Isaiah 21:4

4 My mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark.

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 see a terrifying vision: I see the betrayer betraying, the destroyer destroying. Go ahead, you Elamites and Medes, attack and lay siege. I will make an end to all the groaning Babylon caused.

3 My stomach aches and burns with pain. Sharp pangs of anguish are upon me, like those of a woman in labor. I grow faint when I hear what God is planning; I am too afraid to look.

4 My mind reels and my heart races. I longed for evening to come, but now I am terrified of the dark.

5 Look! They are preparing a great feast. They are spreading rugs for people to sit on. Everyone is eating and drinking. But quick! Grab your shields and prepare for battle. You are being attacked!

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