Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused. New Living Translation I see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused. English Standard Version A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end. Berean Standard Bible A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.” King James Bible A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. New King James Version A distressing vision is declared to me; The treacherous dealer deals treacherously, And the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam! Besiege, O Media! All its sighing I have made to cease. New American Standard Bible A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have put an end to all the groaning she has caused. NASB 1995 A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused. NASB 1977 A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused. Legacy Standard Bible A harsh vision has been declared to me; The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media; I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused. Amplified Bible A harsh vision has been shown to me; The treacherous one deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam! Lay siege, Media! All the groaning [caused by Babylon’s ruthless oppressions] I [the LORD] have brought to an end. Christian Standard Bible A troubling vision is declared to me: “The treacherous one acts treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Advance, Elam! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning.” Holman Christian Standard Bible A troubling vision is declared to me:” The treacherous one acts treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Advance, Elam! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all her groaning.” American Standard Version A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous man dealeth treacherously, and the destroyer destroyeth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Contemporary English Version What a horrible vision was shown to me--a vision of betrayal and destruction. Tell Elam and Media to surround and attack the Babylonians. The Lord has sworn to end the suffering they caused. English Revised Version A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. GOD'S WORD® Translation I was shown a harsh vision. The traitor betrays. The destroyer destroys. Go to war, Elam! Surround them, Media! I will put an end to all the groaning. Good News Translation I have seen a vision of cruel events, a vision of betrayal and destruction. Army of Elam, attack! Army of Media, lay siege to the cities! God will put an end to the suffering which Babylon has caused. International Standard Version A dire vision has been announced to me: the traitor betrays, and the plunderer takes loot. Get up, Elam! Attack, Media! I am putting a stop to all the groaning she has caused. Majority Standard Bible A dire vision is declared to me: ?The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.? NET Bible I have received a distressing message: "The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning!" New Heart English Bible A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack. I have stopped all of Media's sighing. Webster's Bible Translation A grievous vision is declared to me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler plundereth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all her sighing have I made to cease. World English Bible A grievous vision is declared to me. The treacherous man deals treacherously, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, Elam; attack! I have stopped all of Media’s sighing. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionA hard vision has been declared to me, "" The treacherous dealer is dealing treacherously, "" And the destroyer is destroying. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Media, "" I have caused all its sighing to cease. Young's Literal Translation A hard vision hath been declared to me, The treacherous dealer is dealing treacherously, And the destroyer is destroying. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Media, All its sighing I have caused to cease. Smith's Literal Translation A hard vision was announced to me: The spoiler spoiled, and he laying waste, laid waste. Go up, O Elam: press, O Media; all her sighing I caused to cease. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleA grievous vision is told me: he that is unfaithful dealeth unfaithfully : and he that is a spoiler, spoileth. Go up, O Elam, besiege, O Mede: I have made all the mourning thereof to cease. Catholic Public Domain Version A difficult vision has been announced to me: he who is unbelieving, he acts unfaithfully, and he who is a plunderer, he devastates. Ascend, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I have caused all its mourning to cease. New American Bible A harsh vision has been announced to me: “The traitor betrays, the despoiler spoils. Go up, O Elam; besiege, O Media; put an end to all its groaning!” New Revised Standard Version A stern vision is told to me; the betrayer betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam, lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleA grievous vision is declared to me: the oppressor oppresses, and the plunderer plunders. Go up, O Elam, and the mountains of Media; all the sighing thereof I have made to cease. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated A hard vision appeared to us: an oppressor oppresses and a plunderer plunders. Go up Eelam and the mountains of Media, and I ended all its groaning OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917A grievous vision is declared unto me: 'The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam! besiege, O Media! All the sighing thereof have I made to cease.' Brenton Septuagint Translation so a fearful and a grievous vision was declared to me: he that is treacherous deals treacherously, the transgressor transgresses. The Elamites are upon me, and the ambassadors of the Persians come against me: now will I groan and comfort myself. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Babylon is Fallen1This is the burden against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the Negev, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror. 2A dire vision is declared to me: “The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys. Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media! I will put an end to all her groaning.” 3Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.… Cross References Jeremiah 51:11 Sharpen the arrows! Fill the quivers! The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His plan is aimed at Babylon to destroy her, for it is the vengeance of the LORD—vengeance for His temple. Jeremiah 50:9 For behold, I stir up and bring against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the land of the north. They will line up against her; from the north she will be captured. Their arrows will be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed. Revelation 18:2 And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast. Revelation 17:16-17 And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. / For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. Jeremiah 51:28 Prepare the nations for battle against her—the kings of the Medes, their governors and all their officials, and all the lands they rule. Jeremiah 50:41-42 Behold, an army is coming from the north; a great nation and many kings are stirred up from the ends of the earth. / They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Babylon. Revelation 14:8 Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.” Jeremiah 51:1-2 This is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will stir up against Babylon and against the people of Leb-kamai the spirit of a destroyer. / I will send strangers to Babylon to winnow her and empty her land; for they will come against her from every side in her day of disaster. Habakkuk 1:6-7 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own. / They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty. Revelation 18:9-10 Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” Jeremiah 50:29 Summon the archers against Babylon, all who string the bow. Encamp all around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her as she has done. For she has defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. Jeremiah 51:27 “Raise a banner in the land! Blow the ram’s horn among the nations! Prepare the nations against her. Summon the kingdoms against her—Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a captain against her; bring up horses like swarming locusts. Revelation 18:21 Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again. Jeremiah 50:14 Line up in formation around Babylon, all you who draw the bow! Shoot at her! Spare no arrows! For she has sinned against the LORD. Revelation 18:19 Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.” Treasury of Scripture A grievous vision is declared to me; the treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the spoiler spoils. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. grievous. Psalm 60:3 Thou hast shewed thy people hard things: thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment. Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard. the treacherous Isaiah 24:16 From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. Isaiah 33:1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. 1 Samuel 24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee. go up Isaiah 13:2-4,17,18 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles… Jeremiah 50:14,34 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD… Jeremiah 49:34 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, all the Isaiah 14:1-3 For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob… Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke. Jump to Previous Attack Besiege Caused Dealer Dealeth Deals Declared Destroyer Destroys Elam End Grievous Groaning Harsh Lay Media Shown Siege Sighing Spoiler Spoileth Stern Stopped Thereof Treacherous Treacherously VisionJump to Next Attack Besiege Caused Dealer Dealeth Deals Declared Destroyer Destroys Elam End Grievous Groaning Harsh Lay Media Shown Siege Sighing Spoiler Spoileth Stern Stopped Thereof Treacherous Treacherously VisionIsaiah 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. A dire vision is declared to me: This phrase introduces a prophetic revelation given to Isaiah. The term "dire" indicates the severity and urgency of the message. Prophets often received visions that conveyed God's judgment or future events. This vision is a divine communication, emphasizing the role of prophets as God's messengers. Isaiah's visions often contained elements of both immediate and eschatological significance. The traitor still betrays, and the destroyer still destroys: Go up, O Elam! Lay siege, O Media!: I will put an end to all her groaning: Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahThe prophet who receives and conveys the vision. He is a major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of judgment and hope. 2. Elam An ancient kingdom located in what is now southwestern Iran. In this context, Elam is called to rise up against Babylon. 3. Media Another ancient kingdom, located in the region of modern-day northwestern Iran. Media is also called to lay siege against Babylon. 4. The Traitor and the Destroyer These terms likely refer to Babylon, known for its treachery and destruction. Babylon is often depicted as a symbol of human pride and rebellion against God. 5. The Groaning This refers to the suffering and oppression caused by Babylon, which God promises to end through the actions of Elam and Media. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over NationsGod is in control of the rise and fall of nations. He uses them to accomplish His purposes, even when they are unaware of His plans. The Certainty of Divine Justice God's justice will prevail. The oppressor will face consequences, and the suffering of the oppressed will be addressed. The Role of Prophecy Prophecy serves as both a warning and a comfort. It warns the wicked of impending judgment and comforts the righteous with the promise of deliverance. Trust in God's Timing God's plans unfold in His perfect timing. Believers are called to trust in His timing, even when it seems delayed. The Call to Righteousness As God judges nations for their betrayal and destruction, believers are reminded to live righteously and justly, avoiding the sins that lead to judgment.(2) A grievous vision . . .--The verse contains, as it were, the three tableaux that came in succession before the prophet's gaze: (1) The treacherous dealer, the Assyro-Chaldaean power, spoiling and oppressing, breaking treaties, and, as its kings boasted (Habakkuk 2:5; Records of the Past, vii. 42, 44), "removing landmarks." (2) The summons to Elam and Media to put an end to this tyranny. (3) The oppressed peoples ceasing to sigh, and rejoicing in their liberation. Elam appears here as combined with Media, which is named in Isaiah 13:17 as the only destroyer of Babylon, and this has been urged as evidence of a later date. As a matter of fact, however, Sargon at this very time was carrying on a fierce war against Elam (Records of the Past, cvii. 41-49) as well as against Media (ibid, p. 37). In Ezekiel 32:24, Elam is numbered among the extinct nations, but the name, at all events, re-appears as applied to the Persians, though they were of a distinct race. It was, even as a mere forecast, perfectly natural that the two should be associated together as the future destroyers of the Nineveh and Babel empires, which to the prophet's eye were identical in character and policy. The advance described as "from the wilderness" implies a march of part at least of the Medo-Persian army down the Choaspes and into the lowland of Chuzistan, bordering on the great Arabian desert. Verse 2. - A grievous vision; literally, a hard vision; not, however, "hard of interpretation" (Kay), but rather "hard to be borne," "grievous," "calamitous." The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously; rather, perhaps, the robber robs (Knobel); or, the violent man uses violence (Rosenmüller). The idea of faithlessness passes out of the Hebrew boged occasionally, and is unsuitable here, more especially if it is the army of Cyrus that is intended. Go up, O Elam. The discovery that Cyrus, at the time of his conquest of Babylon, Bore the title of "King of Ansan," not "King of Persia," coupled with the probability that "Ansan" was a part of Elam, lends a peculiar interest to these words. Isaiah could not describe Cyrus as "King of Persia," and at the same time be intelligible to his contemporaries, since Persia was a country utterly unknown to them. In using the term "Elam" instead, he uses that of a country known to the Hebrews (Genesis 14:1), adjoining Persia, and, at the time of his expedition against Babylon, subject to Cyrus. Besiege, O Media. Having given "Elam" the first place, the prophet assigns to Media the second. Eleven years before he attacked Babylon, Cyrus had made war upon Astyages (Istuvegu), King of the Medes, had captured him, and become king of the nation, with scarcely any opposition (see the 'Cylinder of Nabonidus'). Hence the Medes would naturally form an important portion of the force which he led against Babylon. All the sighing thereof have I made to cease. The "sighing" caused by Babylon to the nations, to the captives, and to the kings whose prison-doors were kept closed (Isaiah 14:17), God has in his counsels determined to bring to an end.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew A direקָשָׁ֖ה (qā·šāh) Adjective - feminine singular Strong's 7186: Hard, severe vision חָז֥וּת (ḥā·zūṯ) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2380: A look, striking appearance, revelation, compact is declared הֻגַּד־ (hug·gaḏ-) Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous to me: לִ֑י (lî) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's Hebrew “The traitor הַבּוֹגֵ֤ד ׀ (hab·bō·w·ḡêḏ) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage still betrays, בּוֹגֵד֙ (bō·w·ḡêḏ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage and the destroyer וְהַשּׁוֹדֵ֣ד ׀ (wə·haš·šō·w·ḏêḏ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin still destroys. שׁוֹדֵ֔ד (šō·w·ḏêḏ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7703: To deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin Go up, עֲלִ֤י (‘ă·lî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively O Elam! עֵילָם֙ (‘ê·lām) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5867: Elam -- a son of Shem, also his descendants and their country Lay siege, צוּרִ֣י (ṣū·rî) Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular Strong's 6696: To confine, bind, besiege O Media! מָדַ֔י (mā·ḏay) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 4074: Media -- a son of Japheth, also his descendants and their land I will put an end הִשְׁבַּֽתִּי׃ (hiš·bat·tî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7673: To repose, desist from exertion to all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every her groaning.” אַנְחָתָ֖ה (’an·ḥā·ṯāh) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular Strong's 585: A sighing, groaning Links Isaiah 21:2 NIVIsaiah 21:2 NLT Isaiah 21:2 ESV Isaiah 21:2 NASB Isaiah 21:2 KJV Isaiah 21:2 BibleApps.com Isaiah 21:2 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 21:2 Chinese Bible Isaiah 21:2 French Bible Isaiah 21:2 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 21:2 A grievous vision is declared to me (Isa Isi Is) |
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