Isaiah 21:10

O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

O my threshing {H4098}, and the corn {H1121} of my floor {H1637}: that which I have heard {H8085} of the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, the God {H430} of Israel {H3478}, have I declared {H5046} unto you.

My people, who have been threshed, grain trodden down on my threshing-floor: I am telling you what I have heard from ADONAI-Tzva'ot, the God of Isra'el.

O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.

O thou my threshing, and the grain of my floor! that which I have heard from Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

Isaiah 21:10 (KJV) stands as a powerful concluding statement to a vivid prophetic oracle, primarily concerning the fall of ancient Babylon. In this verse, the prophet Isaiah identifies deeply with the message he has been given by God, emphasizing its divine origin and his role as a faithful messenger.

Context of Isaiah 21:10

Chapter 21 of Isaiah contains a series of "burdens" or pronouncements of judgment against various nations. The first and most extensive of these is the "burden of the desert of the sea" (Isaiah 21:1), which vividly foretells the swift and devastating fall of Babylon. Isaiah describes a vision of intense dread and sorrow, seeing the city besieged and its idols broken (Isaiah 21:9). Verse 10 serves as the prophet's personal reflection and affirmation at the close of this particular oracle, particularly the one against Babylon, before moving on to prophecies concerning Edom and Arabia.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The phrase "O my threshing, and the corn of my floor" uses powerful agricultural imagery. "Threshing" was the process of separating grain from chaff, often done by trampling or beating. In biblical prophecy, this frequently symbolizes a process of severe judgment, purification, or affliction (e.g., Jeremiah 51:33 speaks of Babylon as a threshing floor). Isaiah identifies with the people or nations undergoing this intense process, perhaps feeling the weight of the divine judgment he is witnessing in his vision. This highlights God's absolute sovereignty over nations and their destinies.
  • Prophetic Authority and Fidelity: The latter part of the verse, "that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you," underscores the divine origin of Isaiah's message. He is not speaking his own words or opinions but faithfully relaying what he has received directly from God. This affirms the authenticity and authority of his prophecy, much like Jeremiah 1:9 where God puts His words in the prophet's mouth, reminding the audience that it is God's word, not man's.
  • God's Unwavering Character: By identifying God as "the LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth), Isaiah emphasizes His supreme power and authority over all creation and armies. This title often appears in contexts of God's majesty and power, such as in Isaiah 6:3. Coupled with "the God of Israel," it reminds the reader of God's covenant faithfulness to His people, even as He executes judgment on others. This dual identity underscores God's justice and His redemptive plan.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "threshing" (מְדֻשָׁה, medushah) and "corn of my floor" (בֶּן־גָּרְנִי, ben-gorni, literally "son of my threshing floor") vividly evoke the agricultural process. This imagery connects the prophetic message to a familiar, everyday experience, making the concept of divine judgment tangible. The prophet's use of "my" indicates a profound personal connection or empathy with the subject of the prophecy, as if the judgment is being personally experienced or witnessed by him.

Practical Application

Isaiah 21:10 reminds us of several timeless truths. Firstly, God is sovereign over all nations and history; His plans will ultimately prevail. Secondly, those who declare God's truth are merely messengers, called to faithfully communicate what they have heard from Him, not to invent their own messages. This verse encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate justice and to recognize the importance of His Word. Just as Isaiah declared what he heard, we are called to discern and live by God's revealed truth, understanding that His judgments and His promises are sure.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 51:33

    For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon [is] like a threshingfloor, [it is] time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.

  • Micah 4:13

    Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.

  • Isaiah 41:15

    Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat [them] small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

  • Isaiah 41:16

    Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, [and] shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 13:7

    Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

  • Ezekiel 3:17

    Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

  • Ezekiel 3:19

    Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

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