Jesaja 16:11

11 Darum rauscht mein Herz über Moab wie eine Harfe und mein Inwendiges über Kir-Heres.

Jesaja 16:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 16:11

Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab
Making a noise as the harp does, and a mournful one as that, when used at funerals; which it makes when it is stricken or played on with the hand, as these were, through the afflictive and punitive hand of God; and which, when stricken, causes a quavering of the strings, to which the inward trembling of the bowels is compared, and is very expressive of the prophet's sympathy, or those he personates; for, when one string of the harp is touched, the rest sound. For these words, as Kimchi says, are spoken in the language of the Moabites; those that survived lamenting the desolate state of their country, which must be very great and affecting; and to show that it was so is the design of the prophet's expressing himself after this manner; for if it was painful to him, it must be much more so to them; so the Targum,

``wherefore the bowels of the Moabites shall sound as a harp;''

of the sounding of the bowels, see ( Isaiah 63:15 ) ( Jeremiah 4:9 ) : and mine inward parts for Kirharesh:
the same with Kirhareseth, ( Isaiah 16:7 ) which being a principal city, the destruction of it was greatly laid to heart. The Targum is,

``and their heart shall grieve for the men of the city of their strength;''

it being a strong city, in which they placed their confidence; but being destroyed, and the inhabitants of it, it was very affecting, to which agrees ( Jeremiah 48:31 ) .

Jesaja 16:11 In-Context

9 Darum weine ich um Jaser und um den Weinstock zu Sibma und vergieße viel Tränen um Hesbon und Eleale. Denn es ist ein Gesang in deinen Sommer und in deine Ernte gefallen,

10 daß Freude und Wonne im Felde aufhört, und in den Weinbergen jauchzt noch ruft man nicht. Man keltert keinen Wein in den Keltern; ich habe dem Gesang ein Ende gemacht.

11 Darum rauscht mein Herz über Moab wie eine Harfe und mein Inwendiges über Kir-Heres.

12 Alsdann wird's offenbar werden, wie Moab müde ist bei den Altären und wie er zu seinem Heiligtum gegangen sei, zu beten, und doch nichts ausgerichtet habe.

13 Das ist's, was der HERR dazumal gegen Moab geredet hat.