Isaiah 22:3
New International Version
All your leaders have fled together; they have been captured without using the bow. All you who were caught were taken prisoner together, having fled while the enemy was still far away.

New Living Translation
All your leaders have fled. They surrendered without resistance. The people tried to slip away, but they were captured, too.

English Standard Version
All your leaders have fled together; without the bow they were captured. All of you who were found were captured, though they had fled far away.

Berean Standard Bible
All your rulers have fled together, captured without a bow. All your fugitives were captured together, having fled to a distant place.

King James Bible
All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.

New King James Version
All your rulers have fled together; They are captured by the archers. All who are found in you are bound together; They have fled from afar.

New American Standard Bible
All your rulers have fled together, And have been captured without the bow; All of you who were found were taken captive together, Though they had fled far away.

NASB 1995
All your rulers have fled together, And have been captured without the bow; All of you who were found were taken captive together, Though they had fled far away.

NASB 1977
All your rulers have fled together, And have been captured without the bow; All of you who were found were taken captive together, Though they had fled far away.

Legacy Standard Bible
All your rulers have fled together, And have been captured without the bow; All of you who were found were captured together, Though they had fled far away.

Amplified Bible
All your leaders have fled together [with your king], And have been captured without the bow [which they had thrown away]; All of you who were found were taken captive together, Though they had fled far away.

Christian Standard Bible
All your rulers have fled together, captured without a bow. All your fugitives were captured together; they had fled far away.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All your rulers have fled together, captured without a bow. All your fugitives were captured together; they had fled far away.

American Standard Version
All thy rulers fled away together, they were bound by the archers; all that were found of thee were bound together; they fled afar off.

Contemporary English Version
Your leaders ran away, but they were captured without a fight. No matter how far they ran, they were found and caught.

English Revised Version
All thy rulers fled away together, they were bound by the archers: all that were found of thee were bound together, they fled afar off.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All your leaders fled together and were captured without their bows and arrows. All those who were found were taken prisoner before any of them could get far away.

Good News Translation
All your leaders ran away and were captured before they shot a single arrow.

International Standard Version
All your leaders have fled together; she is captured without using bows. All of you who were caught were captured together, although they had fled while the enemy was still far away.

Majority Standard Bible
All your rulers have fled together, captured without a bow. All your fugitives were captured together, having fled to a distant place.

NET Bible
All your leaders ran away together--they fled to a distant place; all your refugees were captured together--they were captured without a single arrow being shot.

New Heart English Bible
All your rulers fled away together. They were bound by the archers. All who were found by you were bound together. They fled far away.

Webster's Bible Translation
All thy rulers have fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, who have fled from far.

World English Bible
All your rulers fled away together. They were bound by the archers. All who were found by you were bound together. They fled far away.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
All your rulers fled from the bow together, "" All found of you have been bound, "" They have been kept bound together, "" They have fled far off.

Young's Literal Translation
All thy rulers fled together from the bow, Bound have been all found of thee, They have been kept bound together, Afar off they have fled.

Smith's Literal Translation
All thy chiefs fled together, they were bound of the bow: all they finding thee were bound together; they fled from from far off.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
All the princes are fled together, and are bound hard: all that were found, are bound together, they are fled far off.

Catholic Public Domain Version
All your leaders have fled together, and they have been bound by hardship. All who were found were chained together. They have fled far away.

New American Bible
All your leaders fled away together, they were captured without use of bow; All who were found were captured together, though they had fled afar off.

New Revised Standard Version
Your rulers have all fled together; they were captured without the use of a bow. All of you who were found were captured, though they had fled far away.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
All your princes are fled together, they are surrounded by the archers; all that were found in you are bound together; they have fled to far off places.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
All your rulers broke away as one from the archers. They who were left with you were bound; they were bound as one and they fled afar off
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
All thy rulers are fled together, Without the bow they are bound; All that are found of thee are bound together, they are fled afar off.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
All thy princes have fled, and thy captives are tightly bound, and the mighty men in thee have fled far away.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Valley of Vision
2O city of commotion, O town of revelry? Your slain did not die by the sword, nor were they killed in battle. 3All your rulers have fled together, captured without a bow. All your fugitives were captured together, having fled to a distant place. 4Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”…

Cross References
2 Kings 25:4-7
Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. / The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him. ...

Jeremiah 39:4-7
When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and they went out along the route to the Arabah. / But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him. / There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the nobles of Judah. ...

Jeremiah 52:7-11
Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled the city by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. / The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on Zedekiah. ...

Lamentations 4:19-20
Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness. / The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”

2 Chronicles 36:17-20
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, / who carried off everything to Babylon—all the articles of the house of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king and his officials. / Then the Chaldeans set fire to the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned down all the palaces and destroyed every article of value. ...

Ezekiel 12:12-13
And at dusk the prince among them will lift his bags to his shoulder and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land. / But I will spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, and there he will die.

Jeremiah 38:22-23
All the women who remain in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon, and those women will say: ‘They misled you and overcame you—those trusted friends of yours. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you.’ / All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. And you yourself will not escape their grasp, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down.”

Jeremiah 21:9
Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.

Jeremiah 32:4
Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hands of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye.

Jeremiah 34:3
And you yourself will not escape his grasp, but will surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face; and you will go to Babylon.

Matthew 24:16-18
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Luke 21:21-24
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. / How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. ...

Mark 13:14-16
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

2 Kings 24:12
Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive.

2 Kings 24:15-16
Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. / The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle.


Treasury of Scripture

All your rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in you are bound together, which have fled from far.

thy rulers

Isaiah 3:1-8
For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, …

2 Kings 25:4-7,18-21
And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain…

Jeremiah 39:4-7
And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain…

by the archers.

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Isaiah 22
1. The prophet laments the invasion of Jerusalem
8. He reproves their human wisdom and worldly joy
15. He prophesies Shebna's deprivation
20. And the substitution of Eliakim, prefiguring the kingdom of Christ.














All your rulers have fled together
This phrase speaks to the leadership of Jerusalem during a time of crisis. The Hebrew word for "rulers" is "קָצִין" (qatsin), which can refer to commanders or leaders. Historically, this reflects a moment when those in positions of authority abandoned their posts, highlighting a failure in leadership. In a spiritual sense, it serves as a warning against placing trust in human leaders rather than in God. The unity implied by "together" suggests a collective failure, emphasizing the importance of steadfastness and courage in leadership roles.

fled together
The Hebrew root for "fled" is "נוס" (nus), meaning to flee or escape. This conveys a sense of urgency and fear, indicating that the situation was dire enough to cause even the leaders to abandon their responsibilities. Theologically, this can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual retreat in the face of adversity, urging believers to stand firm in faith rather than succumb to fear.

captured without a bow
This phrase suggests that the rulers were taken without a fight, indicating a surrender or capture that occurred without resistance. The "bow" symbolizes military strength and defense, and its absence implies a lack of preparedness or willingness to defend the city. Historically, this could point to a siege or invasion where the leaders were overwhelmed. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder of the futility of relying solely on human strength and the importance of spiritual readiness and reliance on God.

All who were caught
The repetition of "all" emphasizes the totality of the situation, indicating that none were spared. The Hebrew word "תָּפַשׂ" (taphas) for "caught" implies being seized or captured, often used in contexts of being taken by force. This highlights the inevitability of judgment when one is unprepared or disobedient to God's commands. It serves as a call to vigilance and faithfulness in one's spiritual walk.

were taken prisoner together
The phrase "taken prisoner" underscores the consequences of the leaders' actions, or lack thereof. The Hebrew "שָׁבָה" (shabah) means to take captive, often used in the context of exile or bondage. The word "together" again emphasizes the collective nature of their fate, suggesting that the community suffers when its leaders fail. This can be seen as a call to accountability and the importance of righteous leadership in guiding others towards God's will.

having fled to a distant place
This final phrase indicates the extent of their flight, suggesting a complete abandonment of their responsibilities. The Hebrew "רָחוֹק" (rachowq) for "distant" implies not just physical distance but also a spiritual or moral departure. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of turning away from God's path and the consequences of seeking refuge in worldly solutions rather than divine guidance. This encourages believers to remain steadfast and close to God, even in times of trial.

(3) They are bound by the archers.--Better, fettered without the bow. The taunting charge of cowardice is carried farther. The rulers had ventured on a sortie, and had been captured without a struggle, not even drawing their bows in their defence.

Verse 3. - All thy rulers are fled together; rather, all thy chief men. We must make allowance for Oriental hyperbole. The meaning is that numbers of the principal men, regarding resistance as vain, had endeavored to make their escape from the doomed town, but had been captured and bound by the enemies' archers. All that are found in thee; rather, belonging to thee. The reference is to those who had made their escape and were fleeing far away. The archers seize them, and bind them all together. We often see a number of captives bound together by a single rope in the Egyptian bas-reliefs. Which have fled from far; rather, which were flying far away.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your rulers
קְצִינַ֥יִךְ (qə·ṣî·na·yiḵ)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 7101: A magistrate, other leader

have fled
נָֽדְדוּ־ (nā·ḏə·ḏū-)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5074: To wave to and fro, to rove, flee, to drive away

together,
יַ֖חַד (ya·ḥaḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly

captured
אֻסָּ֑רוּ (’us·sā·rū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

without a bow.
מִקֶּ֣שֶׁת (miq·qe·šeṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7198: A bow, for, shooting, the iris

All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your fugitives
נִמְצָאַ֙יִךְ֙ (nim·ṣā·’a·yiḵ)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

were captured
אֻסְּר֣וּ (’us·sə·rū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

together,
יַחְדָּ֔ו (yaḥ·dāw)
Adverb
Strong's 3162: A unit, unitedly

having fled
בָּרָֽחוּ׃ (bā·rā·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1272: To bolt, to flee suddenly

to a distant place.
מֵרָח֖וֹק (mê·rā·ḥō·wq)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7350: Remote, of place, time, precious


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 22:3 All your rulers fled away together (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 22:2
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