Isaiah 21:5

"My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me."

Key Reflection

Isaiah 21:5 conveys a profound sense of unease and foreboding. The prophet describes his heart as fluttering, indicating intense anxiety or fear, while the phrase "horror has frightened me" underscores a deep-seated dread. This verse reflects the cultural context of Isaiah's time, where such emotions might have been triggered by impending political or military events. The transformation from "twilight that I desired" to "trembling for me" symbolizes how what was initially anticipated as a peaceful transition or period of hope has instead become a source of fear and instability. This vivid imagery encapsulates the uncertainty and anxiety experienced during times of turmoil, mirroring broader themes of divine judgment and impending crises in Isaiah's prophecy.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Prepare the table -This verse is one of the most striking and remarkable that occurs in this prophecy, or indeed in any part of Isaiah. It is language supposed to be spoken in Babylon. The first direction - perhaps supposed to be that of the king - is to prepare the table for the feast. Then follows a direction to set a watch - to make the city safe, so that they might revel without fear. Then a command to eat and drink: and then immediately a sudden order, as if alarmed at an unexpected attack, to arise and anoint the shield, and to prepare for a defense.

More from Isaiah 21

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