Isaiah 21:5 net — Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!

NET Bible

"Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!"

— Isaiah 21:5, NET Bible

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Isaiah 21:5 in Other Translations

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Isaiah 21 — Context

2

I have received a distressing message:“The deceiver deceives, the destroyer destroys. Attack, you Elamites! Lay siege, you Medes! I will put an end to all the groaning!”

3

For this reason my stomach churns; cramps overwhelm me like the contractions of a woman in labor. I am disturbed by what I hear, horrified by what I see.

4

My heart palpitates, I shake in fear; the twilight I desired has brought me terror.

5

Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!

6

For this is what the Lord has told me:“Go, post a guard! He must report what he sees.

7

When he sees chariots, teams of horses, riders on donkeys, riders on camels, he must be alert, very alert.”

8

Then the guard cries out:“On the watchtower, O Lord, I stand all day long; at my post I am stationed every night.

Isaiah 21:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Isaiah 21:5 say?
Isaiah 21:5 in the NET Bible reads: “Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!”
Where is Isaiah 21:5 in the Bible?
Isaiah 21:5 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 21, verse 5.
Who wrote Isaiah?
Isaiah is traditionally attributed to Isaiah son of Amoz. Many critical scholars propose multiple authors ("Deutero-" and "Trito-Isaiah") for chapters 40–66; conservative scholarship holds to single Isaianic authorship. It was written c. 740–680 BC.
What is the book of Isaiah about?
Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament — a sweeping vision of God's holiness, Judah's sin, coming judgment, and a promised Servant who would bear the iniquity of many. From "Holy, holy, holy" to "by his stripes we are healed," Isaiah speaks the gospel before the gospel.
What are the major themes of Isaiah?
Isaiah explores themes including Holiness, Judgment, Servant of the LORD, Hope, Salvation, Restoration. These themes shape the meaning and context of Isaiah 21:5.
What translation should I read Isaiah 21:5 in?
Isaiah 21:5 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Isaiah 21:5?
Isaiah 21:5 reads (NET): “Arrange the table, lay out the carpet, eat and drink! Get up, you officers, smear oil on the shields!” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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