The pronouncement concerning Edom: One keeps calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night?”
Parallel translations
- WEB The burden of Dumah. One calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”
- KJV The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?
- BSB This is the burden against Dumah: One calls to me from Seir, “Watchman, what is left of the night? Watchman, what is left of the night?”
- NKJV The burden against Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?”
- NLT This message came to me concerning Edom: Someone from Edom keeps calling to me, “Watchman, how much longer until morning? When will the night be over?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
An oracle concerning Edom, with a voice asking the watchman about the night. It matters because it portrays a people anxiously seeking word about their fate.
Overview
The 'burden of Dumah' concerns Edom (Seir), whose people call out, 'Watchman, what of the night?' The question expresses anxious longing to know whether their dark trial will end. It captures the universal human craving for assurance about the future. The brief oracle shows even distant nations falling under the scope of God's word through Isaiah.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Gen 25:14Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
- Obad 1:1–16The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Lord Yahweh says about Edom. We have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, “Arise, and let’s rise up against her in battle.
- Amos 1:6Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Gaza, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they carried away captive the whole community, to deliver them up to Edom;
- Joel 3:19Egypt will be a desolation, and Edom will be a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
- Deut 2:5Don’t contend with them; for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as for the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given Mount Seir to Esau for a possession.
- Ezek 35:1–15Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
- 1 Chr 1:30Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
- Isa 34:1–17Come near, you nations, to hear! Listen, you peoples. Let the earth and all it contains hear; the world, and everything that comes from it.
- Jer 49:7–22Of Edom. Yahweh of Armies says: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
- Jer 37:17then Zedekiah the king sent, and fetched him. The king asked him secretly in his house, and said, “Is there any word from Yahweh?” Jeremiah said, “There is.” He said also, “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”
- Ps 137:7Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, “Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!”
- Num 24:18Edom shall be a possession. Seir, his enemies, also shall be a possession, while Israel does valiantly.
- Isa 21:6For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
- Mal 1:2–4“I have loved you,” says Yahweh. Yet you say, “How have you loved us?” “Wasn’t Esau Jacob’s brother?” says Yahweh, “Yet I loved Jacob;
- Gen 32:3Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.
- Isa 63:1–6Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Who this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
- Amos 1:11–12Yahweh says: “For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because he pursued his brother with the sword, and cast off all pity, and his anger raged continually, and he kept his wrath forever;
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Christ at the center
Isaiah sees him most clearly: the virgin's son Immanuel, the child on David's throne, the shoot from Jesse, the light to the nations, and above all the Suffering Servant pierced for our transgressions (ch. 53).
How Isaiah 21:11 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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