Isaiah 21 15

Isaiah 21:15 kjv

For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

Isaiah 21:15 nkjv

For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, From the bent bow, and from the distress of war.

Isaiah 21:15 niv

They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.

Isaiah 21:15 esv

For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.

Isaiah 21:15 nlt

They have fled from the sword,
from the drawn sword,
from the bent bow
and the terrors of battle.

Isaiah 21 verses

Isaiah 21 15 meaning

Isaiah 21:15 vividly describes the dire situation of people in the Arabian desert who are forced to flee. It highlights the immediate and overwhelming threats they face, detailing the relentless pursuit and the severity of the conflict that drives them into desperation and exile. The verse portrays a scene of intense warfare, where the direct instruments of death – various types of swords and ready bows – combined with the overall oppressive "heaviness" of battle, leave the inhabitants no choice but to escape their homeland.

Isaiah 21 15 Context

Isaiah chapter 21 is a series of "oracles" or "burdens" concerning various nations: the "Desert by the Sea" (Babylon, vv. 1-10), "Dumah" (Edom, vv. 11-12), and "Arabia" (vv. 13-17). Verse 15 specifically falls within "The Oracle Concerning Arabia." This prophecy foretells a coming Assyrian invasion of the Arabian desert tribes, particularly focusing on Dedan and Kedar. Historically, the Assyrian Empire was a dominant power in the ancient Near East, conducting numerous military campaigns into Arabia to secure trade routes and resources, and to quell resistance. The previous verse (v. 14) describes the inhabitants of Tema providing water and bread to the "fugitives," setting the scene for verse 15, which then explains why these people are fugitives: they are fleeing the devastating effects of an intense military campaign. The prophecy emphasizes the transient and vulnerable nature of human power and security in the face of divine judgment enacted through the rise and fall of nations.

Isaiah 21 15 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This causal conjunction introduces the reason for the plight of the fugitives described in the preceding verse. It provides the explanation for their desperation and the need for aid from tribes like Tema.

• they fled (נָדוּ, nadū): A verb meaning "to wander, to flee, to go into exile." It indicates not merely movement but a forced, urgent displacement from their homes due to grave danger, suggesting loss and homelessness.

• from the swords (מִפְּנֵי חֲרָבוֹת, mippĕnē ḥărāvôth): The prefix mippĕnē means "from the face of" or "from before," indicating a direct, inescapable confrontation or immediate proximity to the threat. Ḥărāvôth is the plural of "sword," signifying widespread, general combat, and the presence of many armed assailants. Swords represent close-quarters combat and lethal force.

• from the drawn sword (מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב נְטוּשָׁה, mippĕnē ḥerev nĕṭûshâ): The repetition of "sword" but in singular ḥerev with the adjective nĕṭûshâ (drawn, unsheathed) intensifies the threat. It moves from general warfare to the specific, imminent danger of a weapon ready for use, implying an individual's personal danger and readiness for violence.

• from the bent bow (וּמִפְּנֵי קֶשֶׁת דְּרוּכָה, ûmippĕnē qešeth dĕrûkhâ): Ûmippĕnē means "and from the face of." Qešeth means "bow," and dĕrûkhâ means "bent" or "strung," referring to a bow pulled taut and ready to shoot. This adds the danger of projectiles, long-range attack, and relentless pursuit, emphasizing that death can come from afar.

• and from the stress of battle (וּמִפְּנֵי כֹּבֶד מִלְחָמָה, ûmippĕnē ḵōḇeḏ milḥāmâ): Kōḇeḏ literally means "heaviness," implying a severe burden, grievousness, or overwhelming impact. Milḥāmâ means "war" or "battle." This phrase generalizes the specific weapon threats to encompass the psychological, emotional, and physical burden of total warfare, including chaos, noise, fear, and widespread destruction. It summarizes the overall crushing reality from which they are fleeing.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow": This triple emphasis on weapons (plural swords, singular ready sword, ready bow) uses literary parallelism and specific imagery to paint a graphic picture of overwhelming military aggression. It describes the immediate, physical threats, ranging from general combat to personal, poised violence. The repetition heightens the sense of danger and the totality of the armed assault.
  • "from the stress of battle": This final phrase transcends individual weapons to capture the holistic horror and weight of warfare. It signifies that the flight is not just from specific attacks, but from the unbearable, pervasive burden and chaos that battle imposes, a force that consumes everything in its path.

Isaiah 21 15 Bonus section

The specific mentioning of "Dedan" in the broader "Oracle Concerning Arabia" (Isa 21:13) grounds this prophecy in a concrete geographical and cultural setting. Dedan, along with Tema and Kedar, were significant Arabian tribes situated along crucial trade routes in the ancient world. These regions, often thought of as remote, were nevertheless integral to international commerce and thus frequently became targets of expansionist empires like Assyria. The image of the inhabitants of Tema offering water and bread to the Dedanite fugitives (Isa 21:14) reveals a profound understanding of desert hospitality and inter-tribal relationships. It highlights the humanitarian crisis brought about by the invasion, where even distant kin felt compelled to assist those displaced by the "stress of battle." This detail underscores a biblical theme of compassion and aid to the suffering, even in times of profound societal breakdown and judgment. The oracle ultimately conveys that divine judgments, while often executed through human means, impact nations regardless of their remoteness, signifying that all are under God's sovereign gaze.

Isaiah 21 15 Commentary

Isaiah 21:15 provides a stark, realistic depiction of war's terror, underscoring the reasons for the desperate flight mentioned previously in the chapter. It is not an abstract fear but a concrete and immediate threat from an aggressor nation. The prophecy for Arabia highlights the widespread instability of the ancient world, where no region was immune from conquest and suffering. The detailed mention of specific weapons (swords, drawn swords, bent bows) paints a visceral image of an army fully equipped and relentlessly pursuing its target, leaving a trail of devastation. The ultimate phrase, "from the stress of battle," succinctly encapsulates the entirety of the suffering—the exhaustion, the trauma, and the crushing reality of being caught in a violent conflict. This prophetic declaration serves not only as a historical forecast of Assyrian cruelty but also as a reminder of human vulnerability and the pervasive reach of judgment in a fallen world.