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,
Parallel Translations
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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,
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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:
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For thus hath the Lord said unto me: 'Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail;
Cross-references (10)
Passages linked to Isaiah 21:16 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Psalms 120:5 Woe is me, that I live in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
- Song of Solomon 1:5 I am dark, but lovely, you daughters of Jerusalem, like Kedar’s tents, like Solomon’s curtains.
- Isaiah 16:14 But now Yahweh has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as a worker bound by contract would count them, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”
- Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you. The rams of Nebaioth will serve you. They will be accepted as offerings on my altar; and I will beautify my glorious house.
- Jeremiah 49:28 Of Kedar, and of the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck. Yahweh says: “Arise, go up to Kedar, and destroy the children of the east.
- Ezekiel 27:21 “ ‘ “Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar were the merchants of your hand; in lambs, rams, and goats. In these, they were your merchants.
- Genesis 25:13 These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
- Isaiah 42:11 Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, with the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains!
- 1 Chronicles 1:29 These are their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
- Job 7:1 “Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain He appointeth them respite for one year only, and…
He appointeth them respite for one year only, and then they should be destroyed.
Read Isa. 16:14.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Isa 21:16 For thus hath the Lord said unto…
Isa 21:16 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:
Ver. 16. Within a year, after the years of an hireling.] See on Isa 16:14; before the year be come about.
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All the glory of Kedar.] Whose tents {Psa 120:5} were rude, but rich. {Son 1:5} {See Trapp on "Son 1:5"}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Within a year, from the time of this prophecy.
Within a year, from the time of this prophecy.
According to the years of an hireling, to wit, an exact year; for hirelings diligently observe and wait for the end of the year, when they are to receive their wages.
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All the glory; their power, and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory. This was executed by the Assyrians.
Kedar; of whom see on Psa 120:5; Jer 49:28.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain For thus hath the Lord said unto me,.... The…
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 Isa 16:14,
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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, Gen 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 Psa 120:5.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain A year - From the time of this prophecy:…
A year - From the time of this prophecy: an exact year. Glory - Their power, and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory. This was executed by the Assyrians.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Isa 21:16-17. For thus hath the Lord said —…
Isa 21:16-17. For thus hath the Lord said — Hitherto the prophet had spoken figuratively: now he ceases to do so; within a year — From the time of the delivery of this prophecy, according to the years of a hireling — Namely, an exact year: for hirelings diligently observe and wait for the end of the year, when they are to receive their wages. And this prophecy “was probably delivered about the same time with the rest in this part of the book, that is, soon before or after the 14th of Hezekiah, the year of Sennacherib’s invasion. In his first march into Judea, or in his return from the Egyptian expedition, he might, perhaps, overrun these several clans of Arabians, whose distress, on some such occasion, is the subject of this prophecy.” — Bishop Lowth. And all the glory of Kedar shall fail — Their power and riches, and all things wherein they used to glory The Kedarenes were another division of the Arabians, descended from Kedar, Ishmael’s son, (Gen 25:13,) who were famous for the use of the bow, as is intimated in Isa 21:17, at which weapon their ancestor Ishmael was very expert, Gen 21:20. The same people are said to dwell in the tents of Kedar, (Psa 120:5; Son 1:5,) and were remarkable for their swarthiness, the word Kedar signifying black or tawny. It is here foretold that they should suffer a grievous slaughter, whereby their mighty men should be diminished, and that they should be deprived of their flocks, tents, furniture, and wealth, and be obliged to save themselves by fleeing into the interior parts of the desert.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Within a year - What has been said before…
Within a year - What has been said before was figurative. Here the prophet speaks without a metaphor, and fixes the time when this should be accomplished. It is not usual for the prophets to designate the exact “time” of the fulfillment of their prophecies in this manner.
According to the years of an hireling - Exactly; observing the precise time specified Job 7:1. See the phrase explained on Isa 16:14.
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All the glory - The beauty, pride, strength, wealth, etc.
Of Kedar - Kedar was a son of Ishmael Gen 25:15. He was the father of the Kedareneans or “Cedrai,” mentioned by Pithy (“Nat. Hist.” v. 11). They dwelt in the neighborhood of the Nabatheans, in Arabia Deserta. These people lived in tents, and were a wandering tribe, and it is not possible to fix the precise place of their habitation. They resided, it is supposed, in the south part of Arabia Deserts, and the north part of Arabia Petrea. The name ‘Kedar’ seems to be used sometimes to denote Arabia in general, or Arabia Deserts particularly (see Psa 120:5; Son 1:5; Isa 42:11; Isa 60:7; Jer 2:10; Jer 49:28; Eze 26:21).
Shall fail - Shall be consumed, destroyed (כלה kâlâh).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Hireling; counting precisely, chap. xvi. 14. (Calmet) --- Cedar:…
Hireling; counting precisely, chap. xvi. 14. (Calmet) --- Cedar: Arabia, (Challoner) near to Edom. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain years of . . . hireling--(See on Isa 16:14).
years of . . . hireling--(See on Isa 16:14).
Kedar--a wandering tribe (Psa 120:5). North of Arabia-Petræa, and south of Arabia-Deserta; put for Arabia in general.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 16. Years of a hireling — The desert carriers…
16. Years of a hireling — The desert carriers had probably become rich, and plunder was the object of assaults upon them. The prophet sees that God is to permit them, that is,
Kedar — the representative term for all Arabian carriers — to be impoverished. These, and all their glory of wealth and protective guards are to be ruined within a year, as the hireling figure runs — hired for one year.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 16. according to the years of a hireling] See…
16. according to the years of a hireling] See on Isa_16:14.
Kedar] a tribe of pastoral nomads (Isa_60:7; Eze_27:21) in the Syrian desert (Jer_2:10), is here apparently a comprehensive designation of the north Arabian tribes (cf. Son_1:5; Psa_120:5).
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (16) According to the years of an hireling .…
(16) According to the years of an hireling . . . The prophet uses, as in Isa_16:14, the formula which expressed the most precise measurement, and so gives a test as to his forecast of the future.
And all the glory of Kedar shall fail.—Kedar is used, as in Psa_120:5, Son_1:5, generically for the nomadic tribes of Arabia, including Dedan.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Within a year, according to the years of an…
Isa_21:16-17
Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, sad all the glory of Kedar shall fail
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End of the year: a warning and a lesson
I.
A TERRIBLE THREATENING. We have here a prophecy of the fall of a nation, which had held a proud position by reason of prowess and skill in war. But glory founded on physical strength, upon wealth, or upon power, may speedily fade away. With all the study of economics we seem to know but little even now, and we have found, many times of late, how trifling a matter may lead to the overthrow of existing engagements and conditions. Much less stable is the glory of a nation built upon the strength of its arms. A nations glory is safe only when it is founded upon righteousness and obedience to God.
II. A TIME FIXED. Within a year. How different the feeling in looking back over a year and looking forward! The retrospect--bow short a time, how quickly passed, how little done, and yet what changes have taken place! How the number of the mighty have diminished! The prospect--what a long time, what hopes we have, what possibilities are in it! To us as a nation, to us in our families, to us as persons. Are we prepared for them! The fall of the glory of Kedar was announced to come within the year. Forbearance must have its limits. A boundary to life, to sin, to indulgence; but within a given period the time of reckoning must he fixed.
III. THE ATTITUDE WE SHOULD ADOPT. Standing on the threshold of a new year, let us consider our position. Certain it is that some will fall within the year. Men shall be diminished. Let our influence, by example and precept, be exerted to found our national glory, not upon our skill in arms, on our insular position, on our wealth, but upon true obedience to God. The number of those who form the glory of the Church will be diminished this year. Are the younger people preparing themselves to fill the vacant places? There is a warning here, that those who trust in aught but in Jehovah will find their glory naught but folly. There is also encouragement. The God of Israel hath spoken it. To him that walketh uprightly and serveth God humbly, shall glory be revealed from day to day, until the full glory of God is revealed to us in the life beyond. (Frank Mabin.)
According the years of an hireling
In a years time, calculated as exactly as is the custom between employers and employed, Kedars freedom, military strength, numbers, and wealth shall have vanished. (F. Delitzsch.)
The number of archers
They [the sons of Kedar] are numbered hero, not by heads, but by bows, so specifying the fighting men--a mode of numbering common, e.g., among the Indians of America. (F. Delitzsch.)
Within a year
A sensible person said he could never covet the office of chief magistrate of London, because that honour continued only one year. Might not the idea be justly extended to all the honours and enjoyments of this life? None of them are permanent. (Anon.)
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The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 as a laborer hired for a year would see…
as a laborer hired for a year would see it
"as a hired laborer would count the days of a year." A hired worker is careful to count the days so that he works exactly the amount of time he is paid to work. This means Kedar will be defeated in exactly one year. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
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of Kedar
This is a region in Arabia. Kedar represents the population of Kedar. AT: "of the people of Kedar" (See: How to Translate Names and Metonymy)
translationWords
year
labor
glory
archer
Yahweh
God
Israel
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 21:16 Kedar was an Arabian tribe that had great…
21:16 Kedar was an Arabian tribe that had great wealth and possessions (see 60:7; Ezek 27:21).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.