Isaiah 21:16

16 This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.

Isaiah 21:16 in Other Translations

16 For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

16 For thus the Lord said to me, "Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.

16 The Lord said to me, “Within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.

16 The Master told me, "Hang on. Within one year - I'll sign a contract on it! - the arrogant brutality of Kedar, those hooligans of the desert, will be over,

16 For the Lord said this to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker counts years, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.

Isaiah 21:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 21:16

For thus hath the Lord said unto me
The prophet; which confirms what is before said, as well as assures the accomplishment of what follows: within a year, according to the years of an hireling;
that is, exactly and precisely, as soon as ever the year is come to an end; for the hireling, when his year is up, instantly demands dismissal from his service, or his wages, or both. The time is to be reckoned from the delivery of this prophecy; and so the calamity predicted was brought upon them by the Assyrians, perhaps under Sennacherib, when he invaded the cities of Judah, and might take Arabia in his way; less time is allowed than was the Moabites, who suffered by the same hand; see ( Isaiah 16:14 ) : and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
these were another sort of Arabians, as the Targum calls them: they descended from Kedar, a son of Ishmael, ( Genesis 25:13 ) their "glory" were their multitude, their riches and substance, and which chiefly lay in their flocks; for the sake of which they moved from place to place for pasture, and dwelled in tents, which they carried with them, and pitched where it was most convenient for them; hence they were called Scenites; see ( Psalms 120:5 ) ( Song of Solomon 1:5 ) .

Isaiah 21:16 In-Context

14 bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives.

15 They flee from the sword, from the drawn sword, from the bent bow and from the heat of battle.

16 This is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a servant bound by contract would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.

17 The survivors of the archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few.” The LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.

Cross References

• 1. S Leviticus 25:50; Isaiah 16:14
• 2. S Isaiah 17:3
• 3. S Genesis 25:13; Psalms 120:5; Isaiah 60:7