Isaiah 21 1

Isaiah 21:1 kjv

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.

Isaiah 21:1 nkjv

The burden against the Wilderness of the Sea. As whirlwinds in the South pass through, So it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.

Isaiah 21:1 niv

A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.

Isaiah 21:1 esv

The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea. As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on, it comes from the wilderness, from a terrible land.

Isaiah 21:1 nlt

This message came to me concerning Babylon ? the desert by the sea : Disaster is roaring down on you from the desert,
like a whirlwind sweeping in from the Negev.

Isaiah 21 verses

Isaiah 21 1 Meaning

The oracle concerning the Wilderness of the Sea signifies a pronouncement or divine message directed towards the desert region adjacent to the sea. This region is depicted as a land of impending judgment and upheaval, associated with a people or nation that will cause devastation. The phrase "wilderness of the sea" suggests a place that should be tranquil but will become a scene of chaos and distress, perhaps due to invading forces.

Isaiah 21 1 Context

Isaiah chapter 21 is a collection of "oracles" or pronouncements of judgment against various nations and entities. This particular verse, the first of the chapter, serves as an introduction to a judgment against Babylon and possibly also against Elam and Media. The chapter begins by establishing Isaiah's role as a seer receiving divine visions, "burdened" with messages of doom. The "wilderness of the sea" is a vivid metaphor for a place transformed by catastrophic events, likely referring to the Mesopotamian region where Babylon was situated, often described in terms of its strategic waterways. The surrounding verses clarify that this oracle is primarily concerned with the fall of Babylon, a powerful empire that was a significant threat to Judah. The pronouncement is delivered in a time of anxiety for Judah, likely during periods of Assyrian or Babylonian dominance.

Isaiah 21 1 Word Analysis

• וּמַשָּׂא (ū·maś·śā):
  • Transliteration: ū·maś·śā
  • Meaning: And a burden. This signifies a heavy message, a pronouncement of judgment or prophecy from God. The "and" connects it to previous or implied burdens.
• מִדְבַּר (miḏ·bar):
  • Transliteration: miḏ·bar
  • Meaning: Wilderness, desert, open country. Suggests a desolate, uncultivated, or sparsely populated area.
• הַיָּם (hay·yām):
  • Transliteration: hay·yām
  • Meaning: The sea. In Hebrew thought, "sea" could refer to the great oceans, but also to large bodies of water like lakes or even great rivers, especially in a symbolic or geopolitical context. Given Babylon's location near rivers, this might allude to the Euphrates and Tigris, or a metaphorical "sea" of nations.
• סוּפָה (sû·p̄ā):
  • Transliteration: sû·p̄ā
  • Meaning: Tempest, storm, whirlwind. Connotes a violent, destructive force.
• נֶגֶב (ne·geḇ):
  • Transliteration: ne·geḇ
  • Meaning: South. Often associated with the desert of southern Judah or regions south of the land of Israel. However, here it appears to be describing the direction from which the "storm" or devastating force will come, perhaps from the south relative to a particular observer or point of origin in the vision, or it can indicate the region south of Assyria which Babylon conquered.
• מְגֹרָ֥שׁ (mə·ḡō·rāš):
  • Transliteration: mə·ḡō·rāš
  • Meaning: Expelled, driven out, plundered. This suggests desolation, displacement, or utter destruction of the land.

Word Group Analysis

• "Wilderness of the sea" (מִדְבַּר הַיָּם): This paradoxical phrase suggests a region typically associated with maritime activity or a vital waterway, which will be rendered desolate and wild, as if it were a desert. It points to a significant transformation due to divine judgment. This might be a prophetic designation for the region of Babylonia, known for its rivers (Euphrates and Tigris), being rendered barren. Some scholars suggest it refers to the Desert of Arabia adjacent to the Persian Gulf, through which invasions might pass.

• "A tempest of the South" (סוּפָה נֶגֶב): This phrase suggests the source or nature of the destructive force. A "tempest" implies suddenness and overwhelming power. "South" could refer to the geographical south, perhaps identifying a particular invading force or the direction of attack relative to the envisioned locus. It strongly points to invasions from the Arabian desert.

• "Like whirlwinds from the desert" (כְּסוּפָה מִן־הַמִּדְבָּר): This simile further clarifies the coming destruction, likening it to a natural phenomenon. The imagery evokes a powerful, disorienting force sweeping across the land, mirroring the unbridled and chaotic nature of warfare unleashed upon the intended target. This might also point to the Edomites, who historically inhabited a desert region to the south and were enemies of Israel. However, given the subsequent verses focusing on Babylon, this interpretation shifts towards a more general description of a devastating invasion originating from the Arabian deserts that impacted Mesopotamia.

Isaiah 21 1 Bonus Section

The prophetic title "The Oracle Concerning the Wilderness of the Sea" is a literary device designed to grab the audience's attention with its unusual and striking imagery. It creates a sense of anticipation and mystery. The use of the term "burden" (מַשָּׂא - masah) indicates a weight of prophecy, often a message of judgment from God. This specific oracle, when read in its entirety within chapter 21, is understood to foretell the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians. The prophet Ezekiel also uses vivid imagery of the sea and deserts in his oracles against Egypt, highlighting the symbolic weight these natural elements often carried in biblical prophecy, representing chaos, judgment, and vast geopolitical forces. The coming judgment on Babylon, the great empire that displaced many in Judah, was a significant message of hope for the exiled Israelites, assuring them that God remained sovereign over even the most powerful earthly kingdoms.

Isaiah 21 1 Commentary

Isaiah 21:1 serves as the enigmatic title and introduction to an oracle primarily concerning the fall of Babylon. The verse uses powerful and somewhat ambiguous imagery of a "wilderness of the sea" and a "tempest from the South." This initial pronouncement captures the unsettling nature of the prophecy, suggesting a land known for its fertility or strategic importance being reduced to desolation by an overwhelming force. The "wilderness of the sea" is not a literal geographical location known by this name in Isaiah's time. Instead, it functions as a metaphor for a region subjected to immense disruption, where even a powerful "sea" or civilization might become as desolate as a "wilderness." The imagery of a "tempest" or "whirlwind" emphasizes the swift, powerful, and destructive nature of the impending judgment. The reference to the "South" might indicate the origin of the invading army. However, considering the progression of the chapter to verses 6-9 which directly mention Babylon, this "tempest" is understood by most commentators as a prophecy against Babylon, perhaps involving invading forces that came from or passed through southern territories or deserts to attack the Mesopotamian region. The intensity of the imagery sets the tone for the serious pronouncements that follow in the chapter concerning various nations.