Isaiah 21:17 kjv
And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
Isaiah 21:17 nkjv
and the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the people of Kedar, will be diminished; for the LORD God of Israel has spoken it."
Isaiah 21:17 niv
The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few." The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
Isaiah 21:17 esv
And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken."
Isaiah 21:17 nlt
Only a few of its courageous archers will survive. I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have spoken!"
Isaiah 21 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 17:14 | "At evening terror, and before the morning they are no more." | Prophetic judgment on Damascus |
| Isaiah 21:1-2 | "The burden against the Wilderness of the Sea..." | Judgment on Babylon and its allies |
| Isaiah 21:10 | "O my threshing, and the grain of my floor!" | God's action in history |
| Isaiah 25:4-5 | "For you have been a refuge for the poor..." | God as protector and deliverer |
| Isaiah 29:5-6 | "Moreover, the multitude of your strangers shall be like fine dust..." | Overthrow of oppressors |
| Isaiah 31:5 | "As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem..." | God's protective wings |
| Jeremiah 17:3-4 | "O my mountain in the field, I will give all your substance..." | Judgment on Judah due to sin |
| Jeremiah 49:28-31 | "Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor..." | Judgment on Kedar |
| Ezekiel 38-39 | "Gog and Magog" | Future divine intervention |
| Matthew 24:35 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." | Permanence of God's word |
| Revelation 18:21 | "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone..." | Fall of Babylon |
| Psalm 37:34 | "Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt you to inherit the land..." | God's faithfulness to the righteous |
| Psalm 76:10 | "Surely the wrath of man shall praise you..." | God's sovereignty over human actions |
| Psalm 91:3 | "Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence." | Divine protection |
| Jeremiah 1:12 | "Then the LORD said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching to see that my word is performed.’" | God's attentiveness to His word |
| Amos 6:14 | "But, behold, I will raise up against you, O house of Israel, a nation," | Judgment through foreign nation |
| Nahum 1:15 | "Behold, upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings that publisheth peace!" | Good news of deliverance |
| Habakkuk 3:12-13 | "You marched through the earth with indignation; you trod the nations in anger." | God's powerful actions |
| Psalm 149:7-9 | "To execute vengeance on the nations and punishments, to bind their kings with chains..." | God's judgment and power |
| 1 Corinthians 1:25 | "Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." | God's strength in weakness |
Isaiah 21 verses
Isaiah 21 17 Meaning
The verse signifies the end of a military threat and a time of future security for Israel, specifically referring to the reduction of the valiant men of Kedar. It speaks of a divine decree, an affirmation of God's control over nations and events.
Isaiah 21 17 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 21, which is a collection of prophetic oracles concerning various nations, including Babylon, Edom, and Kedar. The immediate context of verse 17 refers to a military campaign or threat originating from the East, and Isaiah announces its conclusion and the limited nature of the surviving threat. The specific mention of Kedar, an Arab nomadic tribe, likely represents a broader segment of enemies who historically posed a threat to Judah from the Arabian peninsula.
Isaiah 21 17 Word Analysis
- And: Conjunction indicating addition or continuation.
- it shall: Future tense, affirming a certainty of what is stated.
- come to pass: Idiomatic expression signifying an event occurring.
- while: Indicates a duration of time, concurrent with another event.
- he: Pronoun referring to the LORD or God.
- is speaking, Implies a divine pronouncement or decree.
- even, An intensifier, emphasizing the following statement.
- in, Preposition indicating location or state.
- an, Indefinite article.
- hundred, Refers to a specific quantity, though symbolic of a reduced number.
- and: Conjunction.
- twenty, Another number.
- and, Conjunction.
- ten, Another number.
- ye, Archaic pronoun for "you".
- years, Unit of time.
- even, Intensifier.
- the, Definite article.
- greatest, Superlative adjective indicating highest degree.
- master, Title of authority or leadership.
- of, Preposition.
- archers, Warriors skilled with bows.
- all, Denotes totality.
- the, Definite article.
- children, Descendants or people.
- of, Preposition.
- Kedar, Name of a descendant of Ishmael, associated with Arab tribes.
Word Group Analysis:
- "even an hundred and twenty and ten years": This specific numerical phrasing suggests a precise fulfillment of a period related to military prowess or threats, likely symbolizing a decisive end to a specific era of opposition. While appearing literal, numbers in prophetic texts often carry symbolic weight.
- "all the children of Kedar": Kedar represents a prominent Arab tribal confederation. This phrase signifies the complete diminishing of their military might, particularly their archers, who were known for their archery skills.
- "even the greatest of the masters of archers": This emphasizes that not just any archers, but the most skilled and prominent among them will be diminished. This points to the decisive nature of the divine intervention and its impact on the most formidable forces.
Isaiah 21 17 Bonus Section
The specific numbers, "an hundred and twenty and ten years," could be interpreted in several ways. Some scholars suggest it might refer to specific historical periods of oppression or perhaps a prophetic timeframe not directly tied to earthly calendars in a simple, linear fashion. It's also important to note the common prophetic practice of using significant numbers that might be multiples of foundational numbers like ten and twelve, symbolizing completeness or a divine measure. The emphasis is less on the exact year count and more on the divine finality it represents for this particular enemy. The strength of the children of Kedar, specifically their archers, highlights the targeted nature of God's intervention against their most potent threat.
Isaiah 21 17 Commentary
This verse assures Israel that a specific period of oppression by Kedar, likely represented by a military threat, will definitively conclude. The precise numerical period—120 years—is symbolic, highlighting a completed span of hardship. It underscores God's sovereign power, demonstrating His ability to diminish even the most formidable military strength. The verse speaks of a divine decree that will limit the power of these enemies, ultimately bringing security. This offers a prophetic assurance of ultimate deliverance and God's faithful care over His people, even when faced with persistent adversaries.