Isaiah 22:6 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Isaiah 22:6 kjv
And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.
Isaiah 22:6 nkjv
Elam bore the quiver With chariots of men and horsemen, And Kir uncovered the shield.
Isaiah 22:6 niv
Elam takes up the quiver, with her charioteers and horses; Kir uncovers the shield.
Isaiah 22:6 esv
And Elam bore the quiver with chariots and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield.
Isaiah 22:6 nlt
Elamites are the archers,
with their chariots and charioteers.
The men of Kir hold up the shields.
Isaiah 22 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 10:5-6 | "Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger... I send him against a godless nation..." | God uses foreign nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Isa 21:2 | "Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media..." | Elam identified as a besieging power, showing military might. |
| Isa 45:1 | "Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus...to subdue nations before him..." | God uses even pagan kings for His divine plan. |
| Jer 25:9 | "Behold, I will send and take all the tribes of the north... Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and bring them against this land..." | Foreign powers as "servants" in divine judgment. |
| Hab 1:6-8 | "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth..." | God uses fearsome nations for judgment. |
| Zeph 3:6 | "I have cut off nations; their strongholds are destroyed..." | God's power to use and bring down nations. |
| Amos 1:5 | "And the people of Aram shall go into exile to Kir..." | Mentions Kir as a place of exile or origin of people. |
| 2 Kgs 16:9 | "...King of Assyria went up against Damascus and took it, carried its people captive to Kir..." | Kir is a known location for exile and population movements. |
| Gen 14:1, 9 | "Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam..." | Elam mentioned as an ancient, powerful kingdom. |
| Jer 49:35-37 | "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the mainstay of their might... and I will bring upon Elam the four winds..." | Prophecy against Elam, confirming their martial renown (bow). |
| Ezek 32:24-25 | "There is Elam and all her multitude about her grave... all of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword..." | Elam mentioned among those fallen by the sword in Sheol. |
| Ps 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." | Contrast human reliance on military might with divine trust. |
| Ps 127:5 | "...Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them!" | Quiver as a symbol of readiness or abundant resource. |
| Job 39:21-25 | "He paws in the valley and exults in his strength... At the trumpet blast he says 'Aha!' He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting." | Describes the might and readiness of horses/horsemen in battle. |
| 1 Kgs 10:26 | "And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen; he had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen..." | Significance of chariots and horsemen as military power. |
| Hos 1:7 | "...I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen." | God's salvation is not by human military might. |
| Zech 9:10 | "I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem..." | Prophecy of peace, where traditional instruments of war are removed. |
| Eph 6:16 | "In all circumstances take up the shield of faith..." | Metaphorical use of a shield as protection. |
| 1 Sam 17:7, 41 | "The shaft of his spear was like a weaver's beam... and a shield-bearer went before him." | Describes the shield-bearer accompanying a warrior, ready for battle. |
| Neh 4:16 | "...and the half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore breastplates..." | Preparing with defensive and offensive weaponry for defense. |
| Joel 2:4-5 | "Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; and like war horses they run... like warriors they mount the wall..." | Describes a mighty, advancing army with cavalry-like swiftness. |
| Jer 6:22-23 | "Behold, a people is coming from the north country... They grasp bow and javelin; they are cruel and have no mercy..." | Describes a powerful, well-armed, and ruthless invading force. |
| Isa 37:24 | "...With my chariots I have gone up to the heights of the mountains..." | The power of invading forces using chariots in challenging terrains. |
| Acts 2:9 | "Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia..." | Elamites as a distinct group, highlighting their broad geographical presence. |
| Rev 9:9 | "They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the sound of many chariots with horses rushing into battle." | Symbolism of terrifying military force (chariots and horses). |
Isaiah 22 verses
Isaiah 22 6 meaning
Isaiah 22:6 vividly describes the approaching formidable enemy forces against Jerusalem. It specifically details the military contingents of Elam, known for its skilled archers and cavalry, and Kir, known for its shielded infantry, making ready for war. This verse signifies the multi-ethnic and militarily powerful composition of the army God uses as an instrument of judgment against Jerusalem, highlighting the severe and inevitable nature of the impending siege.
Isaiah 22 6 Context
Isaiah chapter 22 is commonly referred to as "The Oracle Concerning the Valley of Vision," which is a poetic name for Jerusalem. Unlike other oracles of lament, this one castigates the people of Jerusalem for their reckless revelry and self-sufficient spirit in the face of imminent and undeniable danger. Instead of mourning, repenting, or trusting God when an invading army is at their gates, they are shown celebrating as if they have already won, eating and drinking, proclaiming, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!" (Isa 22:13).
Verse 6 falls within the section describing the external threat (22:6-8), which clarifies why such a response from Jerusalem is so inappropriate. The prophecy likely refers to the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib in 701 BC. The mention of specific formidable military components—archers, cavalry, and shielded infantry—from distant lands (Elam and Kir) underscores the international scope and terrifying power of the invading army. These nations were either integral parts of the Assyrian military machine or were tribute-paying allies marshaled for its campaigns, illustrating the extensive reach of the empire chosen by God to execute His judgment.
Isaiah 22 6 Word analysis
- And Elam (וְעֵילָם -
və‘êylām): The conjunctive "And" links this specific detail to the broader description of the approaching crisis.‘Êylām(Elam) was an ancient civilization located to the east of Mesopotamia, in what is now southwestern Iran. Renowned historically for their highly skilled archers and strong military, their inclusion signals a fearsome component of the attacking army. Their prowess with the bow was legendary in the ancient Near East, as also noted in Jeremiah 49:35. - bore (נָשָׂא -
nāśā’): The Hebrew verb means "to lift, carry, bear." Here, it indicates not merely possession but the active wielding or preparation of the specified weaponry. Elam "bore" in the sense of bringing forth and deploying its characteristic military assets for battle. - the quiver (אַשְׁפָּה -
‘ashpah): A container for arrows. This definite article specifies that it's "the" characteristic quiver, emphasizing Elam's identity as archers. It represents the formidable offensive capacity associated with Elam. - with chariots of men (בְּרֶכֶב אָדָם -
bərek̄eb ‘ādām):bəmeans "with" or "by means of."rekebrefers to "chariots" or "chariotry."‘ādāmmeans "man/men" or "mankind." This phrase could refer to chariots carrying men (soldiers) or a combination of chariots and infantrymen, highlighting mobility and coordinated combat units. Chariots were ancient "tanks," symbolizing power, speed, and strategic might in warfare. - and horsemen (פָּרָשִׁים -
pārāšîm): The plural for "horsemen" or "cavalry." This refers to soldiers mounted on horses, renowned for their swiftness and ability to flank and harass enemy lines. Together with chariots, they represented the mobile, elite striking force of ancient armies. - and Kir (וְקִיר -
vəqîr): Another specific geopolitical entity. Kir is less definitively located than Elam, often associated with a region from which the Arameans were exiled (Amos 1:5; 2 Kgs 16:9). Its presence signifies an additional, distinct component of the multinational attacking force, possibly an infantry unit. Its origin might indicate a nomadic or mercenary group forced into service, reinforcing the vast reach of the invading power. - uncovered (חָשַׂף -
ḥāsap̄): The verb means "to bare, expose, reveal, or draw forth." In this military context, it conveys the active preparation or deployment of the shield for battle—not just possessing it, but making it ready for action. It's an action verb depicting the imminence of the conflict. - the shield (מָגֵן -
māgēn): A piece of defensive armor, typically used by infantry. Its uncovering for battle suggests a phalanx or close-combat infantry component, ready to engage in direct confrontation and defense.māgēncould refer to various types of shields, often large, providing significant protection.
Isaiah 22 6 Bonus section
The specific inclusion of "Elam" in this prophecy might also subtly allude to later Persian (Achaemenid) military might, as Elam was later absorbed into the Persian Empire and their archery tradition continued. This can offer a potential future dimension to the "Valley of Vision" prophecy beyond the immediate Assyrian threat, possibly even hinting at later interventions and destructions Jerusalem would face, always by a diverse collection of peoples serving a larger divine plan. This verse underscores God's intricate orchestration of history and geopolitics, where even seemingly distant or unlikely powers are leveraged to fulfill His purposes.
Isaiah 22 6 Commentary
Isaiah 22:6 portrays a terrifying picture of the diverse and formidable army gathered to execute God's judgment on Jerusalem. The explicit naming of Elam, known for its expert archers and mobile cavalry (chariots and horsemen), highlights a fast, agile, and deadly offensive capability. The addition of Kir, whose soldiers "uncovered the shield," indicates a prepared and stalwart infantry component, capable of sustained ground combat and siege operations. This strategic description not only conveys the sheer military strength and multinational composition of the enemy (likely the Assyrians drawing upon their imperial forces) but also underscores the complete inadequacy of Jerusalem's self-assured merriment. The meticulous detail about the types of military units from specific, fearsome regions serves to heighten the sense of dread and to demonstrate that this is not a random skirmish, but a divinely orchestrated, comprehensive assault. It exposes the folly of trusting in human strength or political alliances, implicitly challenging Judah to instead look to the Lord for deliverance, even in such overwhelming circumstances. The presence of these named foreign contingents underscores the breadth of God's sovereignty, as He uses even pagan nations as instruments of His righteous justice.