Isaiah 21 11

Isaiah 21:11 kjv

The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?

Isaiah 21:11 nkjv

The burden against Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, "Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"

Isaiah 21:11 niv

A prophecy against Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, "Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?"

Isaiah 21:11 esv

The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, "Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?"

Isaiah 21:11 nlt

This message came to me concerning Edom : Someone from Edom keeps calling to me,
"Watchman, how much longer until morning?
When will the night be over?"

Isaiah 21 verses

Isaiah 21 11 Meaning

The people of Seir, warned by a watchman, are questioned about their knowledge of the night's passing and impending events, specifically the dawn after a night of terror and the destruction of Babylon. They are asked to report what they know about the night.

Isaiah 21 11 Context

This verse is part of Isaiah chapter 21, which is a collection of oracle messages concerning various nations. This specific oracle is directed towards the inhabitants of Seir (Edom). The watchman, a common prophetic figure, is seen as an observer on a battlements or mountain, reporting what he sees. The "night" can symbolize a time of oppressive judgment or invasion, specifically the fall of Babylon, which is the ultimate focus of this part of the chapter. The question directed to the people of Seir ("What tidings?") probes their awareness of the approaching doom and the unfolding events of judgment, particularly the demise of Babylon. The mention of "night" and "destruction" reflects the terrifying realities of warfare and political upheaval experienced by the ancient Near Eastern nations. This prophetic utterance occurs during a period of significant geopolitical shifts, with empires like Assyria and Babylon exerting dominant influence, and their eventual downfall being a central theme in Isaiah's prophecies. The message speaks to a time when judgment is coming upon nations, and a call for alertness and understanding.

Isaiah 21 11 Word Analysis

• "Watchman" (Hebrew: שׁוֹמֵר, shomēr): This refers to a guard or sentinel, someone stationed to observe and give warning. In a prophetic context, the watchman is often God's appointed messenger who alerts people to danger or divine action. The Septuagint uses φύλαξ (phulax).
• "What tidings" (Hebrew: מַה־נָּגִ֑יד, ma-nāḡîḏ): This is a question asking "What report?" or "What is brought?" It seeks information about what is being seen or communicated.
• "The watchman" (Hebrew: הַשֹּׁמֵר, haš-šōmēr): The definite article emphasizes the specific role of the watchman in this prophetic scenario.
• "Tell" (Hebrew: יַגִּ֑יד, yāḡîḏ): This verb means to inform, announce, or report.
• "What of the night?" (Hebrew: מַה־מִלֵּיל, ma-mimmāʿărim): This inquires about the condition or happenings during the "night." The night is symbolic of a period of trouble, darkness, or divine judgment. It's a critical point for the watchman to report on.
• "The watchman" (Hebrew: הַשֹּׁמֵר, haš-šōmēr): Repetition of the watchman figure.
• "The watchman" (Hebrew: הַשֹּׁמֵר, haš-šōmēr): Yet another repetition, underscoring the expectation for a report.
• "Telleth" (Hebrew: מַגִּיד, māḡîḏ): Present tense, indicating ongoing reporting or the certainty of the report to come.
• "What of the night?" (Hebrew: מַה־מִלֵּיל, ma-mimmāʿărim): The repeated question, emphasizing the persistent nature of the vigil and the critical importance of the information sought regarding the ongoing night of judgment.
• "The morning" (Hebrew: הַשַּׁ֫חַר, haš-šāḥar): Refers to the dawn, the break of day, signifying the end of darkness and the coming of a new phase, which in this context, is the cessation of the oppressive night and potentially the dawn of deliverance for some, or the full arrival of judgment for others.
• "Cometh" (Hebrew: בָּא, bāʾ): Is coming or arrives.
• "And the morning" (Hebrew: וְהַשַּׁ֫חַר, wəhaš-šāḥar): The conjunction links the coming morning to the report or the ongoing night.
• "Apostate" (Hebrew: עָֽלִישׁ, ʿālîš): This is a rare and debated word. It could mean "my consecrated one" or it could be related to falling away or apostasy, or perhaps "a yoke." Another interpretation connects it to "making ready" or "swift." In the context of the fallen chariot or army (as possibly implied earlier in the chapter), it could mean "loosed" or "made light," implying their mobility and impending movement towards judgment. Scholars debate its precise meaning, but often it relates to swiftness in judgment or conquest. The Masoretic text suggests a reading possibly related to a specific place or a descriptor of the impending force.
• "If ye will inquire" (Hebrew: אִם־שָׂאל תִּשְּׂאָלוּ, ʾim-sāʾal tisʾālū): A conditional phrase, meaning "if you ask, you should ask." This is a forceful way of saying "ask indeed" or "seek to know diligently." It implies a need for the Seirites to actively seek understanding about the situation.
• "Inquire" (Hebrew: שָׂאל, sɔʾl): To ask, to seek information.
• "Return" (Hebrew: שׁוּבוּ, šûḇû): To come back, turn back. The imperative suggests they should turn to ask.

Group Analysis:

• The repetition of "Watchman" and the question "What of the night?" emphasizes the desperate need for news and understanding from those on the outside, especially during times of crisis. It portrays a society on edge, looking for an update on a terrifying period.
• The sequence "the morning cometh, and the night" presents a duality: the coming of a new day signifies an end to the current darkness but also the arrival of the consequences, which, given the context of Babylon's fall, would be destruction. It's the dawn of judgment.
• The complex word "ʿālîš" attached to the inquiry about the night and morning suggests a potential element of swiftness or perhaps a "swift conqueror" is arriving with the dawn, or that the night's terror is "loosed." Its placement after "morning cometh" suggests that whatever is coming with the morning is significant and needs to be understood.

Isaiah 21 11 Bonus Section

The "watchman" motif is significant throughout Scripture. Ezekiel 3:17 and 33:7-9 describe the prophet as a watchman for Israel, responsible for warning them. This parallels the role of the watchman in Isaiah 21, acting as a voice of divine communication to those in crisis. The coming "morning" often symbolizes deliverance or a new era initiated by God, but here it's inextricably linked with the finality of judgment ("the night") that is declared to be "fallen" or "loosed," underscoring that the end of one terrible period is the onset of another form of doom for the impenitent. The word "ʿālîš" has generated considerable discussion among scholars, with interpretations ranging from "swiftly" to specific conquerors or types of forces. Its ambiguity adds a layer of foreboding to the verse. The structure of the verse, with the repetition of the watchman and the question, creates a dramatic tension, drawing the listener into the anticipation of what the night has revealed and what the morning will confirm.

Isaiah 21 11 Commentary

This verse uses the imagery of a watchman on a high place to convey a vital message to the people of Seir (Edom). They are questioned by a watchman who, after a period of waiting, is asked what he sees or reports about the night. The implication is that a terrible night of judgment or conflict has passed or is ongoing. The people are urged to inquire, implying they should actively seek to understand the unfolding events. The watchman's response is twofold: the morning is coming, and the night is also "loosed" or approaching in some interpreted way, perhaps referring to the finality of destruction or the swiftness of the attackers. It speaks to the need for alertness and the inevitability of judgment upon oppressive forces like Babylon. The watchman is then called upon to report these developments. This exchange highlights the suspense and the demand for clarity during periods of crisis. It is a call to spiritual wakefulness, for understanding God's actions in history and to be prepared.