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Isaiah 16:3
ESV "Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive;
NIV "Make up your mind," Moab says. "Render a decision. Make your shadow like night— at high noon. Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees.
NASB 'Give us advice, make a decision; Cast your shadow like night at high noon; Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive.
CSB Give us counsel and make a decision. Shelter us at noonday with shade that is as dark as night. Hide the refugees; do not betray the one who flees.
NLT 'Help us,' they cry. 'Defend us against our enemies. Protect us from their relentless attack. Do not betray us now that we have escaped.
KJV Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
NKJV “Take counsel, execute judgment; Make your shadow like the night in the middle of the day; Hide the outcasts, Do not betray him who escapes.

What does Isaiah 16:3 mean?

The survivors of the slaughter of Moab's cities are on the run. Their invaders may have been the Assyrian army. These refugees travelled south into the nation of Edom to escape the massacre. Now they are asking Judah for asylum until it is safe to return to their own land (Isaiah 16:1–2). The request itself begins here.

The people of Moab (Genesis 19:34–37) are neighbors of Judah, living on the west side of the Dead Sea. Historically, the Moabites were frequent enemies of Israel (Numbers 23:7; 25:1; Judges 3:12–14; 2 Kings 3:5). The people of Moab reach out to the leaders of Judah and ask them to "give counsel" or "declare your decision." They ask for justice or fairness for those on the run from harm.

Using poetic language that would have been well understood by all desert-dwellers, the Moabites make their request. They ask Judah to make a "shade for them" that is as dark as night even during the middle of the day. The picture is of a rock overhang or cave in the middle of a blisteringly sunny day in the desert. Covering, including from the sun, is a common biblical metaphor for physical protection (Psalm 17:8; Isaiah 51:6).

Finally, the Moabites ask the leaders of Judah to allow these fleeing people to conceal themselves, without revealing them to their enemies. The remnant of Moab wants Judah to let them hide out in their territory.
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