Isaiah 21:1

The Lord Will Judge Babylon

21:1 Here is a message about the Desert by the Sea: ¹ 

Like strong winds blowing in the south, ² 

one invades from the desert,

from a land that is feared.

Isaiah 25:3

25:3 So a strong nation will extol you;

the towns of ³  powerful nations will fear you.

Isaiah 41:13

41:13 For I am the Lord your God,

the one who takes hold of your right hand,

who says to you, ‘Don’t be afraid, I am helping you.’

Isaiah 43:5

43:5 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

From the east I will bring your descendants;

from the west I will gather you.

Isaiah 54:14

54:14 You will be reestablished when I vindicate you. ⁴ 

You will not experience oppression; ⁵ 

indeed, you will not be afraid.

You will not be terrified, ⁶ 

for nothing frightening ⁷  will come near you.

Isaiah 64:3

64:3 When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, ⁸ 

you came down, and the mountains trembled ⁹  before you.

[21:1]  ¹ sn The phrase is quite cryptic, at least to the modern reader. Verse 9 seems to indicate that this message pertains to Babylon. Southern Mesopotamia was known as the Sealand in ancient times, because of its proximity to the Persian Gulf. Perhaps the reference to Babylon as a “desert” foreshadows the destruction that would overtake the city, making it like a desolate desert.

[21:1]  ² tn Or “in the Negev” (NASB).

[25:3]  ³ tn The Hebrew text has a singular form, but it should be emended to a plural or eliminated altogether. The noun may have been accidentally copied from the preceding verse.

[54:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “in righteousness [or “vindication”] you will be established.” The precise meaning of צְדָקָה (tsÿdaqah) here is uncertain. It could mean “righteousness, justice,” indicating that the city will be a center for justice. But the context focuses on deliverance, suggesting that the term means “deliverance, vindication” here.

[54:14]  ⁶ tn Heb “Be far from oppression!” The imperative is used here in a rhetorical manner to express certainty and assurance. See GKC 324 §110.c.

[54:14]  ⁷ tn Heb “from terror.” The rhetorical command, “be far” is understood by ellipsis here. Note the preceding context.

[54:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “it,” i.e., the “terror” just mentioned.

[64:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “[for which] we were not waiting.”

[64:3]  ⁸ tn See the note at v. 1.