Isaiah 16:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: let 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,

NIV: Let 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.

NASB: Let 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.

CSB: Let 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,

NLT: Let 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,

KJV: Let 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.

NKJV: Let 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.

Isaiah's oracle is pointing forward to a time after the destruction of Moab (Isaiah 15). At this time, the surviving refugees will send a messenger to Judah (Isaiah 16:1–2) to request that they be allowed to shelter there until it is safe to return to Moab (Isaiah 16:3–4). The request becomes more direct here. The survivors bluntly ask Judah if they can dwell among them. They are asking for sanctuary from the "destroyer," likely the Assyrian army. It's as simple as that. Will Judah allow the remnant of Moab to hide in their territory from the Assyrians?

According to most modern conservative commentators, the following verse makes a surprising reference to the Messiah (Isaiah 16:5). The Moabite speaker, who is making the request of Judah, begins here by looking to a time when the oppressor has been defeated and destruction has stopped. He refers to the Assyrians as the one who "tramples underfoot." In other words, the Assyrian war machine ran over everyone in its path. This leader of Moab understands that even the Assyrians' time will end. He looks forward to what is to happen after that comes to pass.

Isaiah 16:1–14 begins with an official request to settle in Judah, spoken by Moabite refugees. This request is followed by a declaration that a descendant of David will establish the throne of Israel with love and righteousness when the oppressor is no more. Isaiah points to the arrogance of Moab regarding their abundance. This pride will be shown to be empty talk since it can be taken away in a night. Isaiah calls everyone to wail for Moab's losses and weep for the end of the grape harvest and its products. He reveals the judgment will fall in three years.

The refugees of Moab send a tribute to Jerusalem and make an official request to shelter in Judah due to the oppression of the enemy in their own land. After the oppressor is no more, the throne of the Messiah will be established in Israel. Moab's pride and arrogance about their abundance are revealed to be empty talk since it can all be taken away in a night. Isaiah calls everyone to wail and mourn for the suffering of Moab. He weeps for the loss of the grape harvest. The prophet announces this judgement will happen in three years.

Prior chapters included predictions about Assyria, Babylon, and Philistia. Chapter 15 introduces a prophecy about an enemy invading Moab. Chapter 16 finds the Moabite refugees in Sela. They ask Judah for shelter. Isaiah points to the pride and arrogance of Moab about their wealth that can be taken away in a single night. He calls everyone to mourn with him for the loss of the grape harvest and its products in Moab. The Moabites' prayers to their god will not prevent judgment from falling on them in three years. The next prophecy, in chapter 17, deals with Damascus.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).