For thus hath the LORD said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.
Parallel translations
- WEB For the Lord said to me, “Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees.
- BSB For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
- NKJV For thus has the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees.”
- NASB For this is what the Lord says to me: “Go, station the lookout, have him report what he sees.
- NLT Meanwhile, the Lord said to me, “Put a watchman on the city wall. Let him shout out what he sees.
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
The Lord commands a watchman to be posted to report what he sees. It matters because it frames the prophet as a watchman awaiting God's verdict on Babylon.
Overview
God instructs that a sentinel be set to watch and announce coming events. The watchman motif portrays the prophet's task of vigilant attentiveness to God's unfolding word. He must faithfully declare whatever is revealed, however grave. The image underscores the seriousness and responsibility of the prophetic office.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Ezek 33:2–7Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
- Ezek 3:17Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
- Hab 2:1–2I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
- 2 Kgs 9:17–20And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
- Isa 62:6I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
- Jer 51:12–13Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 21:6 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.