New English Translation
Isaiah 21:12
12The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; 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.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)The watchman says: "Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again."
- New King James Version (NKJV)The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; Return! Come back!”
Context of Isaiah 21:12
10O my downtrodden people, crushed like stalks on the threshing floor, what I have heard from the Lord who commands armies, the God of Israel, I have reported to you. 11Here is a message about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?” The watchman replies, “Morning is coming, but then night. If you want to ask, ask; come back again.” 13Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans. 14Bring out some water for the thirsty. You who live in the land of Tema, bring some food for the fugitives.
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 17:14In the evening there is sudden terror; by morning they vanish. This is the fate of those who try to plunder us, the destiny of those who try to loot us!
- Jeremiah 50:27Kill all her soldiers! Let them be slaughtered! They are doomed, for their day of reckoning has come, the time for them to be punished.”
- Ezekiel 7:5“This is what the sovereign Lord says: A disaster – a one-of-a-kind disaster – is coming!
- Isaiah 55:7The wicked need to abandon their lifestyle and sinful people their plans. They should return to the Lord, and he will show mercy to them, and to their God, for he will freely forgive them.
- Jeremiah 42:19“The Lord has told you people who remain in Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be very sure of this: I warn you here and now.
- Exodus 14:1The Lord spoke to Moses:
- Acts 2:37Now when they heard this, they were acutely distressed and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “What should we do, brothers?”
- Acts 17:19So they took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are proclaiming?
- Acts 17:30Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now 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
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