Isaiah 21 · Verse 13

Isaiah 21:13

The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
Isaiah 21:13, King James Version

Isaiah 21:13 in other translations

BSBThis is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
WEBThe burden on Arabia. You will lodge in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of Dedanites.
ASVThe burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
YLTThe burden on Arabia. In a forest in Arabia ye lodge, O travellers of Dedanim.
DARBYThe burden against Arabia. In the forest of Arabia shall ye lodge, ye caravans of Dedanites.
BBEThe word about Arabia. In the thick woods of Arabia will be your night's resting-place, O travelling bands of Dedanites!
WebsterThe burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye traveling companies of Dedanim.

What does Isaiah 21:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. upon--that is, respecting. forest--not a grove of trees, but a region of thick underwood, rugged and inaccessible; for Arabia has no forest of trees. travelling companies--caravans: ye shall be driven through fear of the foe to unfrequented routes (Is 33:8; Jud 5:6; Jr 49:8 is parallel to this passage). Dedanim--In North Arabia (Ge 25:3; Jr 25:23; Eze 25:13; 27:20; a different "Dedan" occurs Ge 10:7).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 The burden upon Arabia "The oracle concerning Arabia" - This title is of doubtful authority. In the first place, because it is not in many of the MSS. of the Septuagint; it is in MSS. Pachom. and 1. D. 2. only, as far as I can find with certainty. Secondly, from the singularity of the phraseology; for משא massa is generally prefixed to its object without a preposition, as משא בבל massa babel; and never but in this place with the preposition ב beth. Besides, as the word בערב baarab occurs at the very beginning of the prophecy itself, the first word but one, it is much to be suspected that some one, taking it for a proper name and the object of the prophecy, might note it as such by the words משא בערב massa baarab written in the margin, which he might easily transfer to the text. The Septuagint did not take it for a proper name, but render it εν τῳ δρυμῳ ἑσπερας, "in the forest, in the evening," and so the Chaldee, which I follow; for otherwise, the forest in Arabia is so indeterminate and vague a description, that in effect it means nothing at all. This observation might have been of good use in clearing up the foregoing very obscure prophecy, if any light had arisen from joining the two together by removing the separating title; but I see no connection between them. The Arabic Version has, "The prophecy concerning the Arabians, and the children of Chedar." This prophecy was to have been fulfilled within a year of the time of its delivery, see Isa 21:16; and it was probably delivered about the same time with the rest in this part of the book, that is, soon before or after the 14th of Hezekiah, the year of Sennacherib's invasion. In his first march into Judea, or in his return from the Egyptian expedition, he might perhaps overrun these several clans of Arabians; their distress on some such occasion is the subject of this prophecy. - L.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 21:13-17
The Arabians lived in tents, and kept cattle. A destroying army shall be brought upon them, and make them an easy prey. We know not what straits we may be brought into before we die. Those may know the want of necessary food who now eat bread to the full. Neither the skill of archers, nor the courage of mighty men, can protect from the judgments of God. That is poor glory, which will thus quickly come to nothing. Thus hath the Lord said to me; and no word of his shall fall to the ground. We may be sure the Strength of Israel will not lie. Happy are those only whose riches and glory are out of the reach of invaders; all other prosperity will speedily pass away.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Isaiah 21:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

מַשָּׂ֖אma.Sa'[the] oracleH4853
בַּעְרָ֑בba'.Ravon ArabiaH6152
בַּיַּ֤עַרbai.Ya.'arin the thicket[s]H3293
בַּעְרַב֙ba'.Ravin ArabiaH6152
תָּלִ֔ינוּta.Li.nuyou will lodgeH3885
אֹֽרְח֖וֹת'o.re.ChotO caravans ofH736
דְּדָנִֽים\׃de.da.NimDedanitesH1720

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 21:13

  • Jeremiah 25:23-24

    Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners, And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,

  • 1 Chronicles 1:32

    Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.

  • Genesis 25:3

    And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

  • Ezekiel 27:15

    The men of Dedan were thy merchants; many isles were the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee for a present horns of ivory and ebony.

  • Jeremiah 49:28-33

    Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the Lord; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east. Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side. Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the Lord; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. …

  • Galatians 4:25

    For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

  • Ezekiel 27:20-21

    Dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots. Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.

  • 1 Kings 10:15

    Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

  • Isaiah 13:20

    It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

  • 1 Chronicles 1:9

    And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

  • Isaiah 13:1

    The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Arabia.
1Ki 10:15; Jer 25:23,24; 49:28-33; Ga 4:25
O ye.
13:20; Ge 25:3; 1Ch 1:9,32; Eze 27:15,20,21

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 21:12

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

  • Isaiah 21:13

    The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

  • Isaiah 21:14

    The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.

Read all of Isaiah 21

Isaiah 21:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Carga sobre Arabia. En el monte tendréis la noche en Arabia, oh caminantes de Dedanim.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*L’oracle contre l’Arabie. Vous logerez dans la forêt de l’Arabie, caravanes des Dedanites.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ausspruch über Arabien. In der Wildnis von Arabien müßt ihr übernachten, Karawanen der Dedaniter.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Onus in Arabia. In saltu ad vesperam dormietis, in semitis Dedanim.