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Isaiah chapter 16

English Standard Version

1 Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3"Give counsel; grant justice; make your shade like night at the height of noon; shelter the outcasts; do not reveal the fugitive; 4let the outcasts of Moab sojourn among you; be a shelter to them from the destroyer. When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, 5 then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness." 6 We have heard of the pride of Moab — how proud he is! — of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence; in his idle boasting he is not right. 7Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth. 8For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have struck down its branches, which reached to Jazer and strayed to the desert; its shoots spread abroad and passed over the sea. 9Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for over your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has ceased. 10 And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting. 11Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth. 12And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.
13This is the word that the Lord spoke concerning Moab in the past. 14But now the Lord has spoken, saying, "In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who remain will be very few and feeble."
New International Version

1Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, across the desert, to the mount of Daughter Zion.
2Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3"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.
4Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer." The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land.
5In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it— one from the house of David— one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness. 6We have heard of Moab’s pride— how great is her arrogance!— of her conceit, her pride and her insolence; but her boasts are empty. 7Therefore the Moabites wail, they wail together for Moab. Lament and grieve for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth. 8The fields of Heshbon wither, the vines of Sibmah also. The rulers of the nations have trampled down the choicest vines, which once reached Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots spread out and went as far as the sea. 9So I weep, as Jazer weeps, for the vines of Sibmah. Heshbon and Elealeh, I drench you with tears! The shouts of joy over your ripened fruit and over your harvests have been stilled. 10Joy and gladness are taken away from the orchards; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards; no one treads out wine at the presses, for I have put an end to the shouting. 11My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth. 12When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.
13This is the word the Lord has already spoken concerning Moab. 14But now the Lord says: "Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble."
New American Standard Bible

1Send the tribute lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela by way of the wilderness to the mountain of the daughter of Zion. 2Then, like fluttering birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of Moab will be at the crossing places of the Arnon. 3'Give us advice, make a decision; Cast your shadow like night at high noon; Hide the outcasts, do not betray the fugitive. 4Let the outcasts of Moab stay with you; Be a hiding place to them from the destroyer.' For the oppressor has come to an end, destruction has ceased, Oppressors have been removed from the land. 5A throne will be established in faithfulness, And a judge will sit on it in trustworthiness in the tent of David; Moreover, he will seek justice, And be prompt in righteousness. 6We have heard of the pride of Moab, an excessive pride; Even of his arrogance, pride, and fury; His idle boasts are false. 7Therefore Moab will wail; everyone of Moab will wail. You will moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth As those who are utterly stricken. 8For the fields of Heshbon have withered, the vines of Sibmah as well; The lords of the nations have trampled down its choice clusters Which reached as far as Jazer and wandered to the deserts; Its tendrils spread themselves out and passed over the sea. 9Therefore I will weep bitterly for Jazer, for the vine of Sibmah; I will drench you with my tears, Heshbon and Elealeh; For the shouting over your summer fruits and your harvest has fallen away. 10Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruitful field; In the vineyards also there will be no cries of joy or jubilant shouting, No treader treads out wine in the presses, For I have made the shouting to cease. 11Therefore my inner being sounds like a harp for Moab. And my heart for Kir-hareseth.
12So it will come about when Moab presents himself, When he tires himself upon his high place And comes to his sanctuary to pray, That he will not prevail.
13This is the word which the Lord spoke earlier concerning Moab. 14But now the Lord has spoken, saying, 'Within three years, as a hired worker would count them, the glory of Moab will become contemptible along with all his great population, and his remnant will be very small and impotent.'
Christian Standard Bible

1Send lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela in the desert to the mountain of Daughter Zion. 2Like a bird fleeing, forced from the nest, the daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon. 3Give 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.
4Let my refugees stay with you; be a refuge for Moab from the aggressor. When the oppressor has gone, destruction has ended, and marauders have vanished from the land, 5a throne will be established in love, and one will sit on it faithfully in the tent of David, judging and pursuing what is right, quick to execute justice. 6We have heard of Moab’s pride — how very proud he is— his haughtiness, his pride, his arrogance, and his empty boasting. 7Therefore let Moab wail; let every one of them wail for Moab. You who are completely devastated, mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth. 8For Heshbon’s terraced vineyards and the grapevines of Sibmah have withered. The rulers of the nations have trampled its choice vines that reached as far as Jazer and spread to the desert. Their shoots spread out and reached the sea. 9So I join with Jazer to weep for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest.
10Joy and rejoicing have been removed from the orchard; no one is singing or shouting for joy in the vineyards. No one tramples grapes in the winepresses. I have put an end to the shouting. 11Therefore I moan like the sound of a lyre for Moab, as does my innermost being for Kir-heres. 12When Moab appears and tires himself out on the high place and comes to his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good.
13This is the message that the Lord previously announced about Moab. 14And now the Lord says, "In three years, as a hired worker counts years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, in spite of a very large population. And those who are left will be few and weak."
New Living Translation

1Send lambs from Sela as tribute to the ruler of the land. Send them through the desert to the mountain of beautiful Zion. 2The women of Moab are left like homeless birds at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River. 3'Help us,' they cry. 'Defend us against our enemies. Protect us from their relentless attack. Do not betray us now that we have escaped.
4Let our refugees stay among you. Hide them from our enemies until the terror is past.' When oppression and destruction have ended and enemy raiders have disappeared, 5then God will establish one of David’s descendants as king. He will rule with mercy and truth. He will always do what is just and be eager to do what is right.
6We have heard about proud Moab — about its pride and arrogance and rage. But all that boasting has disappeared. 7The entire land of Moab weeps. Yes, everyone in Moab mourns for the cakes of raisins from Kir-hareseth. They are all gone now. 8The farms of Heshbon are abandoned; the vineyards at Sibmah are deserted. The rulers of the nations have broken down Moab — that beautiful grapevine. Its tendrils spread north as far as the town of Jazer and trailed eastward into the wilderness. Its shoots reached so far west that they crossed over the Dead Sea.
9So now I weep for Jazer and the vineyards of Sibmah; my tears will flow for Heshbon and Elealeh. There are no more shouts of joy over your summer fruits and harvest. 10Gone now is the gladness, gone the joy of harvest. There will be no singing in the vineyards, no more happy shouts, no treading of grapes in the winepresses. I have ended all their harvest joys. 11My heart’s cry for Moab is like a lament on a harp. I am filled with anguish for Kir-hareseth. 12The people of Moab will worship at their pagan shrines, but it will do them no good. They will cry to the gods in their temples, but no one will be able to save them.
13The Lord has already said these things about Moab in the past. 14But now the Lord says, 'Within three years, counting each day, the glory of Moab will be ended. From its great population, only a feeble few will be left alive.'
King James Version

1Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
3Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
4Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
5And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
6We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
7Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
8For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
9Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
10And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
11Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.
12And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail. 13This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14But now the Lord hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.
New King James Version

1Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon. 3“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. 4Let My outcasts dwell with you, O Moab; Be a shelter to them from the face of the spoiler. For the extortioner is at an end, Devastation ceases, The oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5In mercy the throne will be established; And One will sit on it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, Judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness.” 6We have heard of the pride of Moab— He is very proud— Of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath; But his lies shall not be so. 7Therefore Moab shall wail for Moab; Everyone shall wail. For the foundations of Kir Hareseth you shall mourn; Surely they are stricken. 8For the fields of Heshbon languish, And the vine of Sibmah; The lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants, Which have reached to Jazer And wandered through the wilderness. Her branches are stretched out, They are gone over the sea. 9Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, With the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For battle cries have fallen Over your summer fruits and your harvest. 10 Gladness is taken away, And joy from the plentiful field; In the vineyards there will be no singing, Nor will there be shouting; No treaders will tread out wine in the presses; I have made their shouting cease. 11Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, And my inner being for Kir Heres. 12And it shall come to pass, When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, That he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail.
13This is the word which the Lord has spoken concerning Moab since that time. 14But now the Lord has spoken, saying, “Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”

What does Isaiah chapter 16 mean?

Isaiah's "oracle," meaning a prophecy, from the Lord against Moab continues and concludes in this chapter. He has described a time coming soon when powerful armies will invade Moab. The marauders will lay waste to the major cities of the nation. Many will die in this invasion, but those who survive will head south to seek safety as refugees. Chapter 15 ended with these fleeing stragglers reaching the border between Moab and Edom. This chapter opens with Moab sending a request to the leaders of Judah to allow refugees fleeing from Moab to shelter in their nation.

Someone suggests that the Moabite refugees send a "landlord's lamb" to Jerusalem. A landlord's lamb is a tribute paid to an overlord for his protection and provision. Mesha, the most famous of Moab's kings, once sent tributes of lambs to Israel's King Ahab. The Moabites describe their situation to Judah by explaining how the women of Moab had to run for their lives for the fords of the Arnon River. The speaker is comparing this to birds shooting out of a nest when it is disturbed. Not all commentators interpret the text in the same way, but Isaiah seems to show the Moabites asking the leaders of Judah to give counsel and grant justice to them by allowing them to shelter in Judah. They ask Judah to provide shelter from the oppression in their own land and to not to reveal their location to their enemy (Isaiah 16:1–3).

Moab continues by asking for permission to shelter in Judah from their enemy. Not all commentators agree on who is supposed to be speaking these words. The one asking for shelter appears to say that when the oppressor is no more, the throne of Israel will be established in love. A new king will sit in the tent of David, and He will seek justice and righteousness. The speaker clearly echoes Isaiah's prophecies about the coming of the Messiah written in chapters 2, 9, and 11 (Isaiah 16:4–5).

Isaiah describes the pride, arrogance, and insolence of Moab. The Moabites' boasting about their wealth and abundance is all empty words since it can be taken away in a night. He calls for Moab to wail and howl at their losses and everyone else to join in He includes mourning at the loss of the raisin cakes produced in Moab (Isaiah 16:6–7).

The prophet describes the fields of Heshbon in northern Moab and the productive vine of nearby Sibmah. Using metaphor, Isaiah relates how the vine reached farther north to Jazer and east to the desert. Going as far as west across the Dead Sea. In short, the products from that vine—raisin cakes and likely wine—were shipped off around the region. That will all end when the invading army that will soon come strikes down the vines' branches (Isaiah 16:8).

The prophet himself mourns along with Jazer for what is happening. The joyful shouting of the grape harvest will come to an end. No more harvest songs. No more happy shouts. Isaiah says that his insides moan like a lyre for these losses (Isaiah 16:9–11).

With the oracle concluded, Isaiah mentions that Moab's prayers to their god will not prevail. No matter how much they tire themselves out in the effort, the false god will remain silent. He adds that this prophecy has existed for a time, but now the Lord has revealed it will happen in three years (Isaiah 16:12–14).
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