Isaiah 13:1-22

1. Burden] The corresponding verb means 'to lift up' (a) a load, (b) the voice (cp. Isaiah 3:7; Isaiah 42:2; Isaiah 42:11), used of Balaam lifting up his voice in oracular utterance (Numbers 24:3; Numbers 24:15; Numbers 24:23). Hence the noun signifies an utterance, or oracle (e.g. 2 Kings 9:25), and is often prefixed, as here, to prophetic utterances (Zechariah 9:1; Zechariah 12:1; Proverbs 31:1). Since it is often applied to threatening utterances, the meaning of 'burden' is also suitable. In Jeremiah 23:33 there is a play on the two meanings of the word.