Isaiah 21:16
in Isaiah 21For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
KJV
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:
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This verse in Isaiah 21
Commentary
9 notes on this verseFor 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.
This site's exposition
as a hired worker would count it
on Isaiah 21:16-17
The term is fixed: "Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone". "The remaining archers, the warriors of Kedar, will be few". Barnes and Delitzsch note that the closing words seal the oracle as the book seals other timed predictions.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Verse 16, 17.) For thus saith the Lord to me: Within one year, as the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away, and the residue of the number of archers of the mighty men of the children of Cedar shall be diminished: for the Lord God of Israel hath spoken it. Therefore I said to you: Run ye to meet with water, and with bread, them that flee from the face of the battle.
(Verse 13 onwards) Burden in Arabia. In the evening you will sleep in the thicket, in the paths of Dodanim. Bring water to the thirsty ones you encounter: you who live in the land of the South, offer bread to the ones fleeing. Because they have fled from the swords, from the menacing sword, from the drawn bow, from the severity of battle.
The Medieval Church1 voice
525. Second, because they refuse to do this, he threatens punishment: for thus says the Lord. And first, by the Assyrians, from whom was authority of destruction of the Jews, and the destruction itself: within a year, according to the years of a hireling, which …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
He repeats the question, as one in care, as one in earnest, and desirous to have an answer. Note, (1.) God's prophets and ministers are appointed to be watchmen, and we are to look upon them as such. They are as watchmen in the city in a time of peace, to see that all be safe, to knock at every door by personal enquiries ("Is it locked?
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
2 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. 3 Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it;
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
A year - From the time of this prophecy: an exact year. Glory - Their power, and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory. This was executed by the Assyrians.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Within a year - What has been said before was figurative. Here the prophet speaks without a metaphor, and fixes the time when this should be accomplished. It is not usual for the prophets to designate the exact “time” of the fulfillment of their prophecies in this manner. According to the years of an hireling - Exactly; observing the precise time specified Job 7:1. See the phrase explained on Isa 16:14. All the glory - The beauty, pride, strength, wealth, etc. Of Kedar - Kedar was a son of Ishmael Gen 25:
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כֹ֛ה | khoh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַ֥ר | ʾamar | he has said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲדֹנָ֖י | ʾadonai | [the] Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| אֵלָ֑י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| בְּע֤וֹד | beod | in yet | H5750 → | 490 times |
| שָׁנָה֙ | shanah | a year | H8141 → | 877 times |
| כִּשְׁנֵ֣י | kishnei | like [the] years of | H8141 → | 877 times |
| שָׂכִ֔יר | sakhir | a hired laborer | H7916 → | |
| וְכָלָ֖ה | vekhalah | and it will be finished | H3615 → | 208 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| כְּב֥וֹד | kevod | [the] splendor of | H3519 → | 200 times |
| קֵדָֽר׃ | kedar | Kedar | H6938 → | 12 times |
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
כֹ֛הthus
khohH3541 →577 times
אָמַ֥רhe has said
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
אֲדֹנָ֖י[the] Lord
ʾadonaiH136 →440 times
אֵלָ֑יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
בְּע֤וֹדin yet
beodH5750 →490 times
שָׁנָה֙a year
shanahH8141 →877 times
כִּשְׁנֵ֣יlike [the] years of
kishneiH8141 →877 times
שָׂכִ֔ירa hired laborer
sakhirH7916 →
וְכָלָ֖הand it will be finished
vekhalahH3615 →208 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
כְּב֥וֹד[the] splendor of
kevodH3519 →200 times
קֵדָֽר׃Kedar
kedarH6938 →12 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 60:7All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you and go up on My altar with acceptance; I will adorn My glorious house.
it leads to
- Genesis 25:13
These are the names of the sons of Ishmael in the order of their birth: Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 56:7
I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called…
- Genesis 25:13
Through
Song of Solomon 1:5I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
it leads to
- Song of Solomon 2:14
O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is…
- Luke 15:22
But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
- Psalms 120:5
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
- Song of Solomon 5:8
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.
- Song of Solomon 2:7
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
- Song of Solomon 2:14
Through
Psalms 120:5Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
it leads to
- Genesis 10:2
The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
- Genesis 10:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Isaiah
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.