📖 Isaiah — Chapter 21 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Isaiah 21:1 RThe burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.
Isaiah 21:2 A RTgrievous 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.
Isaiah 21:3 Therefore Rare 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.
Isaiah 21:4 My Theart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: Rthe night of my pleasure hath he Tturned into fear unto me.
Isaiah 21:5 Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, Reat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
Isaiah 21:6 For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
Isaiah 21:7 RAnd 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:
Isaiah 21:8 And The Rcried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward Twhole nights:
Isaiah 21:9 And, Rbehold, 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.
Isaiah 21:10 O Rmy threshing, and the Tcorn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.
Isaiah 21:11 The burden of RDumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
Isaiah 21:12 The watchman said, RThe morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
Isaiah 21:13 The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, RO ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
Isaiah 21:14 The inhabitants of the land of RTema Tbrought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
Isaiah 21:15 For they fled RTfrom the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
Isaiah 21:16 For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Within a year, Raccording to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
Isaiah 21:17 And the residue of the number of Tarchers, Rthe mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 21:1–6 — A grievous vision and a watchman
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The desert-of-the-sea vision brings trembling and distress rather than detached curiosity. A watchman is appointed to report faithfully what he sees.
Key Truth: Hear warnings with seriousness.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the …” (Isaiah 21:1)
Find it in Isaiah 21:1 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “My ____ panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath …” (Isaiah 21:4)
Find it in Isaiah 21:4 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “For ____ hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, …” (Isaiah 21:6)
Find it in Isaiah 21:6 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 21:7–12 — Fallen Babylon and an unanswered night
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The watchman announces Babylon’s fall and broken idols. The following exchange about morning and night preserves urgency and uncertainty, calling the questioner to return and inquire.
Key Truth: Wait attentively without inventing certainty.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “And he saw a ____ with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and …” (Isaiah 21:7)
Find it in Isaiah 21:7 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “O my ____ , and the corn of my floor: that which I …” (Isaiah 21:10)
Find it in Isaiah 21:10 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye …” (Isaiah 21:12)
Find it in Isaiah 21:12 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Isaiah 21:13–17 — Help for fugitives in Arabia
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Travelers flee swords and war, and the thirsty and hungry need provision. Kedar’s glory and strength are given a bounded warning.
Key Truth: Care for those fleeing conflict.
Check What You Remember
1. Complete the KJV wording: “The ____ upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, …” (Isaiah 21:13)
Find it in Isaiah 21:13 (KJV).
2. Complete the KJV wording: “For they ____ from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the …” (Isaiah 21:15)
Find it in Isaiah 21:15 (KJV).
3. Complete the KJV wording: “… of the number of archers, the mighty men of the ____ of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of …” (Isaiah 21:17)
Find it in Isaiah 21:17 (KJV).
Related Scripture (KJV)
Revelation 18:2 — Revelation echoes the announcement of fallen Babylon.
This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.
Reflect and Apply
Who fleeing hardship needs practical care rather than speculation?
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What is the watchman commissioned to report?
2. What accompanies the announcement of Babylon’s fall?
3. How does the reply avoid a simple assurance of endless daylight?
4. What limit is set on Kedar’s glory?
5. What grounds the prediction of diminished archers?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation