Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 21

Introduction

Overview

Isaiah 21:1, The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people, sees in a vision the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians; Isaiah 21:11, Edom, scorning the prophet, is moved to repentance; Isaiah 21:13, The set time of Arabia’s calamity.

Verse 1

The burden: The first ten verses of this chapter contain a prediction of the taking of Babylon by the Medes and Persians; which is here denominated "the desert of the sea," because the country around it, and especially towards the sea, was a great morass, often overflowed by the Tigris and Euphrates, and only rendered habitable by being drained by a number of canals. Isaiah 13:1, Isaiah 17:1

the desert: Isaiah 13:20-22, Isaiah 14:23, Jeremiah 51:42

As whirlwinds: Job 37:9, Daniel 11:40, Zechariah 9:14

from: Isaiah 13:4, Isaiah 13:5, Isaiah 13:17, Isaiah 13:18, Ezekiel 30:11, Ezekiel 31:12

Reciprocal: Psalms 79:6 - upon Psalms 137:8 - who art Isaiah 14:6 - is persecuted Jeremiah 23:19 - General Jeremiah 25:12 - that I Jeremiah 50:1 - against Babylon Ezekiel 1:4 - a whirlwind Ezekiel 38:9 - shalt ascend Daniel 5:26 - God Nahum 1:1 - burden Zechariah 7:14 - scattered

Verse 2

grievous: Heb. hard, Psalms 60:3, Proverbs 13:15

the treacherous: Isaiah 24:16, Isaiah 33:1, 1 Samuel 24:13, Jeremiah 51:44, Jeremiah 51:48, Jeremiah 51:49, Jeremiah 51:53, Revelation 13:10

Go up: Isaiah 13:2-4, Isaiah 13:17, Isaiah 13:18, Jeremiah 50:14, Jeremiah 50:34, Jeremiah 49:34, Jeremiah 51:11, Jeremiah 51:27, Jeremiah 51:28, Daniel 5:28, Daniel 8:20

all the: Isaiah 14:1-3, Isaiah 35:10, Isaiah 47:6, Psalms 12:5, Psalms 79:11, Psalms 137:1-3, Jeremiah 31:11, Jeremiah 31:12, Jeremiah 31:20, Jeremiah 31:25, Jeremiah 45:3, Jeremiah 51:3, Jeremiah 51:4, Lamentations 1:22, Micah 7:8-10, Zechariah 1:15, Zechariah 1:16

Reciprocal: Genesis 10:22 - Elam Genesis 14:1 - Elam Leviticus 6:2 - in fellowship 2 Kings 17:6 - the Medes 1 Chronicles 1:17 - Elam Ezra 4:9 - Elamites Esther 1:3 - of Persia Isaiah 1:1 - vision Isaiah 22:6 - Elam Isaiah 41:25 - raised Isaiah 48:8 - I knew Jeremiah 50:9 - I will raise Jeremiah 50:22 - General Jeremiah 51:46 - a rumour shall Jeremiah 51:56 - the spoiler Ezekiel 38:9 - shalt ascend Daniel 5:6 - the king's Daniel 5:9 - changed Daniel 8:3 - one Habakkuk 1:13 - deal Habakkuk 2:7 - they Acts 2:9 - Elamites

Verse 3

are: Isaiah 15:5, Isaiah 16:9, Isaiah 16:11, Habakkuk 3:16

pangs have: Isaiah 13:8, Isaiah 26:17, Psalms 48:6, Jeremiah 48:41, Jeremiah 49:22, Jeremiah 50:43, Micah 4:9, Micah 4:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:3

I was bowed: Deuteronomy 28:67, Daniel 5:5, Daniel 5:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:16 - in sorrow 1 Samuel 28:5 - he was afraid Job 4:15 - the hair Psalms 69:23 - make their Psalms 73:19 - they are Jeremiah 4:9 - that the heart Jeremiah 4:19 - My bowels Jeremiah 4:31 - I have heard Jeremiah 6:24 - anguish Jeremiah 13:21 - shall not Jeremiah 30:6 - every Jeremiah 50:24 - and thou wast Jeremiah 51:31 - to show Jeremiah 51:46 - a rumour shall Ezekiel 21:6 - with the Hosea 13:13 - sorrows Amos 8:10 - I will turn Micah 1:8 - I will wail Nahum 2:10 - and much Luke 6:25 - mourn

Verse 4

heart panted: or, mind wandered

the night: Isaiah 5:11-14, 1 Samuel 25:36-38, 2 Samuel 13:28, 2 Samuel 13:29, Esther 5:12, Esther 7:6-10, Job 21:11-13, Jeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57, Daniel 5:1, Daniel 5:5, Daniel 5:30, Nahum 1:10, Luke 21:34-36

turned: Heb. put

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 28:5 - he was afraid 1 Kings 1:49 - General Job 4:15 - the hair Job 20:23 - rain it Job 30:31 - General Psalms 38:10 - heart Psalms 69:23 - make their Psalms 73:19 - they are Psalms 91:5 - terror Ecclesiastes 7:4 - the heart Isaiah 5:14 - he that rejoiceth Isaiah 13:8 - pangs Isaiah 14:11 - pomp Isaiah 22:13 - behold Isaiah 47:8 - given Jeremiah 4:9 - that the heart Jeremiah 50:43 - king Daniel 5:6 - so that Amos 6:7 - and the Amos 8:10 - I will turn Luke 6:25 - mourn Luke 17:27 - General 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - Peace 1 Thessalonians 5:7 - and they Hebrews 11:25 - the pleasures

Verse 5

eat: Isaiah 22:13, Isaiah 22:14, Daniel 5:1-5, 1 Corinthians 15:32

arise: Isaiah 13:2, Isaiah 13:17, Isaiah 13:18, Isaiah 45:1-3, Jeremiah 51:11, Jeremiah 51:27, Jeremiah 51:28

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 1:21 - anointed 1 Kings 1:49 - General Psalms 127:1 - the watchman Isaiah 14:11 - pomp Isaiah 47:8 - given Jeremiah 46:3 - General Jeremiah 51:39 - their heat Jeremiah 51:57 - I will Nahum 2:5 - recount Habakkuk 2:1 - tower Habakkuk 2:5 - he transgresseth 1 Thessalonians 5:7 - and they

Verse 6

Go: Isaiah 62:6, 2 Kings 9:17-20, Jeremiah 51:12, Jeremiah 51:13, Ezekiel 3:17, Ezekiel 33:2-7, Habakkuk 2:1, Habakkuk 2:2

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:24 - the watchman Song of Solomon 3:3 - watchmen Isaiah 21:11 - what

Verse 7

And he saw: Isaiah 21:9, Isaiah 37:24

he hearkened: Hebrews 2:1

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 19:7 - thirty Isaiah 46:11 - Calling Jeremiah 17:24 - if Jeremiah 50:25 - opened

Verse 8

cried, A lion: or, cried as a lion, Isaiah 5:29, Jeremiah 4:7, Jeremiah 25:38, Jeremiah 49:19, Jeremiah 50:44, 1 Peter 5:8

I stand: Isaiah 56:10, Isaiah 62:6, Psalms 63:6, Psalms 127:1, Habakkuk 2:1, Habakkuk 2:2

whole nights: or, every night

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 12:25 - keeping Psalms 130:6 - I say more than they that watch for the morning Ezekiel 3:17 - a watchman Ezekiel 10:1 - I looked Acts 12:10 - the first Romans 12:7 - ministry Revelation 18:2 - become

Verse 9

behold: Jeremiah 50:3, Jeremiah 50:9, Jeremiah 50:29, Jeremiah 50:42, Jeremiah 51:27

Babylon: Isaiah 13:19, Isaiah 14:4, Jeremiah 50:2, Jeremiah 51:8, Jeremiah 51:64, Revelation 14:8, Revelation 18:2, Revelation 18:21

all: Isaiah 46:1, Isaiah 46:2, Jeremiah 50:2, Jeremiah 50:38, Jeremiah 51:44, Jeremiah 51:47, Jeremiah 51:52

Reciprocal: Isaiah 14:22 - I will Isaiah 19:1 - the idols Isaiah 21:7 - And he saw Isaiah 25:2 - For Jeremiah 27:7 - until Jeremiah 43:12 - in the Ezekiel 10:1 - I looked Revelation 18:10 - that great

Verse 10

my threshing: Isaiah 41:15, Isaiah 41:16, 2 Kings 13:7, Jeremiah 51:33, Micah 4:13, Habakkuk 3:12, Matthew 3:12

corn: Heb. son

that which: 1 Kings 22:14, Ezekiel 3:17-19, Acts 20:26, Acts 20:27

Reciprocal: Isaiah 28:28 - Bread Isaiah 48:6 - and will Ezekiel 40:4 - declare Micah 4:12 - for he shall

Verse 11

Dumah: Dumah is probably the same as Dumatha, a city of Arabia, mentioned by Stephanus, and the modern Dumah and Dumathalgandel, on the borders of Arabia and Syria, in a rocky valley. The Edomites, says Bp. Lowth, as well as Jews, were subdued by the Babylonians. They enquire of the prophet how long their subjection is to last; he intimates that the Jews should be delivered from their captivity; not so the Edomites. "The morning cometh, and also the night." Genesis 25:14, 1 Chronicles 1:30

me out: Isaiah 34:1-17, Isaiah 63:1-6, Numbers 24:18, Deuteronomy 2:5, Psalms 137:7, Jeremiah 49:7-22, Ezekiel 35:1-15, Joel 3:19, Amos 1:6, Amos 1:11, Amos 1:12, Obadiah 1:1-16, Malachi 1:2-4

what: Isaiah 21:6, Jeremiah 37:17

Reciprocal: Joshua 15:52 - Dumah 2 Samuel 18:24 - the watchman 2 Kings 9:17 - a watchman Song of Solomon 3:3 - watchmen Isaiah 13:1 - burden Jeremiah 6:17 - I Ezekiel 3:17 - a watchman Habakkuk 2:1 - stand Romans 13:11 - knowing

Verse 12

The morning: Isaiah 17:14, Jeremiah 50:27, Ezekiel 7:5-7, Ezekiel 7:10, Ezekiel 7:12

if: Isaiah 55:7, Jeremiah 42:19-22, Ezekiel 14:1-6, Ezekiel 18:30-32, Acts 2:37, Acts 2:38, Acts 17:19, Acts 17:20, Acts 17:30-32

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 18:24 - the watchman 2 Kings 9:17 - a watchman Song of Solomon 3:3 - watchmen Ezekiel 3:17 - a watchman Amos 1:11 - Edom Habakkuk 2:1 - stand Romans 13:11 - knowing

Verse 13

Arabia: 1 Kings 10:15, Jeremiah 25:23, Jeremiah 25:24, Jeremiah 49:28-33, Galatians 4:25

O ye: Isaiah 13:20, Genesis 25:3, 1 Chronicles 1:9, 1 Chronicles 1:32, Ezekiel 27:15, Ezekiel 27:20, Ezekiel 27:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 10:7 - Dedan Isaiah 13:1 - burden Jeremiah 49:8 - Dedan Acts 2:11 - Arabians

Verse 14

Tema: Genesis 25:15, 1 Chronicles 1:30, Job 6:19

brought: or, bring ye, Isaiah 16:3, Isaiah 16:4, Judges 8:4-8, Proverbs 25:21, Romans 12:20, 1 Peter 4:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:17 - water of 2 Samuel 17:29 - The people Jeremiah 25:23 - Dedan

Verse 15

from the swords: or, for fear of the swords, Heb. from the face of, Job 6:19, Job 6:20

Reciprocal: Isaiah 23:6 - Pass

Verse 16

according: Isaiah 16:14, Job 7:1

Kedar: Isaiah 42:11, Isaiah 60:7, Genesis 25:13, 1 Chronicles 1:29, Psalms 120:5, Song of Solomon 1:5, Jeremiah 49:28, Ezekiel 27:21

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:14 - Dumah Leviticus 25:50 - according to the time Deuteronomy 15:18 - a double

Verse 17

archers: Heb. bows

the mighty: Isaiah 10:18, Isaiah 10:19, Isaiah 17:4, Isaiah 17:5, Psalms 107:39

for: Isaiah 1:20, Numbers 23:19, Jeremiah 44:29, Zechariah 1:6, Matthew 24:35

Reciprocal: Genesis 25:13 - Kedar 1 Chronicles 1:29 - Kedar Isaiah 24:3 - the Lord Jeremiah 49:28 - Kedar Ezekiel 28:26 - when I