God’s people are called to compassionate hospitality that meets both physical and spiritual needs.
The prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the kingdom of Judah from around 740 BC to 681 BC, continues his oracle concerning various nations and regions. In Isaiah 21:14, he delivers a call to show hospitality: “Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.” (v.14) Tema is an oasis area located in northwestern Arabia, placing it along significant trade routes of the ancient Near East. By directly addressing the inhabitants of Tema, Isaiah shows God’s concern for providing refuge and compassion in the midst of turmoil. This reflects a broader biblical theme of caring for the needy, which is also found in Matthew 25:35.
In this verse, “Bring water for the thirsty … Meet the fugitive with bread” (v.14), Isaiah emphasizes a specific action: the people of Tema are to attend to those who are fleeing or wandering. Water and bread symbolize the most basic provisions of life, and God’s prophet calls upon those with resources to share with those without. In the culture of the ancient Near East, offering such sustenance was not only an act of mercy but a matter of survival in desert conditions. This act of hospitality mirrors the compassionate love that Jesus likewise taught in His ministry, urging His followers to care for the stranger, the wounded, and the outcast.
Isaiah’s message here reminds the faithful that they serve God through practical acts of kindness. Observing that the fugitives or sojourners in need must be met and supported, we see a foreshadowing of Christ’s teaching about welcoming strangers. By showing hospitality, even in the harsh dryness of the Arabian setting, the inhabitants of Tema demonstrate the living embodiment of faith, carrying on a truth that resonates powerfully in the rest of Scripture (Romans 12:13).
Set to dark mode
Isaiah 21:14 meaning
The prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the kingdom of Judah from around 740 BC to 681 BC, continues his oracle concerning various nations and regions. In Isaiah 21:14, he delivers a call to show hospitality: “Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread.” (v.14) Tema is an oasis area located in northwestern Arabia, placing it along significant trade routes of the ancient Near East. By directly addressing the inhabitants of Tema, Isaiah shows God’s concern for providing refuge and compassion in the midst of turmoil. This reflects a broader biblical theme of caring for the needy, which is also found in Matthew 25:35.
In this verse, “Bring water for the thirsty … Meet the fugitive with bread” (v.14), Isaiah emphasizes a specific action: the people of Tema are to attend to those who are fleeing or wandering. Water and bread symbolize the most basic provisions of life, and God’s prophet calls upon those with resources to share with those without. In the culture of the ancient Near East, offering such sustenance was not only an act of mercy but a matter of survival in desert conditions. This act of hospitality mirrors the compassionate love that Jesus likewise taught in His ministry, urging His followers to care for the stranger, the wounded, and the outcast.
Isaiah’s message here reminds the faithful that they serve God through practical acts of kindness. Observing that the fugitives or sojourners in need must be met and supported, we see a foreshadowing of Christ’s teaching about welcoming strangers. By showing hospitality, even in the harsh dryness of the Arabian setting, the inhabitants of Tema demonstrate the living embodiment of faith, carrying on a truth that resonates powerfully in the rest of Scripture (Romans 12:13).