The oracle concerning Dumah: This is similar to the titles of the other oracles against foreign nations (see, for example, 13.1). For Dumah see the introductory comments on this section [21.11-12].

One is calling to me from Seir: The prophet hears someone calling him from Edom, asking about the situation in Dumah. One is calling translates a Hebrew participle, which may be rendered “Someone is calling” or “Someone calls” (Good News Translation). The pronoun me refers to the prophet, who also appears to be the watchman since the caller addresses him as such. Seir is another name for Edom (see Gen 32.3), and translators can make this clear as Good News Translation does. An alternative model for the first two lines is “This is a message about Dumah. Someone calls me from Edom, saying.”

Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?: This repeated question conveys a sense of urgency. Some versions express the second question a little differently than the first one (for example, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible), probably for stylistic reasons. Contemporary English Version combines them into one question, but it is better to keep the repetition for its emphasis. The Hebrew noun rendered Watchman comes from a different root than the one used in the previous oracle at verse 6. Here the root means “to keep/guard.” Some versions make a distinction, but others use the same rendering for both (so Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation “Sentry,” Contemporary English Version “Guard”).

The meaning of the question here is not clear. There is not enough context to help us interpret it. What of the night? is literally “what from the night?” New International Version and Revised English Bible have “what is left of the night?” while New American Bible says “how much longer the night?” Bible en français courant has “how far has the night gone?” What these questions imply is expressed in Good News Translation with “how soon will the night be over?” Contemporary English Version is similar with “how much longer before daylight?” We recommend keeping the word night because of its possible connotation of war (see the introductory comments on this section [21.11-12]). New Jerusalem Bible thinks the question is asking about the time, so it says “what time of night?” It could be asking about the time of night, but also whether anything happened during the night or how the watchman spent it. So translators have a choice on how to render this question, since there can be no certainty about its meaning. However, they should anticipate verse 12, where the answer to the question is given. This will ensure that the dialogue runs smoothly.

For the translation of this verse consider the following example:

• The oracle concerning Dumah.*
Someone is calling me from the region of Seir [or, Edom]:
“Watchman, what of the night? What of the night?”

* Dumah was an oasis in northern Arabia. This name in Hebrew can mean “silence.” Some translations have “Edom” here, which may be meant.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .