Isaiah 21:12

The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

The watchman {H8104} said {H559}, The morning {H1242} cometh {H857}, and also the night {H3915}: if ye will enquire {H1158}, enquire {H1158} ye: return {H7725}, come {H857}.

The watchman answers: "Morning is coming, but also the night. If you want to ask, ask! Come back again!"

The watchman replies, “Morning has come, but also the night. If you would inquire, then inquire. Come back yet again.”

The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.

Isaiah 21:12 is part of a brief, enigmatic prophecy known as the "Burden of Dumah," likely referring to Edom, a neighboring nation to Israel. This verse captures a dialogue with a watchman, reflecting a people's anxious inquiry about the duration of their distress or the nature of the future.

Context

The preceding verse (Isaiah 21:11) sets the scene, with a voice crying out from Seir (Mount Seir, associated with Edom), asking the watchman about the night. The "night" here symbolizes a period of oppression, darkness, or uncertainty. The watchman's response in verse 12 is profound and somewhat cryptic, indicating a cyclical nature of events rather than a definitive end to troubles. This oracle speaks to the volatile geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East, where nations like Edom faced threats from rising empires such as Assyria and Babylon.

Key Themes

  • Uncertainty and Ambiguity: The watchman's reply, "The morning cometh, and also the night," suggests that periods of relief or dawn will be followed by renewed darkness or challenges. It's a stark reminder that even moments of hope can be fleeting, and true peace might not be immediate or permanent in earthly terms.
  • Divine Invitation to Seek: The urgent call, "if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come," is a direct invitation from God, through the prophet, for the people to earnestly seek His will and guidance. It implies that despite the ambiguous future, there is always an opportunity to turn towards the Lord for deeper understanding or salvation. This echoes calls for discernment seen elsewhere in scripture, such as when Jeremiah speaks of seeking God with all the heart.
  • Repentance and Turning: The phrase "return, come" carries a strong connotation of repentance (Hebrew: shuvu, often meaning "turn back" or "repent"). It's an appeal for a change of heart and direction, urging the people to come back to God, suggesting that their current predicament might be linked to their spiritual state. This theme of returning to the Lord is central to prophetic literature, as seen in Isaiah 55:7 where the wicked are called to return.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "watchman" is shomer (שׁוֹמֵר), emphasizing someone who observes, guards, or keeps watch, often from a high vantage point like a city wall. In a prophetic sense, a watchman is a messenger, responsible for warning the people, as highlighted in Ezekiel 33:6 regarding the watchman's responsibility. The repetitive "enquire ye: enquire ye" uses the Hebrew verb sha'al (שָׁאַל), which means to ask, consult, or seek. The repetition intensifies the urgency and sincerity required for the inquiry. The final phrase, "return, come," combines shuvu (שׁוּבוּ - return, turn back) and bo'u (בֹּאוּ - come), forming a direct and active invitation to change direction and approach God.

Practical Application

Isaiah 21:12 offers timeless wisdom for individuals and communities facing uncertain times. It reminds us that life often presents a mix of "morning" (hope, relief) and "night" (challenges, difficulties). Rather than despairing in ambiguity, we are called to actively "enquire" of God, seeking His wisdom and guidance through prayer and His Word. Furthermore, the command to "return, come" serves as a perpetual invitation to repentance and a deeper relationship with Him. In every season, especially those marked by confusion or distress, the Lord calls us to draw near and seek His truth.

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.

  • Acts 17:30

    And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

  • Acts 17:32

    ¶ And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this [matter].

  • Acts 2:37

    ¶ Now when they heard [this], they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?

  • Acts 2:38

    Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

  • Ezekiel 7:10

    Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.

  • Acts 17:19

    And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, [is]?

  • Acts 17:20

    For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

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