃ H1720 Noun - proper - masculine plural

Verse 14

Cross-references

Job 6:19 Classic cross-references Genesis 25:15 Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 17:29 Classic cross-references Proverbs 25:21 Classic cross-references Romans 12:20 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:24-25 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 13:14 OliveGrove study links James 4:13-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

- לִקְרַ֥את H7122 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Bring הֵתָ֣יוּ H857 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural water מָ֑יִם H4325 Noun - masculine plural for the thirsty צָמֵ֖א H6771 Adjective - masculine singular O dwellers יֹשְׁבֵי֙ H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct vvv אֶ֣רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular construct of Tema תֵּימָ֔א H8485 Noun - proper - feminine singular meet קִדְּמ֥וּ H6923 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural the refugees נֹדֵֽד׃ H5074 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular with food בְּלַחְמ֖וֹ H3899 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

Job 6:19 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:24-25 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 13:14 OliveGrove study links James 4:13-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction they flee נָדָ֑דוּ H5074 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural from מִפְּנֵ֥י H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct the sword חֲרָב֖וֹת H2719 Noun - feminine plural . . . מִפְּנֵ֣י׀ H6440 Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct the sword חֶ֣רֶב H2719 Noun - feminine singular that is drawn נְטוּשָׁ֗ה H5203 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular from וּמִפְּנֵי֙ H6440 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct the bow קֶ֣שֶׁת H7198 Noun - feminine singular that is bent דְּרוּכָ֔ה H1869 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular and from וּמִפְּנֵ֖י H6440 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct the stress כֹּ֥בֶד H3514 Noun - masculine singular construct of battle מִלְחָמָֽה׃ס H4421 Noun - feminine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Isaiah 16:14 Classic cross-references Isaiah 60:7 Classic cross-references Psalms 120:5 Classic cross-references Song of Solomon 1:5 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 27:21 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:24-25 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 13:14 OliveGrove study links James 4:13-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For כִּי־ H3588 Conjunction this [is what] כֹ֛ה H3541 Adverb the Lord אֲדֹנָ֖י H136 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֥ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to me אֵלָ֑י H413 Preposition | first person common singular . . . בְּע֤וֹד H5750 Preposition-b | Adverb Within one year שָׁנָה֙ H8141 Noun - feminine singular as a hired worker שָׂכִ֔יר H7916 Adjective - masculine singular would count [it] כִּשְׁנֵ֣י H8141 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural construct all כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct the glory כְּב֥וֹד H3519 Noun - masculine singular construct of Kedar קֵדָֽר׃ H6938 Noun - proper - feminine singular will be gone וְכָלָ֖ה H3615 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

Numbers 23:19 Classic cross-references Zechariah 1:6 Classic cross-references Isaiah 1:20 Classic cross-references Matthew 24:35 Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:24-25 OliveGrove study links Hebrews 13:14 OliveGrove study links James 4:13-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

The remaining וּשְׁאָ֧ר H7605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . מִסְפַּר־ H4557 Noun - masculine singular construct archers קֶ֛שֶׁת H7198 Noun - feminine singular the warriors גִּבּוֹרֵ֥י H1368 Adjective - masculine plural construct - בְנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of Kedar קֵדָ֖ר H6938 Noun - proper - feminine singular will be few יִמְעָ֑טוּ H4591 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural For כִּ֛י H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular the God אֱלֹהֵֽי־ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל H3478 Noun - proper - masculine singular has spoken דִּבֵּֽר׃ס H1696 Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular

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