To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just a simple call for kindness; it highlights the proactive nature of true hospitality. The phrasing "prevented with their bread him that fled" emphasizes that the people of Tema didn't wait for the desperate to arrive as beggars, but actively went out to meet them, anticipating their needs with crucial supplies.
To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse shifts focus from an impending invasion of Arabia to an act of compassion. The prophet has just described the plight of traveling companies of Dedanim, driven from their routes by enemies and forced to seek refuge. Now, Isaiah calls on the people of Tema, another Arabian tribe, to provide for these desperate fugitives, highlighting hospitality in a time of war and displacement.
In a land where water is life and scarcity is a constant threat, the act of offering refreshment wasn't just kind—it was profound. This verse reveals a deeply ingrained cultural value.
A Vital Tradition
The command to "bring water to the thirsty" and "meet the fugitive with bread" speaks volumes about the culture of ancient Arabia. In the harsh desert environment, water was incredibly scarce, making the offering of it a life-saving act. Similarly, providing food to someone fleeing danger was an immediate demonstration of care and protection.
This wasn't just a nice gesture; it was a fundamental aspect of their societal code. The commentators note that this kind of hospitality was essential for survival and deeply respected. It's seen as a common humanity, especially in lands where resources were difficult to come by.
This practice even echoes in historical accounts and cultural poetry, highlighting that hospitality was a virtue proudly upheld by tribes like those in Tema.
The word 'prevent' in this verse carries a deeper meaning than we often assume. It speaks of proactive care, of meeting a need before it even has to be voiced.
Anticipating Needs
The phrase "they prevented with their bread him that fled" uses the word "prevent" in its older sense: to go before, to anticipate. This wasn't about stopping someone, but about actively seeking them out to offer aid.
Imagine the scene: instead of waiting for the desperate fugitive to arrive at their doorstep, the people of Tema went out to meet them. They didn't wait to be asked; they proactively supplied bread, showing a remarkable level of compassion and urgency.
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This proactive care is a powerful testament to their commitment to the safety and well-being of those in distress, even when doing so might carry its own risks in a turbulent region.
Understand the original words
tsame' · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Those experiencing a profound lack of essential resources, here literal, but often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe those spiritually depleted or in desperate need of God’s provision.
nadad · Hebrew Noun
One who is fleeing or running away, usually from violence, danger, or judgment, and who is in a vulnerable, displaced state.
This prophecy unfolds against a backdrop of shifting imperial powers – Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian – that created instability and forced migrations throughout Arabia. The call for compassion to the fugitives highlights how even in times of conquest and displacement, acts of humanity and hospitality remain vital.
c. 9th-8th centuries BC
Assyrian Domination of Arabia
The Assyrian Empire exerted significant influence and control over parts of Arabia, including regions inhabited by descendants of Ishmael. This period saw increased raids and military campaigns into the region.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The fall of the northern kingdom of Israel to the Assyrians led to widespread displacement and upheaval in the region, potentially impacting trade routes and neighboring peoples.
c. 605 BC
Babylonian Domination Begins
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins his campaigns, marking the rise of Babylonian power and its eventual dominance over the region, including areas of Arabia.
c. 550 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power would have significant implications for all the lands formerly under Babylonian influence, including Arabia.
c. 540 BC— this verse
Prophecy Delivered
Isaiah delivers this prophecy concerning the desert tribes of Arabia, foretelling their distress and the need for hospitality amidst conflict and flight.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon
The Persian Empire conquers Babylon. This event, predicted by Isaiah, would have ended the Babylonian oppressions and brought a new era of Persian rule, impacting the entire region.
This passage speaks about the importance of hospitality and providing for strangers, even those who might be enemies, directly paralleling the act of providing bread and water to those in need described in Isaiah.
Jeremiah 25:23-24Jeremiah also connects Tema with other Arab tribes, indicating a shared regional context and potential shared fate or interaction, reinforcing the specific mention of Tema in Isaiah's prophecy.
Job 6:19Job mentions the caravans of Tema and the companies of Sheba seeking water, illustrating the precarious existence and the vital importance of water for desert travelers, which is central to the act of kindness described in Isaiah.
Matthew 25:35Jesus' teaching about feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty directly echoes the compassionate act of the Tema inhabitants, highlighting this as a fundamental expression of love and care.
bensonIsaiah 21:14: "The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled."
Isaiah 21:14-15 . The inhabitants of the land of Tema — Another part of Arabia, (of which see Job 6:19 ; Jeremiah 25:23 ,) namely, the posterity of Tema, Ishmael’s son; brought water to him that was thirsty — To the Dedanites, who are here represented as being reduced to great straits, being forced to flee from the enemy without any provision for their subsis…
barnesIsaiah 21:14: "The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled."
Of the land of Tema - Tema was one of the sons of Ishmael Genesis 25:15 , and is supposed to have populated the city of Thema in Arabia Deserta. The word denotes hero one of the tribes of Ishmael, or of the Arabians. Job speaks Job 6:19 of 'the troops of Tema,' and Jeremiah Jer 25:23 connects Tema and Dedan together. Jerome and Eusebius say that the village o…
This verse isn't just a simple call for kindness; it highlights the proactive nature of true hospitality. The phrasing "prevented with their bread him that fled" emphasizes that the people of Tema didn't wait for the desperate to arrive as beggars, but actively went out to meet them, anticipating their needs with crucial supplies.
This verse shifts focus from an impending invasion of Arabia to an act of compassion. The prophet has just described the plight of traveling companies of Dedanim, driven from their routes by enemies and forced to seek refuge. Now, Isaiah calls on the people of Tema, another Arabian tribe, to provide for these desperate fugitives, highlighting hospitality in a time of war and displacement.
This verse shifts focus from an impending invasion of Arabia to an act of compassion. The prophet has just described the plight of traveling companies of Dedanim, driven from their routes by enemies and forced to seek refuge. Now, Isaiah calls on the people of Tema, another Arabian tribe, to provide for these desperate fugitives, highlighting hospitality in a time of war and displacement.
"To the thirsty bring water; meet the fugitive with bread, O inhabitants of the land of Tema." — This verse isn't just a simple call for kindness; it highlights the proactive nature of true hospitality. The phrasing "prevented with their bread him that fled" emphasizes that the people of Tema…
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Last reviewed October 2026