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Isaiah 21:17

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 21:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and 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 21:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 21

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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 21:16Isaiah 22:1 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the residue of the number of archers, &c.] Or of “bow”f421, for “bows”: that is, of men that use the bow, or are expert at it, as the Kedarenes were, both for taking wild beasts, and fighting with men, in which they followed their original ancestor Ishmael, (<012120>Genesis 21:20) the number of these archers it seems had been great, but would be lessened by the calamity threatened; and those that would escape that, and be preserved from it, should be lessened still, as follows: the mighty men of the children of Kedar shall be diminished; their military men, the most expert at the use of the bow, and the most valiant and courageous; the few of those that were left, and did not fall by the…”
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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
“residue . . . diminished--The remnant of Arab warriors, famous in the bow, left after the invasion, shall be small. That by Sennacherib, in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah; Isa 22:8-11, the preparations for defense and securing of water exactly answer to those in Ch2 32:4-5, Ch2 32:30. "Shebna," too (Isa 22:15), was scribe at this time (Isa 36:3) [MAURER]. The language of Isa 22:12-14, as to the infidelity and consequent utter ruin of the Jews, seems rather to foreshadow the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in Zedekiah's reign, and cannot be restricted to Hezekiah's time [LOWTH]. Next: Isaiah Chapter 22”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And 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 cannot indeed determine the precise historical event to which this refers, but the whole connection and circumstances seem to make it probable that it referred to the invasion by the Assyrian when he went up against Judah, or when he was…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“21:17 Only a few . . . will survive: Cp. 10:22; 14:30; 16:14; 24:6, 13; 37:32.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“archers: Heb. bows the mighty: Isa 10:18, Isa 10:19, Isa 17:4, Isa 17:5; Psa 107:39 for: Isa 1:20; Num 23:19; Jer 44:29; Zac 1:6; Mat 24:35 Next: Isaiah Chapter 22”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification