Isaiah 21 2

Isaiah 21:2 kjv

A grievous 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 21:2 nkjv

A distressing vision is declared to me; The treacherous dealer deals treacherously, And the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All its sighing I have made to cease.

Isaiah 21:2 niv

A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.

Isaiah 21:2 esv

A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.

Isaiah 21:2 nlt

I see a terrifying vision:
I see the betrayer betraying,
the destroyer destroying.
Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes,
attack and lay siege.
I will make an end
to all the groaning Babylon caused.

Isaiah 21 verses

Isaiah 21 2 Meaning

The verse describes a dire prophecy concerning the devastation of a powerful enemy, likely Babylon. It presents a vision of destruction so complete that the ravaged land itself appears to lament. The enemies are characterized as "cruel," depicting a brutal and oppressive force.

Isaiah 21 2 Context

Chapter 21 of Isaiah acts as a collection of oracle pronouncements against various nations. Verse 2 specifically focuses on a vision of impending doom for a hostile empire, identified by scholars and commentators as likely Babylon, given the references to Elam and Media as the instruments of its destruction. The vision describes a brutal invasion where the enemy inflicts severe damage and exploitation. This passage reflects God's judgment against oppressive powers and assures His people of eventual deliverance through divine intervention, using contemporary geopolitical powers as agents of that judgment. The message provides both a warning and a promise of ultimate victory for those who trust in the LORD.

Isaiah 21 2 Word Analysis

• "A": Indefinite article, indicating a singular occurrence or instance of the vision.
• "hard": Refers to something severe, grievous, or difficult to endure.
• "vision": A divine disclosure, an unveiled reality perceived supernaturally.
• "has": Present perfect tense, indicating an action completed in the past with present relevance.
• "been": Participle of "to be," forming the passive voice.
• "shown": Revealed or presented clearly.
• "to": Preposition indicating direction or recipient.
• "me": The prophet Isaiah, the recipient of the revelation.
• "the": Definite article, specifying a particular action or entity.
• "treacherous": Deceitful, faithless, acting with betrayal.
• "deal": This could refer to an alliance, a conspiracy, or the act of dealing (doing business/making pacts).
• "is": Verb "to be," indicating existence or state.
• "dealt": Handled, enacted, or concluded. The past participle emphasizes the definitive nature of the action.
• "and": Conjunction, connecting two clauses or ideas.
• "the": Definite article.
• "devastator": One who brings ruin, destruction, or devastation.
• "devastates": Present tense, indicating a continuous or habitual action of destruction by this force.
• "Elam!": A specific nation, East of Babylon, known for its military prowess. Addressed directly.
• "Go": Imperative verb, commanding movement.
• "up": Indicates ascent, often used for mobilizing an army or making a strategic move.
• "O": Exclamation, directly addressing Elam.
• "Medea": Refers to the Medes, another nation instrumental in the downfall of Babylon.
• "besiege": To surround a place, typically a town or city, with hostile forces.
• "I": Refers to God.
• "have": Auxiliary verb forming the perfect tense.
• "made": Caused or brought about.
• "an": Indefinite article.
• "end": Conclusion, finality, cessation.
• "of": Preposition indicating possession or relationship.
• "her": Pronoun referring to the nation or entity being destroyed (Babylon).
• "groaning": Expression of pain, sorrow, or suffering.
• "has": Present perfect tense.
• "ceased": Come to an end, stopped.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "A hard vision has been shown to me": This sets the tone of divine revelation; the content is distressing and severe, indicating a significant negative event. It implies God is not hiding His judgment but is revealing it.
• "the treacherous deal is dealt": This suggests an act of perfidy or a deceptive agreement is being executed. It points to the unrighteous actions of the condemned nation that precede or accompany its downfall.
• "and the devastator devastates": This parallelism emphasizes the violent and destructive nature of the enemy. The repetition highlights the severity of the coming ruin.
• "Elam! Go up; Medea! Besiege": This identifies the specific instruments of God's judgment. Elam and Media were historically powerful groups that later formed part of the coalition that conquered Babylon. The command signifies God's orchestration of these forces.
• "I have made an end of her groaning has ceased": This indicates the finality of the destruction. "Her groaning" might refer to the oppression the enemy inflicted on others, which ceases with its downfall, or it could be the groaning of the devastated entity itself, now silenced in death or defeat. Given the context of destruction, the latter is more probable, indicating complete ruin. However, some interpretations suggest it refers to the cessation of the oppressor's victims' cries due to the destruction of the oppressor. The most coherent understanding points to the finality of Babylon's plight, silencing any future 'groaning' it would make in triumph or continued oppression.

Isaiah 21 2 Bonus Section

The term "devastator" in Hebrew (shoded) implies someone who oppresses, spoils, and lays waste. This prophetic language is often employed by Isaiah to signify God's righteous anger against injustice and violence perpetuated by human empires. The vision presented here can be understood as a "word of the desert of the sea" (as it is referred to in verse 1), symbolizing a powerful and tumultuous force of destruction, much like a surging sea that inundates and destroys the land. This imagery suggests chaos and an overwhelming force unleashed upon the guilty.

Isaiah 21 2 Commentary

This verse portrays a prophetic vision of absolute destruction directed against an oppressive nation, vividly illustrating divine retribution. The use of specific nations, Elam and Media, as instruments of judgment highlights God's sovereignty over all nations and His ability to utilize various powers to fulfill His purposes. The stark imagery of a "treacherous deal" being "dealt" and the "devastator" continuing to "devastate" underscores the intense suffering that precedes the final cessation of all suffering—the utter downfall of the enemy. It communicates that God's judgment is thorough and conclusive, bringing an end to injustice. This judgment is not arbitrary but a consequence of the nation's own destructive and deceitful actions.