New English Translation
Isaiah 21:17
17Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.” Indeed, 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
15For they flee from the swords – from the drawn sword and from the battle-ready bow and from the severity of the battle. 16For this is what the sovereign master has told me: “Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end. Just a handful of archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be left.” Indeed, 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 splendor of his forest and his orchard will be completely destroyed, as when a sick man’s life ebbs away.
- Isaiah 17:4“At that time Jacob’s splendor will be greatly diminished, and he will become skin and bones.
- Psalms 107:39As for their enemies, they decreased in number and were beaten down, because of painful distress and suffering.
- Isaiah 1:20But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.
- Numbers 23:19God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?
- Jeremiah 44:29Moreover the Lord says, ‘I will make something happen to prove that I will punish you in this place. I will do it so that you will know that my threats to bring disaster on you will prove true.
- Zechariah 1:6But have my words and statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, not outlived your fathers? Then they paid attention and confessed, ‘The Lord who rules over all has indeed done what he said he would do to us, because of our sinful ways.’”
- Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
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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