Isaiah 21:13
New International Version
A prophecy against Arabia: You caravans of Dedanites, who camp in the thickets of Arabia,

New Living Translation
This message came to me concerning Arabia: O caravans from Dedan, hide in the deserts of Arabia.

English Standard Version
The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.

Berean Standard Bible
This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.

King James Bible
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

New King James Version
The burden against Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanites.

New American Standard Bible
The pronouncement about Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, You caravans of Dedanites.

NASB 1995
The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.

NASB 1977
The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.

Legacy Standard Bible
The oracle about Arabia. In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, O caravans of Dedanites.

Amplified Bible
The [mournful, inspired] oracle (a burden to be carried) concerning Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night, Caravans of Dedanites.

Christian Standard Bible
A pronouncement concerning Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
An oracle against Arabia: In the desert brush you will camp for the night, you caravans of Dedanites.

American Standard Version
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.

Contemporary English Version
This is a message for Arabs who live in the barren desert in the region of Dedan: You must order your caravans

English Revised Version
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanites.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is the divine revelation about Arabia. You caravan of travelers from the people of Dedan will spend the night in the forest of Arabia.

Good News Translation
This is a message about Arabia. People of Dedan, you whose caravans camp in the barren country of Arabia,

International Standard Version
A message concerning Arabia. "You will camp in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of the Dedanites.

Majority Standard Bible
This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.

NET Bible
Here is a message about Arabia: In the thicket of Arabia you spend the night, you Dedanite caravans.

New Heart English Bible
The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia you will lodge, you caravans of Dedanites.

Webster's Bible Translation
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye traveling companies of Dedanim.

World English Bible
The burden on Arabia. You will lodge in the thickets in Arabia, you caravans of Dedanites.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The burden on Arabia. You lodge in a forest in Arabia, "" O caravans of Dedanim.

Young's Literal Translation
The burden on Arabia. In a forest in Arabia ye lodge, O travellers of Dedanim.

Smith's Literal Translation
The burden of Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, ye wayfarers of Dedanim.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The burden in Arabia. In the forest at evening you shall sleep, in the paths of Dedanim.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The burden in Arabia. In the forest you shall sleep, in the evening on the paths of Dedanim.

New American Bible
Oracle: in the steppe: In the thicket in the steppe you will spend the night, caravans of Dedanites.

New Revised Standard Version
The oracle concerning the desert plain. In the scrub of the desert plain you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The prophecy concerning Arabia. In the evening you shall lodge in the forest, in the highway of Dornim.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The burden of Arabia: "In the evening you shall dwell in the forest, in the road of Durnim
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The burden upon Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye caravans of Dedanites.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thou mayest lodge in the forest in the evening, or in the way of Daedan.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy Against Arabia
13This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites. 14Bring water for the thirsty, O dwellers of Tema; meet the refugees with food.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 25:23-24
Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; / all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert;

Ezekiel 25:13
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom and cut off from it both man and beast. I will make it a wasteland, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.

Jeremiah 49:28-29
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated, this is what the LORD says: “Rise up, advance against Kedar, and destroy the people of the east! / They will take their tents and flocks, their tent curtains and all their goods. They will take their camels for themselves. They will shout to them: ‘Terror is on every side!’

Genesis 25:13-16
These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, / Mishma, Dumah, Massa, / Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. ...

Job 6:19
The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.

Jeremiah 49:31-32
Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, one that dwells securely,” declares the LORD. “They have no gates or bars; they live alone. / Their camels will become plunder, and their large herds will be spoil. I will scatter to the wind in every direction those who shave their temples; I will bring calamity on them from all sides,” declares the LORD.

Psalm 120:5
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!

1 Chronicles 1:29-31
These are their genealogies: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, / Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, / Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.

Isaiah 42:11
Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.

Jeremiah 2:10
Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and take a look; send to Kedar and consider carefully; see if there has ever been anything like this:

Ezekiel 27:21
Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers, trading in lambs, rams, and goats.

Matthew 2:1
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

Acts 2:9-11
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, / Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, / both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

Galatians 1:17
nor did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles who came before me, but I went into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

Acts 8:27
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official in charge of the entire treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship,


Treasury of Scripture

The burden on Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall you lodge, O you traveling companies of Dedanim.

Arabia

1 Kings 10:15
Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

Jeremiah 25:23,24
Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners, …

Jeremiah 49:28-33
Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east…

o ye

Isaiah 13:20
It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

Genesis 25:3
And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

1 Chronicles 1:9,32
And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan…

Jump to Previous
Arabia Bands Burden Camp Caravans Companies Forest Lodge Night Night's Oracle Resting-Place Spend Thick Thickets Traveling Travelling Woods Word
Jump to Next
Arabia Bands Burden Camp Caravans Companies Forest Lodge Night Night's Oracle Resting-Place Spend Thick Thickets Traveling Travelling Woods Word
Isaiah 21
1. The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people,
6. sees in a vision the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians.
11. Edom, scorning the prophet, is moved to repentance.
13. The set time of Arabia's calamity.














This is the burden
The term "burden" in Hebrew is "מַשָּׂא" (massa), which often refers to a prophetic oracle or a message of judgment. In the context of Isaiah, it signifies a heavy pronouncement from God concerning a nation or people. This word sets the tone for the message that follows, indicating that it is a serious and weighty revelation from the Lord. The use of "burden" underscores the gravity of the prophecy and the divine authority behind it.

against Arabia
"Arabia" refers to the region inhabited by various nomadic tribes during the time of Isaiah. Historically, this area was known for its trade routes and caravans. The mention of Arabia highlights the geographical and cultural context of the prophecy. It is a reminder of the interconnectedness of the ancient Near Eastern world and the reach of God's sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel.

In the thickets of Arabia
The "thickets" or "forest" (Hebrew: "בַּיַּעַר" - bayya'ar) suggests a place of concealment or refuge. In the arid landscape of Arabia, thickets would provide necessary shelter and resources for travelers. This phrase evokes a sense of vulnerability and the need for protection, reflecting the precarious situation of those who dwell or travel through these regions. It also symbolizes the hidden and often overlooked places where God's presence and judgment can still reach.

you must lodge
The command "you must lodge" implies a temporary dwelling or encampment. The Hebrew root "לִין" (lin) suggests staying overnight or for a short period. This reflects the transient nature of life for the nomadic tribes and the uncertainty they face. Spiritually, it can be seen as a metaphor for the temporary nature of human life and the need to find refuge in God amidst life's uncertainties.

O caravans of Dedanites
The "caravans" were groups of travelers or traders moving together for safety and commerce. The Dedanites were a tribe known for their trading activities, likely originating from the region of Dedan, an ancient city associated with trade routes. This phrase highlights the economic and social dynamics of the time, where trade was essential for survival and prosperity. The mention of the Dedanites serves as a reminder of the broader implications of God's message, affecting not just individuals but entire communities and their livelihoods.

(13) The burden upon Arabia.--Better, of the evening land. Here, again, the prophet alters the form of the word (Arab into Ereb) so as to convey a mystic meaning. The land of which he is about to speak is a land of shadow and of gloom. Evening is falling on it. It is a question whether the second Arabia is to retain its geographical form or to be translated "evening," as before. In any case, of course, Arabia is the country spoken of. The "Dedanites" appear in Jeremiah 49:8; Ezekiel 25:13, and seem from Ezekiel 27:15 to have been dwelling in the neighbourhood of the Edomites (Jeremiah 49:8) as a commercial people trading with Tyre in ebony and ivory. The point of the oracle against them is that they shall be compelled by the presence of the Assyrian armies to leave the main lines of their traffic, probably, as before, on their way westward to Tyre, and to take bye-paths, pitching their tents not near towns and villages, but in the low brushwood of the wilderness.

Verses 13-17. - THE BURDEN OF ARABIA. Edom will have companions in misfortune among the Arab tribes upon her borders, Dedan, Tema, and Kedar. War will enter their territory, derange their commerce (ver. 13), cause flight and privation (vers. 14, 15), and within a year greatly diminish the number of their fighting men (vers. 16, 17). The date of the prophecy is uncertain, but can scarcely be earlier than B.C. 715, when Sargon made an expedition into Arabia (O. Smith, 'Eponym Canon,' p. 66). Verse 13. - The burden upon Arabia; rather, in Arabia. The phrase is varied from its usual form, probably because it is not Arabia generally, but only certain of the more northern tribes, on whom calamity is about to fall. In the forest... shall ye lodge. The word used is commonly translated "forest;" but Arabia has no forests, and the meaning here must be "brushwood." Thorny bushes and shrubs are common in all parts of Arabia. The general meaning is that the caravans will have to leave the beaten track, and obtain such shelter and concealment as the scanty brushwood of the desert could afford. Ye traveling companies of Dedanim. The Dedanim, or Dedanites, were among the chief traders of the Arabian peninsula. They had commercial dealings with Tyre, which they supplied with ivory, ebony, and "precious clothes for chariots" (Ezekiel 27:15, 20). This trade they carried on by means of large caravans - the "travelling companies" of the present passage. They are thought to have had their chief settlements on the shores of the Persian Gulf, where the island of Dadan may be an echo of their name.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
[This is] an oracle
מַשָּׂ֖א (maś·śā)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4853: A burden, tribute, porterage, an utterance, chiefly a, doom, singing, mental, desire

concerning Arabia:
בַּעְרָ֑ב (ba‘·rāḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6152: Arabia -- 'steppe-dwellers', a country East of Israel

In the thickets
בַּיַּ֤עַר (bay·ya·‘ar)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3293: A copse of bushes, a forest, honey in the comb

of Arabia
בַּעְרַב֙ (ba‘·raḇ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6152: Arabia -- 'steppe-dwellers', a country East of Israel

you must lodge,
תָּלִ֔ינוּ (tā·lî·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3885: To stop, to stay permanently, to be obstinate

O caravans
אֹֽרְח֖וֹת (’ō·rə·ḥō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 736: A traveling company, caravan

of Dedanites.
דְּדָנִֽים׃ (də·ḏā·nîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 1720: Dedanites -- descendants or inhabitants of Dedan


Links
Isaiah 21:13 NIV
Isaiah 21:13 NLT
Isaiah 21:13 ESV
Isaiah 21:13 NASB
Isaiah 21:13 KJV

Isaiah 21:13 BibleApps.com
Isaiah 21:13 Biblia Paralela
Isaiah 21:13 Chinese Bible
Isaiah 21:13 French Bible
Isaiah 21:13 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Isaiah 21:13 The burden on Arabia (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 21:12
Top of Page
Top of Page