Isaiah 21:5 kjv
Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.
Isaiah 21:5 nkjv
Prepare the table, Set a watchman in the tower, Eat and drink. Arise, you princes, Anoint the shield!
Isaiah 21:5 niv
They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
Isaiah 21:5 esv
They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield!
Isaiah 21:5 nlt
Look! They are preparing a great feast.
They are spreading rugs for people to sit on.
Everyone is eating and drinking.
But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle.
You are being attacked!
Isaiah 21 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 21:5 | Prepare the table, set the watch, eat, drink... | Jer 6:14, 8:11 (False peace) |
| Isa 21:5 | Rise up, you princes, anoint the shield! | 1 Sam 17:41, 45 (Preparation for battle) |
| Isa 21:5 | Behold, all of them are in flight. | Jer 49:24 (Damascus fleeing) |
| Isa 21:5 | For thus has the Lord said to me, | Num 24:4 (Prophet of God) |
| Isa 21:5 | "Go, set a watchman... | Jer 6:17 (Watchman's role) |
| Isa 21:5 | let him tell what he sees." | Hab 2:1 (Stand at watchpost) |
| Isa 21:5 | And when he saw a troop... | Isa 13:8 (Pain and fear) |
| Isa 21:5 | a chariot with a pair of horsemen... | Jer 51:30 (Babylonian army) |
| Isa 21:5 | a troop of cavalry, a troop of archers... | Jer 50:29 (Judgment on Babylon) |
| Isa 21:5 | Hear, O earth, and all that is in it! | Psa 24:1 (Lord's dominion) |
| Isa 21:5 | "Let us depart and see the downfall of Babylon." | Rev 18:20 (Joy over Babylon's fall) |
| Isa 21:5 | Then Jacob will go to his dwelling. | Gen 49:1 (Jacob blessing his sons) |
| Isa 21:5 | For the land of Chaldea was given to them... | Jer 25:12 (Babylon's punishment) |
| Isa 21:5 | The prophecy against Babylon. | Jer 50-51 (Full prophecy) |
| Isa 21:5 | They were preparing for the banquet... | Luke 17:29 (Lot's time) |
| Isa 21:5 | The watchmen are called to their duty. | Eze 33:6 (Watchman's warning) |
| Isa 21:5 | Their enemies are coming with speed. | Jer 5:6 (Swiftness of the enemy) |
| Isa 21:5 | The LORD's voice cries to the city. | Isa 18:3 (Trumpet blast) |
| Isa 21:5 | The call to attention. | Hab 1:2 (Cry to the Lord) |
| Isa 21:5 | Judgment is announced. | Rev 6:17 (Day of wrath) |
| Isa 21:5 | The watchers are faithful. | Psa 121:4 (God slumbers not) |
Isaiah 21 verses
Isaiah 21 5 Meaning
The verse describes the vigilance and readiness of watchers in the night who discern approaching danger. It speaks to a spiritual watchfulness that anticipates and understands God's judgment or intervention.
Isaiah 21 5 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the "Desert of the Sea," which is widely interpreted as a prophecy against Babylon. The surrounding verses depict a scene of alarm and terror as the armies of Media and Persia advance. Babylon, seemingly secure and indulging in revelry, is suddenly plunged into chaos. The watchmen are positioned to observe this unfolding disaster and report its arrival. Historically, this prophecy would have resonated with the people of Judah as they anticipated the fall of their oppressor, Babylon, which eventually happened in 539 BC.
Isaiah 21 5 Word Analysis
- “Prepare” (Mekono, H3559): To make ready, establish, equip. Refers to preparing for action, not peace.
- “the table” (Shulḥan, H7979): Literally a table, but here it evokes a banquet or feast, highlighting the unthinking indulgence of Babylon in the face of impending doom.
- “set the watch” (Simum qovath, H7760, H6039): To appoint or station a watch or guard. Implies alertness and the task of observation.
- “eat, drink” (Oklu, shathu, G2068, G4070): From New Testament, used here as thematic parallels for indulging in earthly pleasures. In Isaiah, the Hebrew implies consuming and drinking.
- “Rise up, O princes” (Qumu sarim, H6965, H8269): A command for leaders to take immediate action, to rouse themselves for defense.
- “anoint the shield” (Mishuḥu tsinnah, H4886, H6793): Anointing shields with oil was a practice to preserve the metal from rust and keep the leather parts supple, preparing for battle.
- “Behold, all of them are in flight” (Rə'eh 'amuthu vənath, H7200, H3644): The watchers observe that the enemy forces are fleeing in disarray, a potential indication of internal panic or an ordered retreat prior to the main assault, or perhaps a misreading by the watchers. Scholars debate the exact meaning here.
Isaiah 21 5 Bonus Section
The passage presents a vivid scene of transition from perceived security to imminent destruction. The juxtaposition of feasting and military preparedness highlights the spiritual blindness of those under judgment. The role of the watchman is crucial, echoing the responsibility of prophets and believers to discern spiritual realities and warn of impending danger, both national and personal. The "preparing of the table" can also symbolize a spiritual readiness for a divine encounter, either in judgment or in deliverance. The rapid assembly of enemy forces emphasizes that God's judgment often comes swiftly and without warning to the complacent.
Isaiah 21 5 Commentary
The verse contrasts Babylon's self-absorbed revelry with the urgent preparations for battle. While the Babylonian leaders are focused on feasts and apparent security, God commands readiness for defense, observing the swift movements of the enemy. The watchmen are tasked with discerning and reporting these movements. The call to "eat, drink" signifies a deadly complacency, a blindness to the approaching judgment that God's people are meant to perceive. This imagery underscores the swiftness and certainty of God's judgment upon arrogant nations.