Verse (Click for Chapter) 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. 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. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees. World English Bible For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor 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 BibleFor 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 BibleFor 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 1917For 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… Jump to Previous Announce Declare Lookout Placed Post Report Station Watchman WordJump to Next Announce Declare Lookout Placed Post Report Station Watchman WordIsaiah 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 says to me: This phrase indicates divine revelation, emphasizing the authority and origin of the message. The prophet Isaiah often received direct communication from God, which he then conveyed to the people. This underscores the role of prophets as God's mouthpieces, a theme consistent throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Jeremiah 1:9, Ezekiel 2:7). Go, post a lookout: and have him report what he sees: Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahThe prophet who received the message from the Lord. He was a major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the judgment and salvation of Israel and the nations. 2. The Lord The sovereign God who commands Isaiah to appoint a lookout. This reflects God's authority and His role as the revealer of future events. 3. Lookout A person appointed to watch and report what he sees. This role is symbolic of vigilance and readiness to receive and communicate God's revelations. 4. Babylon Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Isaiah 21 is a prophecy concerning the fall of Babylon, a significant event in biblical history. 5. Watchtower The place where the lookout stands, symbolizing a position of alertness and spiritual insight. Teaching Points Vigilance in Spiritual LifeJust as the lookout is tasked with watching and reporting, Christians are called to be vigilant in their spiritual lives, staying alert to God's guidance and the signs of the times. Responsibility of Spiritual Leaders Like the lookout, spiritual leaders have a responsibility to discern and communicate God's messages to their communities, guiding them in truth and righteousness. God's Sovereignty and Revelation This verse underscores God's sovereignty in revealing future events. Believers can trust in His ultimate control and His willingness to communicate with His people. Preparedness for God's Work The lookout's role is a reminder to be prepared for the tasks God assigns, whether in ministry, personal growth, or service to others. Importance of Prayer and Scripture To effectively "watch," believers must be grounded in prayer and Scripture, seeking God's wisdom and understanding in all circumstances. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 21:6?2. How does Isaiah 21:6 emphasize the importance of being watchful in faith? 3. What role does a "watchman" play in spiritual vigilance according to Isaiah 21:6? 4. How can we apply the watchman's diligence to our daily Christian walk? 5. What other scriptures highlight the necessity of spiritual alertness and readiness? 6. How can we ensure we are spiritually prepared for Christ's return as watchmen? 7. What is the historical context of Isaiah 21:6 and its significance for believers today? 8. How does Isaiah 21:6 relate to the theme of divine judgment in the Bible? 9. What role does prophecy play in Isaiah 21:6, and how should it be interpreted? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 21? 11. What does the Bible say about watchmen? 12. In Isaiah 21:6, why would a prophet instruct setting up a watchman, and is there any archaeological sign of such a practice? 13. What does the Bible say about watchmen? 14. 2 Kings 20:7: Why was a simple poultice of figs sufficient to cure a fatal illness if it was truly life-threatening? What Does Isaiah 21:6 Mean For this is what the Lord says to meThe opening phrase grounds everything on God’s own authority. Isaiah is not sharing a personal hunch; he is passing along a direct command, just as Jeremiah could say, “The word of the LORD came to me” (Jeremiah 1:4–5) and Peter later affirmed that “men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Because Scripture is God-breathed and infallible, we receive this verse as a literal, trustworthy directive that flowed from the Lord to His prophet. Go A single, urgent verb. When God speaks, His servants move. Abram left Ur at a similar “Go” (Genesis 12:1), and the church was sent to the nations with another (Matthew 28:19). In Isaiah’s context, obedience meant leaving the safety of his present location and stepping into the watchman’s assignment. For us, it underscores the pattern that revelation from God is meant to be acted upon, not merely admired. post a lookout The Lord instructs Isaiah to station a watchman—an advance warning system for the looming judgment against Babylon (the wider theme of Isaiah 21). • A watchman’s job is vigilance. Ezekiel was told, “I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7), and Habakkuk said, “I will stand at my guard post” (Habakkuk 2:1). • Spiritually, the call echoes forward to believers: “Be sober-minded and alert” (1 Peter 5:8) and to Jesus’ charge to “keep watch” (Mark 13:34–37). God always positions faithful observers who will discern approaching danger and proclaim His warnings. • Historically, the literal lookout would see the cavalry of Media and Persia approaching (Isaiah 21:7-9), confirming that Babylon’s downfall was certain. The prophetic accuracy later echoed in Revelation 18:2, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” and have him report what he sees Watching is only half the duty; reporting completes it. Silence would make the lookout complicit in the city’s ruin. Ezekiel felt the same weight: if the watchman fails to sound the alarm, blood is on his hands (Ezekiel 33:6). Paul applied the principle when he declared himself “innocent of the blood of all men” because he had “proclaimed the whole will of God” (Acts 20:26-27). Truth observed must be truth declared—whether to a besieged Babylon or to a neighbor in spiritual peril. summary Isaiah 21:6 is God’s straightforward, literal instruction: because He has spoken, Isaiah must act—placing an alert watchman who will faithfully report incoming judgment. The verse highlights God’s absolute authority, the immediate obedience He expects, the vital role of vigilant guardianship, and the responsibility to proclaim what is revealed. It reminds every believer that when the Lord speaks, we listen, watch, and speak in turn, confident that His Word is both accurate and sure. (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 Forכִּ֣י (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 Links Isaiah 21:6 NIVIsaiah 21:6 NLT Isaiah 21:6 ESV Isaiah 21:6 NASB Isaiah 21:6 KJV Isaiah 21:6 BibleApps.com Isaiah 21:6 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 21:6 Chinese Bible Isaiah 21:6 French Bible Isaiah 21:6 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 21:6 For the Lord said to me Go (Isa Isi Is) |
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