Isaiah 21
A plain-spoken deep dive on the whole chapter. Read the chapter →
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Nebuchadnezzar being come up against Jerusalem, Zedekiah sends Pashur and Zephaniah to the prophet to request him to intercede with God in behalf of his people, Jer 21:1, Jer 21:2. But he is declared to be against Jerusalem, and the whole land of Judah; and the only mitigation of their punishment must proceed from their surrendering to the king of Babylon, Jer 21:3-10. Prophecy concerning the house of the king of Judah, Jer 21:11, Jer 21:12. Notwithstanding the amazing fortifications round about Jerusalem, in which the people vainly trust, the Lord will most assuredly visit them for their iniquities; the city shall be taken by the Chaldeans, Jer 21:13, Jer 21:14.
Open source ↗REPETITION OF THE ASSURANCE GIVEN IN THE THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEENTH CHAPTERS TO THE JEWS ABOUT TO BE CAPTIVES IN BABYLON, THAT THEIR ENEMY SHOULD BE DESTROYED AND THEY BE DELIVERED. (Isa 21:1-10) desert--the champaign between Babylon and Persia; it was once a desert, and it was to become so again. of the sea--The plain was covered with the water of the Euphrates like a "sea" (Jer 51:13, Jer 51:36; so Isa 11:15, the Nile), until Semiramis raised great dams against it. Cyrus removed these dykes, and so converted the whole country again into a vast desert marsh. whirlwinds in the south-- (Job 37:9; Zac 9:14). The south wind comes upon Babylon from the deserts of Arabia, and its violence is the greater from its course being unbroken along the plain (Job 1:19). desert--the plain between Babylon and Persia. terrible land--Media; to guard against which was the object of Nitocris' great works [HERODOTUS, 1.185]. Compare as to "terrible" applied to a wilderness, as being full of unknown dangers, Deu 1:29.
Open source ↗The burden of the desert of the sea,.... That this is a prophecy of the destruction of Babylon is clear from the express mention both of the Medes and Persians, by whom it should be, and of Babylon itself, and its fall, Isa 21:2 which, though prophesied of before, is here repeated, partly for the certainty of it, and partly for the comfort of the people of the Jews, who would be captives in it, and so break off and prevent their confidence in a nation that would be ruined; and perhaps this prophecy might be delivered out about the time or on account of Merodach king of Babylon sending letters and a present to Hezekiah, who showed to his messengers all his treasures. Babylon is here called "the desert of the sea", not because it was a desert land, for it was a very fruitful one; or because it would be laid desolate, and become as a wilderness; but either because there was one between that and the countries of Media and Persia, as Kimchi, from whence its destroyers would come; or rather, because it was, as the word may be rendered, a "plain", for so the land of Chaldea was, and the city of Babylon particularly was built in a plain, Gen 11:2 and because this country abounded with pools and lakes, which with the Hebrews are called seas; and especially since the city of Babylon was situated by the river Euphrates, which ran about it, and through it and which therefore is said to dwell upon many waters, Jer 51:13 hence it has this name of the desert of the sea; besides, Abydenus (l), from Megasthenes, informs us, that all the places about Babylon were from the beginning water, and were called a sea; and it should be observed that mystical Babylon is represented by a woman in a desert, sitting on many waters, which are interpreted of a multitude of people and nations, Rev 17:1…
Open source ↗The power which first brings destruction upon the city of the world, is a hostile army composed of several nations. "As storms in the south approach, it comes from the desert, from a terrible land. Hard vision is made known to me: the spoiler spoils, and the devastator devastates. Go up, Elam! Surround, Maday! I put an end to all their sighing." "Storms in the south" (compare Isa 28:21; Amo 3:9) are storms which have their starting-point in the south, and therefore come to Babylon from Arabia deserta; and like all winds that come from boundless steppes, they are always violent (Job 1:19; Job 37:9; see Hos 13:15). It would be natural, therefore, to connect mimmidbâr with lachalōph (as Knobel and Umbreit do), but the arrangement of the words is opposed to this; lachalōōph ("pressing forwards") is sued instead of yachalōph (see Ges. 132, Anm. 1, and still more fully on Hab 1:17). The conjunctio periphrastica stands with great force at the close of the comparison, in order that it may express at the same time the violent pressure with which the progress of the storm is connected. It is true that, according to Herod. i. 189, Cyrus came across the Gyndes, so that he descended into the lowlands to Babylonia through Chalonitis and Apolloniatis, by the road described by Isidor V. Charax in his Itinerarium, (Note: See C. Masson's "Illustration of the route from Seleucia to Apobatana, as given by Isid. of Charax," in the Asiatic Journal, xii. 97ff.) over the Zagros pass through the Zagros-gate (Ptolem. vi. 2) to the upper course of the Gyndes (the present Diyala), and then along this river, which he crossed before its junction with the Tigris. But if the Medo-Persian army came in this direction, it could not be regarded as coming "from the desert." If, however, the Median por…
Open source ↗We had one burden of Babylon before (ch. 13); here we have another prediction of its fall. God saw fit thus to possess his people with the belief of this event by line upon line, because Babylon sometimes pretended to be a friend to them (as Isa 39:1), and God would hereby warn them not to trust to that friendship, and sometimes was really an enemy to them, and God would hereby warn them not to be afraid of that enmity. Babylon is marked for ruin; and all that believe God's prophets can, through that glass, see it tottering, see it tumbling, even when with an eye of sense they see it flourishing and sitting as a queen. Babylon is here called the desert or plain of the sea; for it was a flat country, and full of lakes, or loughs (as they call them in Ireland), like little seas, and was abundantly watered with the many streams of the river Euphrates. Babylon did but lately begin to be famous, Nineveh having outshone it while the monarchy was in the Assyrian hands; but in a little time it became the lady of kingdoms; and, before it arrived at that pitch of eminency which it was at in Nebuchadnezzar's time, God by this prophet plainly foretold its fall, again and again, that his people might not be terrified at its rise, nor despair of relief in due time when they were its prisoners, Job 5:3; Psa 37:35, Psa 37:36. Some think it is here called a desert because, though it was now a populous city, it should in time be made a desert. And therefore the destruction of Babylon is so often prophesied of by this evangelical prophet, because it was typical of the destruction of the man of sin, the great enemy of the New Testament church, which is foretold in the Revelation in many expressions borrowed from these prophecies, which therefore must be consulted and collated by those who…
Open source ↗21:1 concerning Babylon—the desert by the sea: This description of Babylon was perhaps an ironic way to say that the land was physically lush but spiritually desolate. • Disaster . . . from the desert: Literally from the desert, from the terrifying land (cp. Deut 8:15).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מַשָּׂא (massâʼ, H4853) — a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance,… מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… סוּפָה (çûwphâh, H5492) — a hurricane נֶגֶב (negeb, H5045) — the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah,… חָלַף (châlaph, H2498) — properly, to slide by, i.e. (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗קָשֶׁה (qâsheh, H7186) — severe (in various applications) חָזוּת (châzûwth, H2380) — a look; hence (figuratively) striking appearance, revelation, or (by implication) compact נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… בָּגַד (bâgad, H898) — to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage שָׁדַד (shâdad, H7703) — properly, to be burly, i.e. (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… עֵילָם (ʻÊylâm, H5867) — Elam, a son of Shem and his descendants, with their country; also of six Israelites צוּר (tsûwr, H6696) — to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or… מָדַי (Mâday, H4074) — Madai, a country of central Asia אֲנָחָה (ʼănâchâh, H585) — sighing שָׁבַת (shâbath, H7673) — to repose, i.e. desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative,…
Open source ↗מֹתֶן (môthen, H4975) — properly, the waist or small of the back; only in plural the loins מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) חַלְחָלָה (chalchâlâh, H2479) — writhing (in childbirth); by implication, terror צִיר (tsîyr, H6735) — a hinge (as pressed in turning); also a throe (as a phys. or mental pressure); also a… אָחַז (ʼâchaz, H270) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession) יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… עָוָה (ʻâvâh, H5753) — to crook, literally or figuratively שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… בָּהַל (bâhal, H926) — to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly)… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,…
Open source ↗לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ); תָּעָה (tâʻâh, H8582) — to vacillate, i.e. reel or stray (literally or figuratively); also causative of both פַּלָּצוּת (pallâtsûwth, H6427) — affright בָּעַת (bâʻath, H1204) — to fear נֶשֶׁף (nesheph, H5399) — properly, a breeze, i.e. (by implication) dusk (when the evening breeze prevails) חֵשֶׁק (chêsheq, H2837) — delight שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… חֲרָדָה (chărâdâh, H2731) — fear, anxiety
Open source ↗עָרַךְ (ʻârak, H6186) — to set in a row, i.e. arrange, put in order (in a very wide variety of applications) שֻׁלְחָן (shulchân, H7979) — a table (as spread out); by implication, a meal צָפָה (tsâphâh, H6822) — properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe,… צָפִית (tsâphîyth, H6844) — a sentry אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) שַׂר (sar, H8269) — a head person (of any rank or class) מָשַׁח (mâshach, H4886) — to rub with oil, i.e. to anoint; by implication, to consecrate; also to paint מָגֵן (mâgên, H4043) — a shield (i.e. the small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also the scaly hide…
Open source ↗אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) צָפָה (tsâphâh, H6822) — properly, to lean forward, i.e. to peer into the distance; by implication, to observe,… נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,…
Open source ↗רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… רֶכֶב (rekeb, H7393) — a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the… צֶמֶד (tsemed, H6776) — hence, an acre (i.e. day's task for a yoke of cattle to plough) פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, H6571) — a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by… חֲמוֹר (chămôwr, H2543) — a male ass (from its dun red) גָּמָל (gâmâl, H1581) — a camel קָשַׁב (qâshab, H7181) — to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken קֶשֶׁב (qesheb, H7182) — a hearkening רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)
Open source ↗קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… אֲרִי (ʼărîy, H738) — a lion אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) תָּמִיד (tâmîyd, H8548) — properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as… מִצְפֶּה (mitspeh, H4707) — an observatory, especially formilitary purposes יוֹמָם (yôwmâm, H3119) — daily נָצַב (nâtsab, H5324) — to station, in various applications (literally or figuratively) מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmereth, H4931) — watch, i.e. the act (custody), or (concretely) the sentry, the post; objectively… לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) רֶכֶב (rekeb, H7393) — a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e. the… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… צֶמֶד (tsemed, H6776) — hence, an acre (i.e. day's task for a yoke of cattle to plough) פָּרָשׁ (pârâsh, H6571) — a steed (as stretched out to a vehicle, not single nor for mounting ); also (by… עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בָּבֶל (Bâbel, H894) — Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… פְּסִיל (pᵉçîyl, H6456) — an idol אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… שָׁבַר (shâbar, H7665) — to burst (literally or figuratively) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗מְדֻשָּׁה (mᵉdushshâh, H4098) — a threshing, i.e. (concretely and figuratively) down-trodden people בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… גֹּרֶן (gôren, H1637) — a threshing-floor (as made even); by analogy, any open area שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to…
Open source ↗מַשָּׂא (massâʼ, H4853) — a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance,… דּוּמָה (Dûwmâh, H1746) — Dumah, a tribe and region of Arabia קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… שֵׂעִיר (Sêʻîyr, H8165) — Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity
Open source ↗שָׁמַר (shâmar, H8104) — properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to,… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning אָתָה (ʼâthâh, H857) — to arrive לַיִל (layil, H3915) — properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity בָּעָה (bâʻâh, H1158) — to gush over, i.e. to swell; (figuratively) to desire earnestly; by implication to ask שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not…
Open source ↗מַשָּׂא (massâʼ, H4853) — a burden; specifically, tribute, or (abstractly) porterage; figuratively, an utterance,… עֲרָב (ʻĂrâb, H6152) — Arab (i.e. Arabia), a country East of Palestine יַעַר (yaʻar, H3293) — a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees) לוּן (lûwn, H3885) — to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense)… אֹרְחָה (ʼôrᵉchâh, H736) — a caravan דְּדָנִים (Dᵉdânîym, H1720) — Dedanites, the descendants or inhabitants of Dedan
Open source ↗יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) תֵּימָא (Têymâʼ, H8485) — Tema, a son of Ishmael, and the region settled by him אָתָה (ʼâthâh, H857) — to arrive מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen קִרְאָה (qirʼâh, H7125) — an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite) צָמֵא (tsâmêʼ, H6771) — thirsty (literally or figuratively) קָדַם (qâdam, H6923) — to project (one self), i.e. precede; hence, to anticipate, hasten, meet (usually for help) לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) נָדַד (nâdad, H5074) — properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee,…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
“I will make her a place for owls and for swamplands; I will sweep her away with the broom of destruction,” declares the LORD of Hosts.
This is the burden against Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz received:
The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered in turbulent waves.
Then the LORD will appear over them,and His arrow will go forth like lightning.The Lord GOD will sound the ram’s hornand advance in the whirlwinds of the south.
This is the burden against Damascus: “Behold, Damascus is no longer a city; it has become a heap of ruins.
The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds.
Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it.
At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.
He and his people with him, the most ruthless of the nations, will be brought in to destroy the land. They will draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain.