Isaiah 21:16 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 21:16 mean?

Isaiah 21:16 announces that Kedar’s proud strength will come to an end within one year. Kedar was a group of people associated with the Arabian desert. The verse presents their downfall as a message the Lord gave to Isaiah.

The phrase “according to the years of an hireling” pictures a worker whose agreed period of service is carefully counted. The image gives weight to the deadline: the year is to be measured precisely, not loosely.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 21:16

• “hireling” — שָׂכִיר (sakhir): A hired worker, employed for an agreed period. The word helps explain why the length of time is presented as something to count carefully.
• “glory” — כָּבוֹד (kavod): Honor, splendor, or importance. Here the word points to what made Kedar impressive, rather than simply to a person’s reputation.
• “fail” — כָּלָה (kalah): To come to an end or be brought to completion. The word gives the announcement a sense of finality.

Why Isaiah 21:16 matters

• The message concerns a community’s strength, not merely its standing in other people’s eyes. The next verse names the remaining “mighty men” and their bows, giving a concrete picture of the loss.

• The deadline is part of the message’s force. “Within a year” and the hired worker’s counted term make the announcement immediate for those who first heard it.

• Isaiah presents the announcement as received, not as his own guess. “The Lord said unto me” identifies Isaiah as the messenger passing on the words.