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

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

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

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

16For 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.

17The 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 25:23Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 1:32Classic cross-references Ezekiel 27:15Classic cross-references Genesis 25:3Classic cross-references Jeremiah 49:8Classic cross-references 1 Peter 1:24-25OliveGrove study links Hebrews 13:14OliveGrove study links James 4:13-15OliveGrove study links

Original words

[This is] the burdenמַשָּׂ֖אH4853Noun - masculine singularagainst Arabiaבַּעְרָ֑בH6152Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularIn the thicketsבַּיַּ֤עַרH3293Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularof Arabiaבַּעְרַב֙H6152Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularyou must lodgeתָּלִ֔ינוּH3885Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralO caravansאֹֽרְח֖וֹתH736Noun - feminine plural constructof Dedanitesדְּדָנִֽים׃H1720Noun - proper - masculine plural

Verse 14

Cross-references

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

Original words

-לִקְרַ֥אתH7122Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructBringהֵתָ֣יוּH857Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine pluralwaterמָ֑יִםH4325Noun - masculine pluralfor the thirstyצָמֵ֖אH6771Adjective - masculine singularO dwellersיֹשְׁבֵי֙H3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructvvvאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Temaתֵּימָ֔אH8485Noun - proper - feminine singularmeetקִדְּמ֥וּH6923Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralthe refugeesנֹדֵֽד׃H5074Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularwith foodבְּלַחְמ֖וֹH3899Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 15

Cross-references

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

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthey fleeנָדָ֑דוּH5074Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralfromמִפְּנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural constructthe swordחֲרָב֖וֹתH2719Noun - feminine plural. . .מִפְּנֵ֣י׀H6440Preposition-m | Noun - common plural constructthe swordחֶ֣רֶבH2719Noun - feminine singularthat is drawnנְטוּשָׁ֗הH5203Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularfromוּמִפְּנֵי֙H6440Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural constructthe bowקֶ֣שֶׁתH7198Noun - feminine singularthat is bentדְּרוּכָ֔הH1869Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularand fromוּמִפְּנֵ֖יH6440Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural constructthe stressכֹּ֥בֶדH3514Noun - masculine singular constructof battleמִלְחָמָֽה׃סH4421Noun - feminine singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

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

Original words

Forכִּי־H3588Conjunctionthis [is what]כֹ֛הH3541Adverbthe Lordאֲדֹנָ֖יH136Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֥רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto meאֵלָ֑יH413Preposition | first person common singular. . .בְּע֤וֹדH5750Preposition-b | AdverbWithin one yearשָׁנָה֙H8141Noun - feminine singularas a hired workerשָׂכִ֔ירH7916Adjective - masculine singularwould count [it]כִּשְׁנֵ֣יH8141Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural constructallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe gloryכְּב֥וֹדH3519Noun - masculine singular constructof Kedarקֵדָֽר׃H6938Noun - proper - feminine singularwill be goneוְכָלָ֖הH3615Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

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

Original words

The remainingוּשְׁאָ֧רH7605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .מִסְפַּר־H4557Noun - masculine singular constructarchersקֶ֛שֶׁתH7198Noun - feminine singularthe warriorsגִּבּוֹרֵ֥יH1368Adjective - masculine plural construct-בְנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Kedarקֵדָ֖רH6938Noun - proper - feminine singularwill be fewיִמְעָ֑טוּH4591Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralForכִּ֛יH3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵֽי־H430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularhas spokenדִּבֵּֽר׃סH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular

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