Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields! New Living Translation Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked! English Standard Version They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Arise, O princes; oil the shield! Berean Standard Bible They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields! King James Bible Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. New King James Version Prepare the table, Set a watchman in the tower, Eat and drink. Arise, you princes, Anoint the shield! New American Standard Bible They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains, oil the shields!” NASB 1995 They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains, oil the shields,” NASB 1977 They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains, oil the shields,” Legacy Standard Bible They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, commanders, oil the shields,” Amplified Bible They set the table [for the doomed banquet], they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink; “Rise up, captains [of Belshazzar’s court], oil your shields [for battle, for your enemy is at the gates]!” Christian Standard Bible Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields! Holman Christian Standard Bible Prepare a table, and spread out a carpet! Eat and drink! Rise up, you princes, and oil the shields! American Standard Version They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield. Contemporary English Version In Babylon the high officials were having a feast. They were eating and drinking, when someone shouted, "Officers, take your places! Grab your shields." English Revised Version They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield. GOD'S WORD® Translation Set the table. Spread the rugs [by the table]. Eat. Drink. Get up, you leaders! Prepare your shields for battle! Good News Translation In the vision a banquet is ready; rugs are spread for the guests to sit on. They are eating and drinking. Suddenly the command rings out: "Officers! Prepare your shields!" International Standard Version They set the tables; they spread the carpets; they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers! Oil the shields!" Majority Standard Bible They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields! NET Bible Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields! New Heart English Bible They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield. Webster's Bible Translation Prepare the table, watch in the watch-tower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. World English Bible They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield! Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionArrange the table, watch in the watchtower, "" Eat, drink, rise, you heads, anoint the shield, Young's Literal Translation Arrange the table, watch in the watch-tower, Eat, drink, rise, ye heads, anoint the shield, Smith's Literal Translation Set in order the table; view the watch-tower; eat, drink: arise ye chiefs, anoint the shield. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BiblePrepare the table, behold in the watchtower them that eat and drink: arise, ye princes, take up the shield. Catholic Public Domain Version Prepare the table. Contemplate, from a place of observation, those who eat and drink. Rise up, you leaders! Take up the shield! New American Bible They set the table, spread out the rugs; they eat, they drink. Rise up, O princes, oil the shield! New Revised Standard Version They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink. Rise up, commanders, oil the shield! Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BiblePrepare the tables, watch in the watchtowers, eat, drink; arise, O princes, and anoint the shields. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Prepare the tables! Watch the watchtowers! Eat and drink! Arise Princes, anoint the shields! OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917They prepare the table, they light the lamps, they eat, they drink-- 'Rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Prepare the table, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and prepare your shields. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Babylon is Fallen…4My heart falters; fear makes me tremble. The twilight of my desire has turned to horror. 5They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields! 6For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.… Cross References Daniel 5:1-4 Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. / Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. / Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines. ... Jeremiah 51:39 While they are flushed with heat, I will serve them a feast, and I will make them drunk so that they may revel; then they will fall asleep forever and never wake up, declares the LORD. 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. Ezekiel 21:21-22 For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. / In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall. Revelation 18:7-8 As much as she has glorified herself and lived in luxury, give her the same measure of torment and grief. In her heart she says, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow and will never see grief.’ / Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.” Matthew 24:38-39 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. Luke 17:27-30 People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. / It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. / But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. ... 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Jeremiah 50:24 I laid a snare for you, O Babylon, and you were caught before you knew it. You were found and captured because you challenged the LORD. Jeremiah 50:35-37 A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against those who live in Babylon, and against her officials and wise men. / A sword is against her false prophets, and they will become fools. A sword is against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror. / A sword is against her horses and chariots and against all the foreigners in her midst, and they will become like women. A sword is against her treasuries, and they will be plundered. Nahum 2:3-4 The shields of his mighty men are red; the valiant warriors are dressed in scarlet. The fittings of the chariots flash like fire on the day they are prepared, and the spears of cypress have been brandished. / The chariots dash through the streets; they rush around the plazas, appearing like torches, darting about like lightning. 1 Corinthians 10:21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too. Revelation 16:19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the fury of His wrath. Jeremiah 51:57 I will make her princes and wise men drunk, along with her governors, officials, and warriors. Then they will fall asleep forever and not wake up,” declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts. Ezekiel 23:41-42 You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil, / accompanied by the sound of a carefree crowd. Drunkards were brought in from the desert along with men from the rabble, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head. Treasury of Scripture Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, you princes, and anoint the shield. eat Isaiah 22:13,14 And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die… Daniel 5:1-5 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand… 1 Corinthians 15:32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. arise Isaiah 13:2,17,18 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… Isaiah 45:1-3 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; … Jeremiah 51:11,27,28 Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple… Jump to Previous Anoint Arise Arrange Breastplates Captains Cloth Covers Drink Eat Heads Light Officers Oil Prepare Princes Ready Rise Rugs Shield Shields Spread Table Tables Watch Watchtower Watch-TowerJump to Next Anoint Arise Arrange Breastplates Captains Cloth Covers Drink Eat Heads Light Officers Oil Prepare Princes Ready Rise Rugs Shield Shields Spread Table Tables Watch Watchtower Watch-TowerIsaiah 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. They set the tables This phrase suggests preparation and anticipation. In the ancient Near Eastern context, setting tables was a sign of hospitality and readiness for a significant event, often a feast or a gathering. The Hebrew root here implies a deliberate act of arranging or organizing, which can be seen as a metaphor for preparing for God's unfolding plan. Spiritually, it calls believers to be ready and vigilant, setting their own "tables" in life to welcome God's presence and purpose. they spread out the rugs they eat they drink! Rise up, O princes oil the shields! Anoint the shield . . .--The summons is one which in the prophet's vision breaks in on the songs and music of the revel. The shields thought of were those covered with leather, which was oiled, partly to protect it from wet, partly to make the stroke of the sword glide off from it. The call implies that even this precaution had been neglected by the revellers. Verse 5. - Prepare the table, etc. With lyrical abruptness, the prophet turns from his own feelings to draw a picture of Babylon at the time when she is attacked. He uses historical infinitives, the most lively form of narrative. Translate, They deck the table, set the watch, eat, drink; i.e. having decked the table, they commit the task of watching to a few, and then give themselves up to feasting and reveling, as if there were no danger. It is impossible not to think of Belshazzar's feast, and the descriptions of the Greek historians (Herod., 1:191; Xen., 'Cyrop.,' 7:23), which mark at any rate the strength of the tradition that, when Babylon was taken, its inhabitants were engaged in revelry. Arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield. In the midst of the feast there enters to the revellers one from the outside, with these words, "Rise, quit the banquet; get your shields; anoint them; arm yourselves." That shields were greased with fat or oil before being used in battle appears from Virg., 'AEneid,' 7:625, and other places. It was thought that the enemy's weapons would more readily glance off an oiled surface.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They prepareעָרֹ֧ךְ (‘ā·rōḵ) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 6186: To set in a, row, arrange, put in order a table, הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן (haš·šul·ḥān) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7979: A table, a meal they lay out צָפֹ֥ה (ṣā·p̄ōh) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 6823: To lay out, lay over a carpet, הַצָּפִ֖ית (haṣ·ṣā·p̄îṯ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 6823: To lay out, lay over they eat, אָכ֣וֹל (’ā·ḵō·wl) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 398: To eat they drink! שָׁתֹ֑ה (šā·ṯōh) Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute Strong's 8354: To imbibe Rise up, ק֥וּמוּ (qū·mū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand O princes, הַשָּׂרִ֖ים (haś·śā·rîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince oil מִשְׁח֥וּ (miš·ḥū) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural Strong's 4886: To rub with oil, to anoint, to consecrate, to paint the shields! מָגֵֽן׃ (mā·ḡên) Noun - common singular Strong's 4043: A shield, a protector, the scaly hide of the crocodile Links Isaiah 21:5 NIVIsaiah 21:5 NLT Isaiah 21:5 ESV Isaiah 21:5 NASB Isaiah 21:5 KJV Isaiah 21:5 BibleApps.com Isaiah 21:5 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 21:5 Chinese Bible Isaiah 21:5 French Bible Isaiah 21:5 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 21:5 They prepare the table (Isa Isi Is) |