Isaiah 21:9
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horsemen, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, fully alert.”
8 Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.
Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”
10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.
11 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?”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Look, here come the riders, horsemen in pairs.” And one answered, saying: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon! All the images of her gods lie shattered on the ground!”
- KJV
- And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
- WEB
- Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs.” He answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground.
- ASV
- and, behold, here cometh a troop of men, horsemen in pairs. And he answered and said, Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the graven images of her gods are broken unto the ground.
- DARBY
- And behold, there cometh a chariot of men; horsemen by pairs. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
- BLB
- And behold this, the chariot of a man is coming, [with] a pair of horses.” And he answered and said, “Fallen, Babylon has fallen! And all the images of her gods He has broken to the ground!”
- ÅB
- men se der! Der kommer et tog av ridende menn, par av ryttere! - Og han tok til orde og sa: Falt, falt er Babel, og alle dets guders bilder har han[^4] knust og kastet til jorden.
- OTB
- Og se, her kommer en vogn med menn, med et par ryttere. Og han svarte og sa: ‘Babylon har falt, har falt! Alle bildene av dens guder ligger knust på bakken!’”
- B1930
- men se der! Der kommer et tog av ridende menn, par av ryttere! - Og han tok til orde og sa: Falt, falt er Babel, og alle dets guders billeder har han knust og kastet til jorden. / < fienden. JER 51, 8. ÅPE 14, 8; 18, 2. 10.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.
Read in contextJeremiah 51:8
Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been shattered. Wail for her; get her balm for her pain; perhaps she can be healed.
Read in contextRevelation 14:8
Then a second angel followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of her immorality.”
Read in contextJeremiah 51:44
I will punish Bel in Babylon. I will make him spew out what he swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him; even the wall of Babylon will fall.
Read in contextIsaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
Read in contextIsaiah 46:1–2
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal.
Read in contextJeremiah 50:42
They grasp the bow and spear; they are cruel and merciless. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride upon horses, lined up like men in formation against you, O Daughter of Babylon.
Read in contextIsaiah 14:4
you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended!
Read in context