Isaiah 21:10 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 21:10 mean?

Isaiah 21:10 presents the prophet speaking to his suffering people. He tells them that his message about Babylon comes from the LORD, the God of Israel, rather than from his own guesswork. He has passed on what he heard.

Isaiah calls the people “my threshing” and “the corn of my floor.” The image pictures grain being beaten out on a threshing floor, suggesting people who have been crushed by hardship. Following the announcement of Babylon’s fall in verse 9, Isaiah addresses them with personal concern.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 21:10

• “threshing” — מְדֻשָּׁה (medushah): This word refers to what has been threshed, or beaten to separate grain from its husks. Isaiah uses the farming image to address people marked by severe pressure.
• “corn” — בֵּן (ben): This word commonly means “son” or “child.” The phrase behind “corn of my floor” can be understood as “child of my threshing floor,” giving the image a personal tone. In the KJV, “corn” means grain, not necessarily maize.

Why Isaiah 21:10 matters

• The message has a named source. Isaiah says he heard it from “the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel,” and then declared it to his hearers.
• The fall of Babylon matters to people who have suffered. Isaiah follows that announcement by addressing the people as his own, using the words “my threshing” and “my floor.”
• Isaiah presents himself as a messenger. His words “have I declared unto you” focus attention on his passing along what he received.