Isaiah 21:6
New International Version
This is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees.

English Standard Version
For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.

Berean Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

King James Bible
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

New King James Version
For thus has the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees.”

New American Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, station the lookout, have him report what he sees.

NASB 1995
For thus the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.

NASB 1977
For thus the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.

Legacy Standard Bible
For thus the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him declare what he sees.

Amplified Bible
This is what the Lord says to me, “Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.

Christian Standard Bible
For the Lord has said to me, “Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For the Lord has said to me,” Go, post a lookout; let him report what he sees.

American Standard Version
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman: let him declare what he seeth:

Contemporary English Version
The Lord said to me, "Send guards to find out what's going on.

English Revised Version
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
This is what the Lord says to me: Post a watchman. Have him report whatever he sees.

Good News Translation
Then the Lord said to me, "Go and post a sentry, and tell him to report what he sees.

International Standard Version
For this is what the LORD told me: "Go post a lookout. Have him report what he sees.

Majority Standard Bible
For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.

NET Bible
For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.

New Heart English Bible
For the Lord said to me, "Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.

Webster's Bible Translation
For thus hath the Lord said to me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

World English Bible
For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For thus said the Lord to me: “Go, station the watchman, "" Let him declare that which he sees.”

Young's Literal Translation
For thus said the Lord unto me: 'Go, station the watchman, That which he seeth let him declare.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For thus said Jehovah to me, Go set up a watchman, he shall announce what he shall see.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For thus hath the Lord said to me: Go, and set a watchman: and whatsoever he shall see, let him tell.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For the Lord has said this to me: “Go and station a watchman. And let him announce whatever he will see.”

New American Bible
For thus my Lord said to me: Go, station a watchman, let him tell what he sees.

New Revised Standard Version
For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, post a lookout, let him announce what he sees.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For thus has the LORD said to me: Go, set a watchman, that he may declare what he sees.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because thus LORD JEHOVAH said to me: "Go set a Watchman, so that anything that he sees he will show"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Go, set a watchman; let him declare what he seeth!

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For thus said the Lord to me, Go and station a watchman for thyself, and declare whatever thou shalt see.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Babylon is Fallen
5They prepare a table, they lay out a carpet, they eat, they drink! Rise up, O princes, oil the shields! 6For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. 7When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.”…

Cross References
Ezekiel 3:17
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.

Habakkuk 2:1
I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the ramparts. I will watch to see what He will say to me, and how I should answer when corrected.

Jeremiah 6:17
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’

2 Kings 9:17-20
Now the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, and he called out, “I see a company of troops!” “Choose a rider,” Joram commanded. “Send him out to meet them and ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’” / So a horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” And the watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back.” / So the king sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, “This is what the king asks: ‘Have you come in peace?’” “What do you know about peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in behind me.” ...

Ezekiel 33:7
As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me.

Jeremiah 51:12
Raise a banner against the walls of Babylon; post the guard; station the watchmen; prepare the ambush. For the LORD has both devised and accomplished what He spoke against the people of Babylon.

2 Samuel 18:24-27
Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone. / So he called out and told the king. “If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” As the first runner drew near, / the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” “This one also brings good news,” said the king. ...

1 Samuel 14:16
Now when Saul’s watchmen at Gibeah in Benjamin looked and saw the troops melting away and scattering in every direction,

Jeremiah 31:6
For there will be a day when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Arise, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!’”

Hosea 9:8
The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, along with my God, yet the snare of the fowler lies on all his paths. Hostility is in the house of his God!

Matthew 24:42
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

Mark 13:34-37
It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch. / Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. / Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. ...

Luke 12:37-38
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them. / Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

Acts 20:28-31
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. / I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:6
So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.


Treasury of Scripture

For thus has the LORD said to me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees.

go

Isaiah 62:6
I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

2 Kings 9:17-20
And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace? …

Jeremiah 51:12,13
Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon…

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Announce Declare Lookout Placed Post Report Station Watchman 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.














For this is what the Lord has said to me
This phrase establishes the divine authority behind the message. The Hebrew word for "Lord" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This introduction underscores the prophetic nature of the message, indicating that it is not merely human speculation but a revelation from God Himself. In the context of Isaiah, a prophet who often conveyed messages of both judgment and hope, this phrase reassures the audience of the authenticity and seriousness of the forthcoming prophecy.

Go
The command "Go" is a directive from God, indicating action and urgency. The Hebrew root "halak" implies movement with purpose. In the prophetic context, it suggests that the message is not just to be received but acted upon. This reflects the active role of prophets as messengers who must faithfully deliver God's word to the people, regardless of the potential consequences or reception.

post a lookout
The instruction to "post a lookout" involves vigilance and readiness. The Hebrew word "tsaphah" means to watch or keep watch. In ancient times, a lookout was crucial for the safety and security of a city, tasked with observing and reporting any approaching danger. Spiritually, this can be seen as a call for believers to be watchful and discerning, aware of the spiritual and moral challenges that may arise.

and have him report what he sees
This phrase emphasizes the importance of accurate and faithful reporting. The lookout is not to interpret or alter the message but to convey exactly what is observed. The Hebrew word "ra'ah" for "sees" implies perception and understanding. In a broader sense, this can be seen as a metaphor for the role of the church and its leaders to faithfully proclaim the truth of God's word, without distortion or omission, to the world. It highlights the responsibility of believers to be truthful witnesses in their testimony of God's work and revelation.

(6) Go, set a watchman . . .--The prophet is, as it were, placed in vision on a lofty watch-tower, and reports what meets his gaze, or that of the watchman with whom he identifies himself (Ezekiel 33:7). (Comp. the striking parallel of Habakkuk 2:1-2.)

Verse 6. - Go, set a watchman. The event is not to be immediate, it is to be watched for; and Isaiah is not to watch himself, but to set the watchman. Moreover, the watchman waits long before he sees anything (ver. 8). These unusual features of the narrative seem to mark a remote, not a near, accomplishment of the prophecy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this [is what]
כֹ֥ה (ḵōh)
Adverb
Strong's 3541: Like this, thus, here, now

the Lord
אֲדֹנָ֑י (’ă·ḏō·nāy)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 136: The Lord

says
אָמַ֛ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me:
אֵלַ֖י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Go,
לֵ֚ךְ (lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

post
הַעֲמֵ֣ד (ha·‘ă·mêḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

a lookout
הַֽמְצַפֶּ֔ה (ham·ṣap·peh)
Article | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6822: To lean forward, to peer into the distance, to observe, await

to report
יַגִּֽיד׃ (yag·gîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous

what
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

he sees.
יִרְאֶ֖ה (yir·’eh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 21:6 For the Lord said to me Go (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 21:5
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