For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.

ISAIAH 21:15KJV
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Isaiah 21:15 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 21:15 mean?

Isaiah 21:15 explains why the people mentioned just before it need help: they are fleeing a battle. The verse brings the danger close, describing weapons ready for use and the crushing pressure of war.

The drawn sword and bent bow picture weapons prepared to strike, rather than weapons lying unused. Coming after the call to bring food to fugitives in verse 14, Isaiah’s description lets the first hearers see the urgent need behind that call.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 21:15

  • “grievousness” — כֹּבֶד (koved): This word carries the sense of heaviness or weight. Here it pictures war as a burden bearing down on the people who flee.
  • “bent” — דָּרַךְ (darakh): This word can describe the action of treading or pressing. With a bow, it refers to drawing it into position for use.

Why Isaiah 21:15 matters

  • The verse explains the refugees’ need in concrete terms. The repeated “from” names danger after danger, giving force to the request in verse 14 to bring them bread.
  • The people in view belong to a named group in the surrounding passage. Verse 13 mentions the travelling companies of Dedanim, and verse 14 addresses the inhabitants of Tema. The flight in verse 15 is part of a message about people and places in Arabia.
  • The later mention of Kedar helps set the flight within a wider crisis. Verses 16–17 speak of Kedar’s glory coming to an end and its remaining archers becoming few.

Where else these words appear

“grievousness” Hebrew H3514 · used in 4 verses

  • Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.
  • Isaiah 30:27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:
  • Nahum 3:3 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:

“fled” Hebrew H5074 · used in 26 verses

  • Genesis 31:40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
  • Psalms 64:8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
  • Isaiah 22:3 All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.

“drawn” Hebrew H5203 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
  • 1 Samuel 30:16 And when he had brought him down, behold, they were spread abroad upon all the earth, eating and drinking, and dancing, because of all the great spoil that they had taken out of the land of the Philistines, and out of the land of Judah.
  • Isaiah 16:8 For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.

“bent” Hebrew H1869 · used in 59 verses

  • Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
  • Psalms 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
  • Jeremiah 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.