Isaiah 21:11-12
The oracle concerning Dumah. One is calling to me from Seir, “Watchman, what time of the night? Watchman, what time of the night?” The watchman says: “Morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; come back again.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The question "Watchman, what of the night?" is not just a simple inquiry about the time; it carries a desperate plea from Seir, longing to know if the current darkness of distress is nearing its end. The repetition emphasizes their intense anxiety and urgent hope for relief, highlighting their precarious position.
This oracle addresses "Dumah," a name likely alluding to Edom, as the prophet hears a voice calling from Seir, the mountainous region of Edom. The question, repeated for emphasis, asks the watchman (Isaiah) about the state of the night, expressing anxiety and a desperate hope for the end of their current distress. This inquiry comes as the surrounding nations face upheaval, and Edom, like others, anxiously seeks assurance about their future amidst impending judgment and change.
The oracle is declared concerning 'Dumah.' What's in a name? For Isaiah, a lot. This name holds a chilling prophecy of silence and judgment for a nation.
The name 'Dumah' itself carries significant weight. While there was a geographical location by that name, many scholars suggest Isaiah is playing on its meaning: 'silence.'
Imagine the scene: darkness, uncertainty, and a desperate voice cutting through the night. Who is crying out, and why the repeated question?
The cry, 'Watchman, what time of the night?' comes from 'Seir,' the mountainous region of the Edomites. This wasn't just a casual inquiry; it was loaded with anxiety and perhaps even a mocking tone.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 21:11-12 is available in the Sola app.
Understand the original words
massa' · Hebrew Noun
A prophetic utterance, burden, or pronouncement from God, often carrying a heavy or solemn message of judgment or instruction.
Se'ir · Hebrew Proper Noun
An ancient mountain range and region east of the Arabah, associated with the descendants of Esau (Edom), often representing a people outside the covenant who nevertheless seek divine revelation.
tsopeh · Hebrew Noun
One assigned to keep guard and look out from a tower or wall for approaching danger or messengers, metaphorically used for prophets who watch over the spiritual state of God's people.
This prophecy emerges during a period of intense geopolitical upheaval, as empires rise and fall. Edom, a region with a complex and often antagonistic relationship with Judah, anxiously inquires about the 'night' of distress, likely fearing its own fate in the wake of Babylonian and later Persian power shifts. Isaiah's cryptic reply suggests a coming 'morning' of deliverance for Judah, but a 'night' of judgment for Edom, highlighting God's sovereign hand in the destinies of nations.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Assyrian Invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, besieges Jerusalem, and demands tribute. Many Judean cities are destroyed, and many people are taken captive, but Jerusalem is miraculously spared.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting Israelites to Babylon, including members of the royal family and the educated elite.
c. 587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, leading to the final and largest deportation of Judeans to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 550-539 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus the Great unites the Medes and Persians, conquering the Babylonian Empire and opening the way for the return of exiled peoples to their homelands.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Prophecy Regarding Edom
Isaiah delivers this oracle concerning Dumah (likely referring to Edom/Idumea), a neighboring people who historically had strained relations with Israel and rejoiced over Judah's suffering.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, fulfilling prophecy and allowing for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles.
This passage echoes the theme of divine judgment on Edom, described here as rejoicing over Israel's ruin and facing God's retribution.
Lamentations 4:21-22It highlights Edom's pride and insolence towards Judah during their distress, a similar sentiment to the taunting question posed in Isaiah 21:11.
Psalm 137:7This Psalm expresses the deep hurt and desire for vengeance against Edom for their actions during Jerusalem's fall, providing context for the animosity between the nations.
Jeremiah 49:7-10This prophecy also addresses Edom, predicting their downfall and the scattering of their inhabitants, mirroring the oracle of Dumah.
Obadiah 1:10-14Obadiah directly condemns Edom for their violence and betrayal against their kinsmen, Judah, during a time of crisis, aligning with the antagonistic relationship implied in Isaiah.
cambridgeIsaiah 21:11: "The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"
11 . The burden of Dumah ] The best known place of this name is the Dûmat el-Jendel (“rocky Dumah”) of the Arabian geographers (mentioned in Genesis 25:14 ). It lay to the north of Tema ( Isaiah 21:14 ) and south-east of Seir. Jerome is the sole authority for the statement that there was a Dumah in the land of Seir. The word here, however, is probably a play on the name E…
barnesIsaiah 21:11: "The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?"
Analysis of Isaiah 21:11 , Isaiah 21:12 . - VISION 17. Dumah, or Idumea. This prophecy is very obscure. It comprises but two verses. When it was delivered, or on what occasion, or what was its design, it is not easy to determine. Its brevity has contributed much to its obscurity; nor, amidst the variety of interpretations which have been proposed, is it possible to ascert…
The question "Watchman, what of the night?" is not just a simple inquiry about the time; it carries a desperate plea from Seir, longing to know if the current darkness of distress is nearing its end. The repetition emphasizes their intense anxiety and urgent hope for relief, highlighting their precarious position.
This oracle addresses "Dumah," a name likely alluding to Edom, as the prophet hears a voice calling from Seir, the mountainous region of Edom. The question, repeated for emphasis, asks the watchman (Isaiah) about the state of the night, expressing anxiety and a desperate hope for the end of their current distress. This inquiry comes as the surrounding nations face upheaval, and Edom, like others, anxiously seeks assurance about their future amidst impending judgment and change.
This oracle addresses "Dumah," a name likely alluding to Edom, as the prophet hears a voice calling from Seir, the mountainous region of Edom. The question, repeated for emphasis, asks the watchman (Isaiah) about the state of the night, expressing anxiety and a desperate hope for the end of their current distress. This inquiry comes as the surrounding nations face upheaval, and Edom, like others, anxiously seeks assurance about their future amidst impending judgment and change.
"The oracle concerning Dumah.
One is calling to me from Seir,
“Watchman, what time of the night?
Watchman, what time of the night?” The watchman says:
“Morning comes, and also the night.
If you will inquire,…" — The question "Watchman, what of the night?" is not just a simple inquiry about the time; it carries a desperate plea from Seir, longing to know if the current darkness of distress is nearing its end.…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.