Isaiah 21
21
A Prophecy concerning Babylon
1Here is a prophecy concerning Babylon, the Desert by the Sea: # 21:1 That is, by the Persian Gulf.
As whirlwinds rushing in from the southland,
an invader # 21:1 Or “disaster.” comes in from the desert, from a land to be feared.
2A terrifying revelation has been given to me:
The betrayer betrays; the destroyer destroys.
Arise, you Elamites! # 21:2 Elam (Elam means “hidden” or “concealed”) is the modern-day coastal area of Iran. Media (Media means “middle-land”) is the north-central region of Iran. Both regions made up a major portion of the Persian Empire, which destroyed Babylon in 539 BC. Lay siege, you Medes! # 21:2 It is as though God is commanding Babylon’s enemies to betray and destroy her. This prophecy was given to Isaiah two hundred years before it took place.
I will put an end
to all the grief she brought to the nations.
3There’s a churning deep inside me,
like labor pains of a woman about to give birth.
I’m too anguished by what I hear
and too frightened by what I see. # 21:3 Or “too anguished to hear, too frightened to see.”
4My mind is reeling; I’m filled with panic.
I longed for twilight, but now I tremble through the night. # 21:4 The wording of vv. 3–4 seems to indicate that Isaiah is brought into a state of prophetic ecstasy as he shook under the intensity of the weight of the prophetic utterance. See Scott, Vestus Testamentum 2, 1952, 278–282.
5I see them prepare the table and spread their rugs,
then they eat and they drink. # 21:5 It’s as though Isaiah saw prophetically into the room where Belshazzar was feasting, and Belshazzar had no clue his fall was imminent (see Dan. 5).
Get up, you military officers! Anoint your shields # 21:5 Or “Oil your shields.” for battle!
6For this is what the Lord said to me:
“Go post a sentry and have him report what he sees.
7When he sees them come with chariots
and advancing warriors riding on horses, donkeys, and camels,
let him be alert—extremely alert!”
8Then the sentry cries out, # 21:8 Or “He cried out, ‘A lion!’ ” See Rev. 5:5.
“I continually stand on this watchtower day after day
for you, O Lord.
I’m stationed at my post throughout the night. # 21:8 The New Testament ministry of a “watchman” is that of an intercessor. It is important that every church and every city has intercessors to “stand on this watchtower day after day.”
9Look! Someone’s coming!
It’s a man in a chariot with a team of horses.
He shouts out, ‘Fallen, fallen, Babylon has fallen!
All the idols of their gods lie shattered on the ground!’ ”
10My people, lying crushed on the threshing floor,
I declare to you what I have heard from the God of Israel,
Yahweh, the Commander of Angel Armies.
A Prophecy concerning Dumah (Edom)
11Here is a prophecy about Dumah: # 21:11 Dumah is a location in northern Arabia and is a poetic term for Edom, an ancient kingdom situated south of the Dead Sea. Dumah means “stillness [of death].” It was the land of Esau’s descendants. See Gen. 32:3; Num. 24:18. The Hebrew root word for “Edom” is “Adam.”
Someone keeps calling me from the land of Edom, # 21:11 Or “Seir,” a mountain in Edom. This is another name for the land inhabited by the Edomites. Seir means “hairy goat,” “faun,” or “satyr.” It is found thirty-nine times in the Old Testament. saying,
“Watchman, how much longer is the night?
Watchman, how much longer is the night?”
12The watchman answers,
“Morning comes, but a dark night endures. # 21:12 Or “Morning [a new day] is coming, but so is night [judgment].”
If you want to ask again, then come back and ask.” # 21:12 Or “Turn [repent], then come back and ask again.”
A Prophecy Concerning Arabia
13A prophecy concerning Arabia:
You caravans from Dedan,
you will camp among the thickets in the desert land of Arabia. # 21:13 That is, they will be forced off the beaten path to hide from the invading Assyrians. The Dedanites were merchants who shipped their goods to Tyre (Phoenicia). Arabia, or “the land of Arabs,” means “sterility,” “darkened,” “intermixed,” “stranger,” “barren,” or “wild.” Arabia is mentioned six times in the Old Testament. See Gal. 1:17.
14People of Tema, # 21:14 Tema was a descendant of Abraham (see 1 Chron. 1:28–30). Tema (modern-day Tayma) is also a city in northern Saudi Arabia. Tema means “sunny,” “good fortune,” or “prosperity.” come and bring water to the thirsty
and bread for the fugitives.
15For they have fled from the battle, from the drawn swords,
from the bent bows, and from the weight of warfare.
16This is what the Sovereign God said to me:
“Within exactly one year, # 21:16 Or “Within one year according to the years of a hired worker.”
all the splendor of Kedar # 21:16 Kedar means “dark skinned.” Kedar was a son of Ishmael, and his descendants settled in the Arabian desert. Kedar is likely a metonymy for northern Arabia. will end.
17And all the weapons left of Kedar’s warriors will be few,
for the Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken.”
Zvasarudzwa nguva ino
Isaiah 21: TPT
Sarudza vhesi
Pakurirana nevamwe
Sarudza zvinyorwa izvi
Unoda kuti zviratidziro zvako zvichengetedzwe pamidziyo yako yose? Nyoresa kana kuti pinda
The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion Translation