Isaiah 21:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prophet is physically overwhelmed by the intensity of the vision he receives.
The Context of Isaiah 21:3
Isaiah's physical and emotional response emphasizes the gravity of the vision.
What Does Isaiah 21:3 Mean?
Isaiah's response to the vision is not detached intellect but bodily anguish. He compares his pain to labor pangs—the most intense physical agony known to ancient experience. This shows the seer fully absorbed in the weight of what God reveals, not merely reporting facts but suffering under their moral gravity.
The physical collapse—bowed down, dismayed—establishes how real and present the coming events feel to the prophet. He is not calm; he trembles before what he has seen. This visceral response signals to the reader that what follows is not speculation but received divine truth.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 21:3
What does Isaiah 21:3 mean?
The prophet is physically overwhelmed by the intensity of the vision he receives.
What is the context of Isaiah 21:3?
Isaiah's physical and emotional response emphasizes the gravity of the vision.