TRV
Translation
King James Version
And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
Complete Jewish Bible
Few of Kedar's valiant archers will be left. " ADONAI the God of Isra'el has spoken.
Berean Standard Bible
The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” For the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.
American Standard Version
and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.
World English Bible Messianic
and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken it.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
And the residue of the nomber of ye strong archers of the sonnes of Kedar shall be fewe: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it.
Young's Literal Translation
And the remnant of the number of bow-men, The mighty of the sons of Kedar are few, For Jehovah, God of Israel, hath spoken!'
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In the KJVVerse 18,053 of 31,102
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Commentary on Isaiah 21 verses 13–17
13 ¶ The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
14 The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
15 For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
17 And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
Arabia was a large country, that lay eastward and southward of the land of Canaan. Much of it was possessed by the posterity of Abraham. The Dedanim, here mentioned (Isa 21:13), descended from Dedan, Abraham's son by Keturah; the inhabitants of Tema and Kedar descended from Ishmael, Gen 25:3, Gen 25:13, Gen 25:15. The Arabians generally lived in tents, and kept cattle, were a hardy people, inured to labour; probably the Jews depended upon them as a sort of a wall between them and the more warlike eastern nations; and therefore, to alarm them, they shall hear the burden of Arabia, and see it sinking under its own burden.
I. A destroying army shall be brought upon them, with a sword, with a drawn sword, with a bow ready bent, and with all the grievousness of war, Isa 21:15. It is probable that the king of Assyria, in some of the marches of his formidable and victorious army, took Arabia in his way, and, meeting with little resistance, made an easy prey of them. The consideration of the grievousness of war should make us thankful for the blessings of peace.
II. The poor country people will hereby be forced to flee for shelter wherever they can find a place; so that the travelling companies of Dedanium, which used to keep the high roads with their caravans, shall be obliged to quit them and lodge in the forest in Arabia (Isa 21:13), and shall not have the wonted convenience of their own tents, poor and weather-beaten as they are.
III. They shall stand in need of refreshment, being ready to perish for want of it, in their flight from the invading army: "O you inhabitants of the land of Tema!" (who probably were next neighbours to the companies of Dedanim) "bring you water" (so the margin reads it) "to him that is thirsty, and prevent with your bread those that flee, for they are objects of your compassion; they do not wander for wandering sake, nor are they reduced to straits by any extravagance of their own, but they flee from the sword." Tema was a country where water was sometimes a scarce commodity (as we find, Job 6:19), and we may conclude it would be in a particular manner acceptable to these poor distressed refugees. Let us learn hence. 1. To look for distress ourselves. We know not what straits we may be brought into before we die. Those that live in cities may be forced to lodge in forests; and those may know the want of necessary food who now eat bread to the full. Our mountain stands not so strong but that it may be moved, rises not so high but that it may be scaled. These Arabians would the better bear these calamities because in their way of living they had used themselves to hardships. 2. To look with compassion upon those that are in distress, and with all cheerfulness to relieve them, not knowing how soon their case may be ours: "Bring water to those that are thirsty, and not only give bread to those that need and ask it, but prevent those with it that have need; give it to them unasked." Those that do so shall find it remembered to their praise, as (according to our reading) it is here remembered to the praise of the land of Tema that they did bring water to the thirsty and relieved even those that were on the falling side.
IV. All that which is the glory of Kedar shall vanish away and fail. Did they glory in their numerous herds and flocks? They shall all be driven away by the enemy. It seems they were famous about other nations for the use of the bow in battle; but their archers, instead of foiling the enemy, shall fall themselves; and the residue of their number, when they are reduced to a small number, shall be diminished (Isa 21:17); their mighty able-bodied men, and men of spirit too, shall become very few; for they, being most forward in the defence of their country, were most exposed, and fell first, either by the enemies' sword or into the enemies' hand. Note, Neither the skill of archers (though they be ever so good marksmen) nor the courage of mighty men can protect a people from the judgments of God, when they come with commission; they rather expose the undertakers. That is poor glory which will thus quickly come to nothing.
V. All this shall be done in a little time: "Within one year according to the years of a hireling (within one year precisely reckoned) this judgment shall come upon Kedar." If this fixing of the time be of no great use to us now (because we find not either when the prophecy was delivered or when it was accomplished), yet it might be of great use to the Arabians then, to awaken them to repentance, that, like the men of Nineveh, they might prevent the judgment when they were thus told it was just at the door. Or, when it begins to be fulfilled, the business shall be done, be begun and ended in one year's time. God, when he please, can do a great work in a little time.
VI. It is all ratified by the truth of God (Isa 21:16); "Thus hath the Lord said to me; you may take my word for it that it is his word;" and we may be sure no word of his shall fall to the ground. And again (Isa 21:17): The Lord God of Israel hath spoken it, as the God of Israel, in pursuance of his gracious designs concerning them; and we may be sure the strength of Israel will not lie.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 13–17. Public domain.
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JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Verse 13 onwards) Burden in Arabia. In the evening you will sleep in the thicket, in the paths of Dodanim. Bring water to the thirsty ones you encounter: you who live in the land of the South, offer bread to the ones fleeing. Because they have fled from the swords, from the menacing sword, from the drawn bow, from the severity of battle. For this is what the Lord says to me: In yet one year, like the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end, and the remaining number of archers, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few. For the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken. To me, who was searching and pondering for a long time about what Arabia was, to which the prophetic speech is directed, whether it should be understood as the Moabites, or the Ammonites, and the Edomites, and all the other regions which are now called Arabia, an opportunity is given in this Vision that follows: All the glory of Cedar will be taken away, and the remaining number of mighty archers from the sons of Cedar will be diminished (Isaiah 21:16, 17), to be understood as the Ishmaelites. The book of Genesis teaches that Ishmael, Cedar, and the Hagarites, who are called Saracens by a perverse name, were born. They inhabit the whole wilderness, about whom I think even the poet says: 'And the wandering Barcaeans far and wide' (Virg. Aeneid. IV); and the aforementioned volume, 'He shall dwell against the face of all his brothers' (Gen. XVI, 12): because the very wide desert stretches from India to Mauritania, and the Atlantic Ocean, which I believe sounds the title of Jeremiah: 'Against Cedar and against the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck' (Jer. XLIX, 28); and immediately follows: 'Thus says the Lord, Arise, and ascend to Cedar, and devastate the sons of the East: their tents, and their flocks shall they take, their skins and all their vessels, and they shall take camels for themselves' (Ibid., 29); and again: 'For Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has thought a thought against you, and has deliberated against you.' Arise and go up to a quiet and confidently dwelling nation, says the Lord: there are no gates, no bars for them: they dwell alone. And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil. And I will scatter them to every wind, them that are clipped on the sides: and I will bring destruction upon them from all their borders, says the Lord: and Achor shall be a habitation of dragons, desolate for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor son of man inhabit it. I have placed the entire prophecy and testimony of Jeremiah so that you may understand clearly what Cedar is. And consider how he specifically describes the people of the Ishmaelites, that they dwell in tents: they occupy the dwellings that night brings, they possess herds and flocks of camels: they do not have doors or bolts: for they do not live in cities, but dwell in the wilderness. And so, they were destroyed by the Babylonians, because they completely destroyed the city of Hazor, which was the metropolis of their people, even down to the ground: and yet, their herds of camels and flocks of sheep were captured, and their skins and tents were divided by lot: not all of their people were annihilated, for dromedary camels, numbering over a hundred thousand, are accustomed to flee through the vast wilderness in a single day. The glory of Cedar will be taken away, it says, and with the number of archers diminished, as they excel greatly in the art of war: the rest who have fled will remain. Because we have understood what Cedar is, and what Arabia is, and what Asor is, let us see what the prophet Isaiah says: 'You will sleep in the forest, at evening, on the paths of Dodanim.' The word Arab (), as we have often said, is used for evening, and Arabia, and raven, and plain, and the West. And because we translated it according to the LXX, 'you will sleep,' it can be interpreted as 'you will stay' or 'you will dwell,' which is called αὐλιθήσεσθε in Greek, and in Hebrew it is said 'Thalinu'. Moreover, he also turns to his close relatives and kinsmen. Thus, it is prophesied that now to the Jews, who were able to escape the siege of Babylon, they will cross over to the neighboring wilderness and settle in the solitude of Arabia on the journey that leads to their brothers. And again the conversation turns to the Ishmaelites, and he exhorts them to mercy: run, and bring water to your tired and endangered brothers, for they are thirsty with great fervor of the sun, and unless you help them, they will perish in the wilderness. And not only water, but also bring bread to the fugitives, so that your kindness may relieve those whom the siege has exhausted. At the same time, he explains the reason why he is giving these orders, saying: the Babylonians have fled, the bows of the Elamites have fled, a fierce battle has fled. Do not despise the unfortunate: your captivity will come quickly. For just as the year of a hired worker is swift and considers all labor to be short until he receives the desired wage, so all the glory of the sons of Cedar will be taken from you, and your arrows will be worn out, and only a small number of warriors will remain. Some people want to be taken from what is said, that even in one year, and every glory of Cedar will be taken away, not Babylonian captivity being proclaimed, about which Jeremiah also speaks, but of the Assyrians, who after one year of the devastation of Judah, have widely persecuted the Saracens. Moreover, that place which we have transferred: You who inhabit the land of the South, meet the fugitive with bread: and as if we read in the imperative mode on behalf of the Lord, they affirm that in Hebrew it can be read like this: You who inhabit the land of the South, met the fugitive with bread; just as when God said to them, when they met the thirsty, bring water, they would take away the bread with a hostile mind without water, in order to increase their thirst with food.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Isaiah
(Verse 16, 17.) For thus saith the Lord to me: Within one year, as the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away, and the residue of the number of archers of the mighty men of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it. Therefore I said to you: Run ye to meet with water, and with bread, them that flee from the face of the battle. For thus saith the Lord: The whole glory of Cedar shall be taken away, and there shall be nothing left of the number of the very strong bowmen of the children of Cedar. For the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it. And it shall come to pass in that day, that every glory of Cedar shall be brought to nothing, and the bow long shall be made weaker. And the number of them that bow themselves down shall be diminished, and they that remain shall be diminished: because the Lord hath spoken it. And the men that shall be left in it, shall be as the biting of a flesh eating moth: and they shall be as a spark among the trees, and as dry stubble: And they that were shall be as a burning in lime: they shall be burnt and devoured together, and there shall be none that shall deliver them. Expect therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth: patiently bearing till he receive the early and latter rain. Be you therefore also patient, and strengthen your hearts: for the coming of the Lord is at hand. For the Lord of all has spoken these things, and specifically the God of Israel, that is, the God who is perceived by those who have understanding.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Isaiah 21:17 delivers a stark and certain prophecy concerning the imminent downfall of Kedar, a formidable Arabian tribe renowned for its military prowess. This verse, part of a broader oracle against various nations, declares that the number of Kedar's skilled archers and mighty warriors will be drastically reduced, explicitly stating that this judgment is a direct decree from the LORD God of Israel, underscoring His absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and the unfailing certainty of His prophetic word.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Isaiah 21:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with force and clarity. Synecdoche is evident in the reference to "archers" and "mighty men," where these specific military components stand for the entire military strength and prowess of the Kedarite nation. Their diminishment thus signifies the complete collapse of Kedar's self-reliant power and national security. The entire prophecy against Kedar functions as a form of Foreshadowing, predicting a future event that will bring about their humiliation and downfall. Most significantly, the concluding phrase, "for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken [it]," functions as a powerful Divine Decree or Proclamation. This direct statement of divine authorship and authority removes any doubt about the certainty of the prophecy's fulfillment, transforming it from a mere prediction into an unalterable, divinely ordained reality. It emphasizes the absolute power of God's word to bring about what it declares, underscoring His sovereignty over all of creation and history.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 21:17 profoundly illustrates God's universal sovereignty, demonstrating that His dominion extends far beyond Israel to encompass all nations and peoples. The judgment against Kedar, a powerful and independent tribe, serves as a clear testament to the fact that no human power, military might, or national pride can ultimately stand against the divine will. This prophecy reinforces the biblical truth that God is the ultimate orchestrator of history, raising up and bringing down kingdoms according to His sovereign plan. It also powerfully affirms the absolute reliability and efficacy of God's prophetic word; what He declares, He will certainly bring to pass, regardless of the apparent strength or influence of those targeted. This certainty provides a bedrock of trust for believers, knowing that God's promises and warnings are equally sure, providing stability in a world of flux.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 21:17 offers timeless lessons for believers navigating a world often dominated by human power and ambition. Firstly, it calls us to place our ultimate trust not in the strength of nations, economic stability, military might, or even personal achievements, but in the unfailing word and sovereign hand of God. Just as Kedar's strength was diminished because the LORD had spoken it, so too are all earthly powers and human endeavors subject to His decree. This should cultivate a deep sense of humility within us, reminding us that any strength, wisdom, or success we possess is ultimately a transient gift from Him, and fleeting apart from His grace. Secondly, this prophecy provides immense comfort and assurance. In a world filled with uncertainty, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and seemingly insurmountable challenges, we can rest in the profound knowledge that God is actively involved in the affairs of all nations, orchestrating events to fulfill His eternal purposes. His word is reliable, His plans are unthwartable, and His ultimate victory is assured. This truth empowers us to live with courage, to pray fervently for our leaders and nations, and to faithfully pursue His kingdom, knowing that He is in absolute control, working all things according to His perfect will.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Who were the children of Kedar, and why were they significant?
Answer: The children of Kedar were a prominent and powerful nomadic Arab confederation, tracing their lineage back to Ishmael, Abraham's son, specifically through Ishmael's second son, Kedar (as mentioned in Genesis 25:13). They were culturally and economically significant due to their control over vital trade routes across the Arabian desert, their vast flocks of sheep and camels, and their renowned skill as archers and warriors. Their distinctive black tents were so iconic that they became a poetic symbol in ancient literature (e.g., Song of Solomon 1:5). Their military prowess and strategic location made them a formidable power in the ancient Near East, often interacting with and challenging the major empires of the day.
What does "shall be diminished" imply about Kedar's fate?
Answer: The phrase "shall be diminished" (Hebrew: mâʻaṭ) implies a significant and severe reduction in Kedar's numbers, particularly their fighting force, and consequently, their overall power and influence. It does not necessarily mean complete annihilation but rather a crippling blow that would lead to a severe weakening and loss of their former glory and strength. This reduction would have rendered them ineffective as a military or political force, stripping them of their pride and dominance. The prophecy suggests a decisive defeat that would cripple their ability to maintain their reputation as "mighty men" and "archers," leading to a state of insignificance compared to their previous stature.
Why did God pronounce judgment on Kedar, and what is the broader theological message?
Answer: While the specific reasons for God's judgment on Kedar are not explicitly detailed in Isaiah 21:17, the broader context of Isaiah's oracles against nations suggests that such judgments often stemmed from their pride, idolatry, oppression, or their opposition to God's people or His purposes. The theological message is profoundly clear: God is sovereign over all nations, not just Israel. He orchestrates the rise and fall of empires and peoples, demonstrating His absolute authority over human history. The concluding phrase, "for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken [it]," emphasizes the certainty and divine origin of this judgment, serving as a powerful reminder that God's word is infallible and will always be fulfilled, regardless of the apparent strength or autonomy of any earthly power. It underscores that all human power is ultimately subservient to divine decree.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 21:17, with its declaration of divine judgment against a powerful earthly kingdom and the absolute certainty of God's spoken word, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. The "diminishment" of Kedar's earthly power foreshadows the humbling of all human pride and the ultimate subjection of every earthly authority to the reign of God, a process supremely inaugurated and perfectly realized in Christ. While Kedar's fall was a specific historical event, it points to the broader truth that all human kingdoms, military might, and self-reliant strength are fleeting and will ultimately bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus, through His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, demonstrating that true power resides not in worldly might but in divine humility and sacrificial love. He is the one through whom God's word finds its "Yes" and "Amen", meaning all of God's promises and decrees, including those of judgment and sovereignty, are perfectly fulfilled in Him. The judgment on Kedar serves as a microcosm of the final judgment where every knee will eventually bow before Christ, acknowledging His supreme and eternal reign, and finding true security not in fleeting worldly strength, but in His everlasting kingdom.