Isaiah 21:16
◄  Isaiah 21:16  ►
New International Version (©2011)
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.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The Lord said to me, "Within a year, counting each day, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end.

English Standard Version (©2001)
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.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
For thus the Lord said to me, "In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate;

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
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:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
For the Lord said this to me: "Within one year, as a hired worker counts years, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.

International Standard Version (©2012)
For this is what the LORD is saying to me: "Within three years, according to the years of a contract worker, the pomp of Kedar will come to an end.

NET Bible (©2006)
For this is what the sovereign master has told me: "Within exactly one year all the splendor of Kedar will come to an end.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
This is what the Lord says to me: All of Kedar's honor will be gone in another year. I will count it like workers count the years left on their contracts.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For thus has the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

American King James Version
For thus has the LORD said to me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

American Standard Version
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;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For thus saith the Lord to me: Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Cedar shall be taken away.

Darby Bible Translation
For thus hath the Lord said unto me: Within a year, according to the years of a hired servant, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;

English Revised Version
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:

Webster's Bible Translation
For thus hath the Lord said to me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:

World English Bible
For the Lord said to me, "Within a year, as a worker bound by contract would count it, all the glory of Kedar will fail,

Young's Literal Translation
For thus said the Lord unto me: 'Within a year, as years of a hireling, Consumed hath been all the honour of Kedar.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:13-17 The Arabians lived in tents, and kept cattle. A destroying army shall be brought upon them, and make them an easy prey. We know not what straits we may be brought into before we die. Those may know the want of necessary food who now eat bread to the full. Neither the skill of archers, nor the courage of mighty men, can protect from the judgments of God. That is poor glory, which will thus quickly come to nothing. Thus hath the Lord said to me; and no word of his shall fall to the ground. We may be sure the Strength of Israel will not lie. Happy are those only whose riches and glory are out of the reach of invaders; all other prosperity will speedily pass away.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - Within a year, according to the years of an hireling (see the comment on Isaiah 16:14). All the glory of Kedar shall fail. "Kedar" is a name of greater note than either Dedan or Tome. It seems to be used here as inclusive of Dedan, perhaps as a designation of the northern Arabians generally. The people of Kedar, like those of Dedan, carried on trade with Tyro (Ezekiel 27:21). They dwelt partly in tents (Psalm 120:5; Jeremiah 49:29), partly in villages (Isaiah 42:11), and were rich in flocks and herds and in camels. Though not mentioned in the inscriptions of Sargon, Sennacherib, or Esarhaddon, the contemporaries of Isaiah, they hold a prominent place in those of Esarhaddon's son and successor, Asshurbanipal, with whom they carried on a war of some considerable duration in conjunction with the Nabathaeans (G. Smith, 'History of Asshur-bani-pal,' pp. 261-290).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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 Psalm 120:5.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. years of … hireling—(See on [719]Isa 16:14).

Kedar—a wandering tribe (Ps 120:5). North of Arabia-Petræa, and south of Arabia-Deserta; put for Arabia in general.

Isaiah 21:16 Parallel Commentaries

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A Prophecy against Arabia
…15For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war. 16For thus has the LORD said to me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail: 17And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel has spoken it.

Psalm 120:5 Woe to me that I dwell in Meshek, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
Song of Solomon 1:5 Dark am I, yet lovely, daughters of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Kedar, like the tent curtains of Solomon.
Isaiah 16:14 But now the LORD says: "Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab's splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble."
Isaiah 42:11 Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.
Isaiah 60:7 All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.
Jeremiah 2:10 Cross over to the coasts of Cyprus and look, send to Kedar and observe closely; see if there has ever been anything like this:
Jeremiah 49:28 Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked: This is what the LORD says: "Arise, and attack Kedar and destroy the people of the East.
Ezekiel 27:21 "'Arabia and all the princes of Kedar were your customers; they did business with you in lambs, rams and goats.