Isaiah 16:8-14

8 For Heshbon withers the fields, the vine of Sibmah; rulers of nations have broken down her tendrils, they reached up to Jazer, they wandered [to the] desert; her shoots spread abroad, they crossed over [the] sea.

9 Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer [for] the vine of Sibmah. I drench you [with] my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh, for a jubilant shout has fallen over your summer fruit and harvest.

10 And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful land, and in the vineyards no one exults, no one shouts for joy; no treader treads wine in the presses; I have put to an end to [the] jubilant shout.

11 Therefore my {heart moans} like [a] harp for Moab and my inner parts for Kir-heres.

12 And this shall happen: when Moab appears, when it is weary upon the high place and it comes to its sanctuary to pray, it will not prevail.

13 This [was] the word that Yahweh spoke to Moab {in the past}.

14 But now Yahweh speaks, saying, "In three years, like [the] years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will become contemptible, with all of the great multitude, and [the] remnant [will be] a few, small, not strong.

Isaiah 16:8-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 16

This chapter is a continuation of the prophecy against Moab; in which the prophet gives good advice, but in case of a haughty neglect of it, which he foresaw, threatens with ruin, and fixes a time for it. He advises the Moabites to pay their tribute to the king of Judah, or otherwise they should be turned out of their land, as a bird out of its nest, Isa 16:1,2 to protect, and not betray the people of the Jews that should flee to them, because of the Assyrian army, Isa 16:3,4 and for this end gives a great character of the king of Judah, and assures them of the stability of his kingdom, Isa 16:5 but for their pride, wrath, and lying, they are threatened with destruction, and are represented as howling under it, Isa 16:6,7 because of the spoil of their cities, vineyards, and fields, so that they have no harvest, nor vintage, nor gathering of summer fruits, or joy on these accounts, Isa 16:8-10 for which even the prophet expresses a concern, Isa 16:11 and after having observed the application of the Moabites to their gods without success, Isa 16:12 the chapter is closed with an assurance of the certain ruin of Moab, and of the time when it should be, Isa 16:13,14.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "tear"
• [b]. The Hebrew is singular
• [c]. Literally "intestines moan,"; in Hebrew, the "intestines" are the seat of the emotions, which would correspond to the "heart" in English
• [d]. Literally "from then"