Isaiah 21:4

4 My head is spinning, and I am trembling with fear. I had been longing for evening to come, but it has brought me nothing but terror.

Isaiah 21:4 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 21:4

My heart panted
Fluttered about, and could hardly keep its place: or, "my mind wandered" ^F18; like a person in distraction and confusion, that knew not what to think say or do: fearfulness affrighted me;
the terror of Cyrus's army seized him, of its irruption into the city, and of his being destroyed by it; the writing on the wall threw him into a panic, and the news of the Medes and Persians being entered the city increased it: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me;
in which he promised himself so much pleasure, at a feast he had made for his princes, wives, and concubines; either in honour of his god, as some think ^F19, being an annual one; or, as Josephus ben Gorion ^F20 says, on account of the victory he had obtained over the Medes and Persians; and so was quite secure, and never in the least thought of destruction being at hand; but in the midst of all his revelling, mirth, and jollity, the city was surprised and taken, and he slain, ( Daniel 5:1 Daniel 5:30 ) . So mystical Babylon, in the midst of her prosperity, while she is saying that she sits a queen, and knows no sorrow, her judgment and plagues shall come upon her, ( Revelation 18:7 Revelation 18:8 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (ybbl het) "erravit cor meum", Montanus; "errat animus meus", Junius & Tremellius; "errat cor meum", Piscator.
F19 Vid. Herodot. l. 1. c. 191. Xenophon. l. 7. c. 23.
F20 L. 1. c. 5. p. 24. Ed. Braithaupt.

Isaiah 21:4 In-Context

2 I have seen a vision of cruel events, a vision of betrayal and destruction. Army of Elam, attack! Army of Media, lay siege to the cities! God will put an end to the suffering which Babylon has caused.

3 What I saw and heard in the vision has filled me with terror and pain, pain like that of a woman in labor.

4 My head is spinning, and I am trembling with fear. I had been longing for evening to come, but it has brought me nothing but terror.

5 In the vision a banquet is ready; rugs are spread for the guests to sit on. They are eating and drinking. Suddenly the command rings out: "Officers! Prepare your shields!"

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