Isaiah 21:15
New International Version
They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.

New Living Translation
They have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and the terrors of battle.

English Standard Version
For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the press of battle.

Berean Standard Bible
For they flee from the sword—the sword that is drawn—from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.

King James Bible
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

New King James Version
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, From the bent bow, and from the distress of war.

New American Standard Bible
For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle.

NASB 1995
For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow And from the press of battle.

NASB 1977
For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, And from the press of battle.

Legacy Standard Bible
For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow And from the heaviness of battle.

Amplified Bible
For they have fled from the swords, From the drawn sword, from the bent bow And from the press of battle and grief of war.

Christian Standard Bible
For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For they have fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bow that is strung, and from the stress of battle.

American Standard Version
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

Contemporary English Version
They are worn out and weary from being chased by enemies with swords and arrows.

English Revised Version
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They flee from swords, from swords ready to kill, from bows ready to shoot, and from the thick of battle.

International Standard Version
For he has fled from swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle."

Majority Standard Bible
For they flee from the sword?the sword that is drawn?from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle.

NET Bible
For they flee from the swords--from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the battle.

New Heart English Bible
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.

Webster's Bible Translation
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

World English Bible
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the heat of battle.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For they fled from the face of destructions, "" From the face of an outstretched sword, "" And from the face of a trodden bow, "" And from the face of the grievousness of battle.

Young's Literal Translation
For from the face of destructions they fled, From the face of a stretched-out sword, And from the face of a trodden bow, And from the face of the grievousness of battle.

Smith's Literal Translation
For they fled from the face of the swords, the sword drawn out, and from the face of the bent bow, and from the face of the heaviness of war.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For they are fled from before the swords, from the sword that hung over them, from the bent bow, from the face of a grievous battle.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For they are fleeing before the face of swords, before the face of a sword hanging over them, before the face of a bent bow, before the face of a grievous battle.

New American Bible
For they have fled from the sword, from the drawn sword; From the taut bow, from the thick of battle.

New Revised Standard Version
For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow, and from the stress of battle.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For they have fled from the swords, from the drawn sword and from the bent bow and from the grievousness of war.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because they are scattered from before the sword and from before the point of a poisoned arrow, and from before the full bow, and from before the strength of war
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, And from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
meet the fugitives with bread, because of the multitude of the slain, and because of the multitude of them that lose their way, and because of the multitude of swords, and because of the multitude of bent bows, and because of the multitude of them that have fallen in war.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy Against Arabia
14Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food. 15For they flee from the sword— the sword that is drawn— from the bow that is bent, and from the stress of battle. 16For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 49:28-33
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated, this is what the LORD says: “Rise up, advance against Kedar, and destroy the people of the east! / They will take their tents and flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. They will take their camels for themselves. They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’ / Run! Escape quickly! Lie low, O residents of Hazor,” declares the LORD, “for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has drawn up a plan against you; he has devised a strategy against you. ...

Jeremiah 25:23-24
Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; / all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert;

Ezekiel 25:13-14
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword. / I will take My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will deal with Edom according to My anger and wrath. Then they will know My vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.’

Amos 1:13-15
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to enlarge their territory. / So I will kindle a fire in the walls of Rabbah to consume its citadels amid war cries on the day of battle and a violent wind on the day of tempest. / Their king will go into exile—he and his princes together,” says the LORD.

2 Kings 24:2
And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.

2 Chronicles 36:17
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,

Psalm 83:6-8
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, / of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. / Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah

Job 6:19-20
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it. / They are confounded because they had hoped; their arrival brings disappointment.

Genesis 25:14-16
Mishma, Dumah, Massa, / Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. / These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes.

Deuteronomy 2:4-5
and command the people: ‘You will pass through the territory of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir. They will be afraid of you, so you must be very careful. / Do not provoke them, for I will not give you any of their land, not even a footprint, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as his possession.

Matthew 2:13-15
When the Magi had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” / So he got up, took the Child and His mother by night, and withdrew to Egypt, / where he stayed until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Matthew 24:16-18
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Luke 21:21-22
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

Acts 8:1-4
And Saul was there, giving approval to Stephen’s death. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. / God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him. / But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison. ...

Acts 11:19
Meanwhile those scattered by the persecution that began with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the message only to Jews.


Treasury of Scripture

For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

from the swords.

Job 6:19,20
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them…

Jump to Previous
Battle Bent Bow Destructions Drawn Face Fled Flee Flight Grievousness Heat Press Sharp Stretched-Out Sword Swords Trodden Trouble War
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Battle Bent Bow Destructions Drawn Face Fled Flee Flight Grievousness Heat Press Sharp Stretched-Out Sword Swords Trodden Trouble War
Isaiah 21
1. The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people,
6. sees in a vision the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians.
11. Edom, scorning the prophet, is moved to repentance.
13. The set time of Arabia's calamity.














For they flee from the sword—
This phrase indicates a sense of urgency and desperation. In the context of Isaiah 21, the prophecy is directed towards the fall of Babylon, but this specific verse is part of an oracle concerning Arabia. The sword represents imminent danger and judgment. Historically, the sword is a common symbol of warfare and divine judgment throughout the Bible, as seen in passages like Ezekiel 21:9-10, where the sword is sharpened for slaughter. The fleeing suggests a people in distress, possibly the Dedanites or other Arabian tribes, who are escaping the impending invasion.

the sword that is drawn—
The drawn sword emphasizes readiness for battle and the immediacy of the threat. In biblical times, a drawn sword was a clear sign of impending conflict. This imagery is used in other scriptures, such as in Numbers 22:23, where Balaam's donkey sees the angel of the Lord with a drawn sword. It signifies that the threat is not just potential but active and present. The drawn sword can also symbolize God's judgment being executed, as seen in 1 Chronicles 21:16.

from the bow that is bent,
The bent bow represents preparation for attack, highlighting the tension and potential for violence. In ancient warfare, the bow was a primary weapon, and a bent bow indicates that it is ready to release its arrow. This imagery is used in Psalm 7:12, where God is depicted as a warrior who prepares His weapons against the wicked. The bow being bent suggests that the threat is not only from close combat but also from a distance, adding to the sense of inescapability.

and from the stress of battle.
The stress of battle conveys the chaos and fear associated with warfare. It reflects the psychological and physical toll on those involved. In the broader biblical narrative, battle often symbolizes spiritual warfare and the struggles faced by God's people. Ephesians 6:12 speaks of the spiritual battle against the forces of evil. The stress of battle here can also be seen as a metaphor for the trials and tribulations faced by believers, reminding them of the need for reliance on God's strength and protection.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
The prophet who authored the book, delivering messages from God to the people of Judah and surrounding nations.

2. Arabia
The region being addressed in this chapter, specifically the tribes of Dedan, Tema, and Kedar.

3. The Sword
Symbolic of impending judgment and warfare, representing the threat from invading forces.

4. The Bow
Another symbol of warfare, indicating the readiness and capability of the enemy.

5. The Stress of Battle
Describes the fear and urgency experienced by those fleeing from conflict.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Judgment
God's warnings through Isaiah remind us that divine judgment is real and inevitable for those who do not turn to Him.

The Urgency of Repentance
The imagery of fleeing from the sword and bow underscores the urgency with which we should approach repentance and turning back to God.

God's Sovereignty in Warfare
The passage illustrates that God is in control of nations and their destinies, using even warfare to accomplish His purposes.

Spiritual Preparedness
Just as the physical battle is imminent for the people in Isaiah's time, believers today must be spiritually prepared for the battles they face.

Trust in God's Protection
While the passage depicts fear and fleeing, believers are reminded to trust in God's protection and provision, as seen in other scriptures.(15) For they fled from the swords.--The fourfold repetition of the somewhat full form of the Hebrew preposition (literally, from the face of) seems as if intended to emphasise the several stages of retreat.

Verse 15. - For they fled; rather, they have fled. The Dedanites have been attacked with sword and bow, and have fled from their assailants. Probably the enemy was Assyria, but no trace of the war has been found on the Assyrian monuments.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they flee
נָדָ֑דוּ (nā·ḏā·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5074: To wave to and fro, to rove, flee, to drive away

from
מִפְּנֵ֥י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the sword,
חֲרָב֖וֹת (ḥă·rā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

the sword
חֶ֣רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

that is drawn,
נְטוּשָׁ֗ה (nə·ṭū·šāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 5203: To pound, smite, to disperse, to thrust off, down, out, upon

from
וּמִפְּנֵי֙ (ū·mip·pə·nê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the bow
קֶ֣שֶׁת (qe·šeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris

that is bent,
דְּרוּכָ֔ה (də·rū·ḵāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 1869: To tread, to walk, to string a, bow

and from
וּמִפְּנֵ֖י (ū·mip·pə·nê)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

the stress
כֹּ֥בֶד (kō·ḇeḏ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3514: Weight, multitude, vehemence

of battle.
מִלְחָמָֽה׃ (mil·ḥā·māh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4421: A battle, war


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 21:15 For they fled away from the swords (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 21:14
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