Isaiah 21

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 21

1¶ The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; [so] it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.

2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

3Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing [of it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it].

4My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

5Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, [and] anoint the shield.

6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

7And he saw a chariot [with] a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, [and] a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:

8And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:

9And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, [with] a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

11¶ The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

13¶ The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

14The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

15For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

16For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

17And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken [it].

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah chapter 21 presents three distinct prophetic burdens. The first details a grievous vision concerning the fall of Babylon, declared by a watchman after diligent observation. Next, the burden of Dumah features a watchman's enigmatic reply about morning and night to an inquiry from Seir. Finally, the burden upon Arabia foretells the flight of Dedanim from war and the swift downfall of Kedar's glory within a year.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with "the burden of the desert of the sea," a prophecy primarily concerning Babylon, depicting a vision of treachery and spoiling that causes the prophet profound distress. The Lord commands a watchman to be set, who diligently observes various chariots and ultimately cries out, announcing that "Babylon is fallen, is fallen," and its graven images are broken. Isaiah affirms this message as declared from the LORD of hosts. Following this, "the burden of Dumah" presents a question from Seir to a watchman, "what of the night?" The watchman responds cryptically that "The morning cometh, and also the night," urging inquiry and return. The final section, "the burden upon Arabia," describes travelling companies of Dedanim fleeing from war, receiving aid from Tema. This prophecy concludes with a declaration that within a year, the glory of Kedar and its mighty archers shall diminish, as spoken by the LORD God of Israel.

Long Summary

Isaiah chapter 21 delivers three distinct prophetic messages, each termed a "burden." The first, "the burden of the desert of the sea," focuses on the impending fall of Babylon. The prophet describes a grievous vision of treacherous dealing and spoiling, which fills him with intense physical and emotional pain, likened to the pangs of a woman in travail. His heart pants with fear, and his night of pleasure is turned into dread by this revelation. The Lord then instructs the setting of a watchman, who is to declare what he sees. This watchman diligently observes, seeing chariots with horsemen, asses, and camels, and after a period of constant vigil, he cries out the definitive message: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground." Isaiah concludes this section by affirming that he has faithfully declared what he heard from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. The second prophecy is "the burden of Dumah," where a voice from Seir repeatedly asks the watchman, "what of the night?" The watchman's response is enigmatic: "The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come," suggesting a period of mixed fortunes and a call for spiritual seeking. The final section is "the burden upon Arabia," which depicts travelling companies of Dedanim lodging in the forest, having fled from the grievousness of war, from drawn swords and bent bows. The inhabitants of Tema are shown providing water and bread to these fleeing refugees. This prophecy concludes with a precise timeline, stating that "Within a year, according to the years of a hireling," all the glory of Kedar shall fail, and the number of its mighty archers shall be diminished, emphasizing the certainty of this divine judgment.

Core Concepts

  • Fall of BabylonThe prophet receives a vision culminating in a watchman's declaration that Babylon has fallen and its idols are broken, signifying a major divine judgment.
  • Prophet's DistressIsaiah expresses profound physical and emotional anguish, comparing his pain to that of a woman in travail, upon receiving the grievous vision of treachery and spoiling.
  • The Watchman's RoleA watchman is appointed by the Lord to diligently observe and report what he sees, serving as a messenger of divine pronouncements, particularly concerning Babylon's fall.
  • Enigmatic Prophecy of DumahThe burden of Dumah presents a brief, cryptic exchange where a watchman responds to a question about the night with a message of both morning and night, urging inquiry and return.
  • Judgment on KedarA specific prophecy foretells the swift and certain downfall of the glory and mighty men of Kedar within a year, as declared by the LORD God of Israel.
  • Divine SovereigntyThroughout the chapter, the prophecies are explicitly stated to be from the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, emphasizing His ultimate control over nations and their destinies.