God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 21:17
17The remaining number of archers, Kedar’s mighty archers, will be few. The Lord God of Israel has spoken.
Isaiah 21:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it.
- New International Version (NIV)The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken."
- New King James Version (NKJV)and the remainder of the number of archers, the mighty men of the people of Kedar, will be diminished; for the Lord God of Israel has spoken it.”
Context of Isaiah 21:17
15They flee from swords, from swords ready to kill, from bows ready to shoot, and from the thick of battle. 16This is what the Lord says to me: All of Kedar’s honor will be gone in another year. I will count it like workers count the years left on their contracts. The remaining number of archers, Kedar’s mighty archers, will be few. The Lord God of Israel has spoken.
Read all of Isaiah 21Isaiah 21:17 word by word
וּשְׁאָ֧ר מִסְפַּר־קֶ֛שֶׁת גִּבּוֹרֵ֥י בְנֵֽי־קֵדָ֖ר יִמְעָ֑טוּ כִּ֛י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל דִּבֵּֽר׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the residueשְׁאָרshe'âr · remnantH7605
- of the numberמִסְפָּרmispâr · numberH4557
- of archersקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
- the mighty menגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
- of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Kedarקֵדָרqêdâr · KedarH6938
- shall be diminishedמָעַטmâ‛aţ · to diminishH4591
- for the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- hath spokenדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
Cross-references for Isaiah 21:17
- Isaiah 10:18The majestic forest and the orchard will destroy both body and soul. They will be like a sick person wasting away.
- Isaiah 17:4“When that day comes, the honor of Jacob’s people will fade away, and they will become skin and bones.
- Psalms 107:39They became few in number and were humiliated because of oppression, disaster, and sorrow.
- Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be destroyed by swords.” The Lord has spoken.
- Numbers 23:19God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.
- Jeremiah 44:29I will give you this sign,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will punish you in this place so that you will know that my threats of disaster will happen to you.
- Zechariah 1:6Didn’t my warnings and my laws, which I’ve commanded my servants the prophets ⌞to preach⌟, finally catch up with your ancestors? Then your ancestors turned away from their sins and said, ‘The Lord of Armies has done to us what he had planned to do. He has dealt with us as our ways and deeds deserve.’ ”
- Matthew 24:35The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
Commentaries on Isaiah 21:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17The archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar "The mighty bowmen of the sons of Kedar" - Sagittariorum fortium, Vulg.; transposing the two words, and reading קשה גבורי gibborey kesheth ; which seems to be right. The strong men of the bow, the most excellent archers. For the Lord - hath spoken it "For Jehovah hath spoken it" - The prophetic Carmina of Marcius, foretelling the battle of Cannae, lib. 25:12, conclude with the same kind of solemn form…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17And the residue of the number - That is, those who shall be left in the invasion. Or perhaps it may be read, There shall be a renmant of the number of bowmen; the mighty people of Kedar shall be diminished.‘ Of archers - Hebrew, Of the bow;‘ that is, of those who use bows in war. The bow was the common instrument in hunting and in war among the ancients. Shall be diminished - Hebrew, Shall be made small;‘ they shall be reduced to a very small number. We…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-17Verses 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17The remaining archers … will be few: Compare Isaiah 10:22; 14:30; 16:14; 24:6, 13; 37:32.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. residue ... diminished--The remnant of Arab warriors, famous in the bow, left after the invasion, shall be small.Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 21:17
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
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