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Isaiah 21:15

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 21:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
Isaiah 21:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will inquire, inquire ye: turn ye, come.
13The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.
14Unto him that was thirsty they brought water; the inhabitants of the land of Tema did meet the fugitives with their bread.
15For they fled away from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
16For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
17and the residue of the number of the archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be few; for Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath spoken it.
← Isaiah 21:14Isaiah 21:16 →
← Full Chapter 21 Isaiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For they fled from the swords, &c.] Of their enemy, whom they could not withstand; perhaps the Assyrian army: from the drawn sword; just ready to be sheathed in them: and from the bent bow; just going to let the arrow fly at them: and from the grievousness of war: too heavy for them to bear.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“they--the fugitive Dedanites and other Arabs.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For they fled - The inhabitants of one part of the land. The grievousness of war - Hebrew, כבד kobed - “the weight, the heaviness, the oppression” of war; probably from the calamities that would result from the march of the Assyrian through their land, either on his way to Judea or to Egypt. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:15 Assyrian weapons of war such as the drawn sword and the bent bow were highly advanced compared to the primitive weapons used by desert peoples.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“from the swords: or, for fear of the swords, Heb. from the face of, Job 6:19, Job 6:20 Isaiah 21:16”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 21 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification