English Standard Version
Isaiah 21:12
12The watchman says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."
Isaiah 21:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.
- New International Version (NIV)The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but also the night. If you would ask, then ask; and come back yet again.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; Return! Come back!”
- New Living Translation (NLT)The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but night will soon return. If you wish to ask again, then come back and ask.”
Context of Isaiah 21:12
10O my threshed and winnowed one, what I have heard from the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, I announce to you. 11The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, "Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?" The watchman says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again." 13The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. 14To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
Read all of Isaiah 21Isaiah 21:12 word by word
אָמַ֣ר שֹׁמֵ֔ר אָתָ֥ה בֹ֖קֶר וְגַם־לָ֑יְלָה אִם־תִּבְעָי֥וּן בְּעָ֖יוּ שֻׁ֥בוּ אֵתָֽיוּ׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 21:12
- Isaiah 17:14At evening time, behold, terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us, and the lot of those who plunder us.
- Jeremiah 50:27Kill all her bulls; let them go down to the slaughter. Woe to them, for their day has come, the time of their punishment.
- Ezekiel 7:5"Thus says the Lord God: Disaster after disaster! Behold, it comes.
- Isaiah 55:7let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Jeremiah 42:19The Lord has said to you, O remnant of Judah, 'Do not go to Egypt.' Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day
- Exodus 14:1Then the Lord said to Moses,
- Acts 2:37Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
- Acts 17:19And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?
- Acts 17:30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
Commentaries on Isaiah 21:12
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The watchman said - Or rather “saith;” indicating that this is the answer which the prophet returned to the inquiry from Idumea. The morning cometh - There are signs of approaching day. The morning‘ here is an emblem of prosperity; as the light of the morning succeeds to the darkness of the night. This refers to the deliverance from the captivity of Babylon, and is to be supposed as having been spoken near the time when that captivity was at an end - or…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Morning is coming, but it will start another difficult time. The Babylonians are approaching, so night will soon return.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Reply of the prophet, The morning (prosperity) cometh, and (soon after follows) the night (adversity). Though you, Idumeans, may have a gleam of prosperity, it will soon be followed by adversity again. Otherwise, as Barnes, "Prosperity cometh (to the Jews) to be quickly followed by adversity (to you, Idumeans, who exult in the fall of Jerusalem, have seized on the southern part of their land in their absence during the captivity, and now deride them…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 21:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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