And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.

ISAIAH 21:17KJV
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Isaiah 21:17 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 21:17 mean?

Isaiah 21:17 says that Kedar’s fighting strength will be greatly reduced. Its skilled archers and warriors will be few in number, and the verse presents that loss as something the LORD, Israel’s God, has declared.

After the one-year limit given in verse 16, Isaiah focuses on the people who remain from Kedar’s armed men. “Children of Kedar” means the people descended from Kedar, rather than young children alone.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 21:17

  • “residue” — שְׁאָר (she’ar): This means what remains. Here it directs attention to the survivors among Kedar’s warriors.
  • “archers” — קֶשֶׁת (qeshet): This word means “bow” and can refer to those who use bows. The KJV makes clear that the verse is counting fighters, not their weapons.

Why Isaiah 21:17 matters

  • The verse gives a concrete picture of Kedar’s loss of standing. Verse 16 speaks of “all the glory of Kedar,” while verse 17 points to the reduced number of its mighty men.
  • The closing words give the prediction its authority. “The LORD God of Israel hath spoken it” presents the outcome as God’s declaration, rather than Isaiah’s estimate of Kedar’s strength.

Where else these words appear

“Kedar” Hebrew H6938 · used in 11 verses

  • Genesis 25:13 And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
  • Song of Solomon 1:5 I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.
  • Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

“diminished” Hebrew H4591 · used in 21 verses

  • Exodus 12:4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
  • Numbers 11:32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
  • Psalms 107:39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

“residue” Hebrew H7605 · used in 25 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 11:8 And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
  • Nehemiah 11:1 And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.
  • Isaiah 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

“archers” Hebrew H7198 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 9:13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.
  • 2 Chronicles 17:17 And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand.
  • Isaiah 66:19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.