Isaiah 21 KJV: Oracles of the Fallen City and the Weary Traveler

Isaiah 21 documents the traumatic vision of Babylon’s sudden collapse amidst a feast, signaling a shift in the global balance of power. This chapter articulates the high cost of spiritual vigilance, portraying the prophet as a watchman who must deliver sobering news to a world in darkness.

  1. v1-10: The Burden of the Desert and Babylon’s Fall
  2. v11-12: The Cry from Seir (Dumah)
  3. v13-17: The Burden of Arabia

Isaiah chapter 21

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.
A 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.
Therefore 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.
My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
And 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:
And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:
And, 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.
O 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.
The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
For 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:
And 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.

Feel the tension of the watchman’s post as the sun sets on one empire and rises on a new day of judgment. Begin your study with isaiah 21 summary.

The famous phrase 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen' is repeated for emphasis, indicating the absolute certainty of the decree despite the city's current strength. The 'Word Secret' is Massa, which means both 'burden' and 'oracle,' suggesting that the word of God carries a heavy weight for both the prophet and the recipient. Discover the riches with isaiah 21 commentary, containing expert led word study (original greek/hebrew) and passage level analysis.

Unlock the hidden isaiah 21 1 meaning and summary by exploring context, analyzing original greek and hebrew words, and studying cross references of each verse.

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3 min read (417 words)