The Meaning of Isaiah 21:5 Explained

Isaiah 21:5

KJV: Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

YLT: Arrange the table, watch in the watch-tower, Eat, drink, rise, ye heads, anoint the shield,

Darby: Prepare the table, appoint the watch; eat, drink: arise, ye princes, anoint the shield.

ASV: They prepare the table, they set the watch, they eat, they drink: rise up, ye princes, anoint the shield.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Prepare  the table,  watch  in the watchtower,  eat,  drink:  arise,  ye princes,  [and] anoint  the shield. 

What does Isaiah 21:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If the setting for the prophecy was the embassy of Merodach-baladan, the people who set the table and provide a meal refers to the Judeans. They entertained representatives of the nation under divine judgment (Babylon) who, as they dined with the Judeans, planned war against them among themselves. [1] The Assyrians captured and destroyed Babylon in686 B.C. Another possibility is that Isaiah saw a banquet in Babylon (cf. Daniel 5). The plan for battle would, in that case, be that of Babylon"s invading enemy, perhaps the Medes and Persians. [2]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 21

1  The prophet, bewailing the captivity of his people,
6  sees in a vision the fall of Babylon by the Medes and Persians
11  Edom, scorning the prophet, is moved to repentance
13  The set time of Arabia's calamity

What do the individual words in Isaiah 21:5 mean?

Prepare the table Set a watchman in the tower Eat and drink Arise you princes Anoint the shield -
עָרֹ֧ךְ הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן צָפֹ֥ה הַצָּפִ֖ית אָכ֣וֹל שָׁתֹ֑ה ק֥וּמוּ הַשָּׂרִ֖ים מִשְׁח֥וּ מָגֵֽן פ

עָרֹ֧ךְ  Prepare 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: עָרַךְ  
Sense: to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare.
הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן  the  table 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֻׁלְחָן  
Sense: table.
צָפֹ֥ה  Set  a  watchman 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: צָפָה  
Sense: to lay out, lay over, overlay, cover.
הַצָּפִ֖ית  in  the  tower 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָפָה  
Sense: to lay out, lay over, overlay, cover.
אָכ֣וֹל  Eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
שָׁתֹ֑ה  and  drink 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
ק֥וּמוּ  Arise  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
הַשָּׂרִ֖ים  princes 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
מִשְׁח֥וּ  Anoint 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: מָשַׁח  
Sense: to smear, anoint, spread a liquid.
מָגֵֽן  the  shield 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: מָגֵן 
Sense: shield, buckler.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation