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Isaiah 15

BSB·9 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1This is the burden against Moabמוֹאָ֑בmō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study →: Arעָ֤ר‘ār — A city of MoabH6144 — Full Word Study → in Moabמוֹאָב֙mō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study → is ruinedשֻׁדַּ֨דšud·daḏ — to destroy, ruin, or devastate violentlyH7703 — Full Word Study →, destroyedנִדְמָ֔הniḏ·māh — To cease, be silent, or be destroyedH1820 — Full Word Study → in a nightבְּלֵ֞ילbə·lêl — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study →! Kirקִיר־qîr- — Kir, an Assyrian city or regionH7024 — Full Word Study → in Moabמוֹאָ֖בmō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study → is devastatedשֻׁדַּ֥דšud·daḏ — to destroy, ruin, or devastate violentlyH7703 — Full Word Study →, destroyedנִדְמָֽה׃niḏ·māh — To cease, be silent, or be destroyedH1820 — Full Word Study → in a nightבְּלֵ֛ילbə·lêl — Night, darkness, the period of darknessH3915 — Full Word Study →! 2Dibonוְדִיבֹ֛ןwə·ḏî·ḇōn — Passage or Crossing OverH1769 — Full Word Study → goes upעָלָ֨ה‘ā·lāh — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study → to its templeהַבַּ֧יִתhab·ba·yiṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → to weepלְבֶ֑כִיlə·ḇe·ḵî — Weeping, tears, or act of cryingH1065 — Full Word Study → at its high placesהַבָּמ֖וֹתhab·bā·mō·wṯ — High place; elevated worship siteH1116 — Full Word Study →. Moabמוֹאָ֣בmō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study → wailsיְיֵלִ֔ילyə·yê·lîl — to wail, howl, or cry out in lamentationH3213 — Full Word Study → overעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Neboנְב֞וֹnə·ḇōw — Nebo, a Babylonian god and geographical locationH5015 — Full Word Study →, as well as overוְעַ֤לwə·‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Medebaמֵֽידְבָא֙mê·ḏə·ḇā — City of the MoabitesH4311 — Full Word Study →. Everyבְּכָל־bə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → headרֹאשָׁ֣יוrō·šāw — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → is shavedקָרְחָ֔הqā·rə·ḥāh — baldness, bald spot on the headH7144 — Full Word Study →, everyכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → beardזָקָ֖ןzā·qān — Beard; facial hair on the chin and lower faceH2206 — Full Word Study → is cut offגְּרוּעָֽה׃gə·rū·‘āh — to diminish, reduce, or take awayH1639 — Full Word Study →. 3In its streetsבְּחוּצֹתָ֖יוbə·ḥū·ṣō·ṯāw — Outside, exterior, or open space beyond a boundaryH2351 — Full Word Study → they wearחָ֣גְרוּḥā·ḡə·rū — to gird, encircle, or prepare oneselfH2296 — Full Word Study → sackclothשָׂ֑קśāq — Coarse cloth worn as a sign of mourning or repentanceH8242 — Full Word Study →; onעַ֣ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the rooftopsגַּגּוֹתֶ֧יהָgag·gō·w·ṯe·hā — Roof of a house or buildingH1406 — Full Word Study → and in the public squaresוּבִרְחֹבֹתֶ֛יהָū·ḇir·ḥō·ḇō·ṯe·hā — public square, street, plazaH7339 — Full Word Study → they allכֻּלֹּ֥הkul·lōh — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → wailיְיֵלִ֖ילyə·yê·lîl — to wail, howl, or cry out in lamentationH3213 — Full Word Study →, falling downיֹרֵ֥דyō·rêḏ — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study → weepingבַּבֶּֽכִי׃bab·be·ḵî — Weeping, tears, or act of cryingH1065 — Full Word Study →. 4Heshbonחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ḥeš·bō·wn — Heshbon, a cityH2809 — Full Word Study → and Elealehוְאֶלְעָלֵ֔הwə·’el·‘ā·lêh — God is ascendedH500 — Full Word Study → cry outוַתִּזְעַ֤קwat·tiz·‘aq — To cry out, call for help, summonH2199 — Full Word Study →; their voicesקוֹלָ֑םqō·w·lām — voice, sound, or cryH6963 — Full Word Study → are heardנִשְׁמַ֣עniš·ma‘ — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study → as far asעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → Jahazיַ֖הַץya·haṣ — He sees or God seesH3096 — Full Word Study →. Thereforeעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the soldiersחֲלֻצֵ֤יḥă·lu·ṣê — to strip off; to arm; to deliverH2502 — Full Word Study → of Moabמוֹאָב֙mō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study → cry outיָרִ֔יעוּyā·rî·‘ū — to shout, cry out, make a loud noiseH7321 — Full Word Study →; their soulsנַפְשׁ֖וֹnap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → trembleיָ֥רְעָהyā·rə·‘āh — to be ill, to become sick or grievousH3415 — Full Word Study → within. 5My heartלִבִּי֙lib·bî — Heart; the center of emotion, will, and intellectH3820 — Full Word Study → cries outיִזְעָ֔קyiz·‘āq — To cry out, call for help, summonH2199 — Full Word Study → over Moabלְמוֹאָ֣בlə·mō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study →; her fugitivesבְּרִיחֶ֕הָbə·rî·ḥe·hā — bolt, bar, or crossbar (structural)H1281 — Full Word Study → flee asעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → far as Zoarצֹ֖עַרṣō·‘ar — Smallness, a cityH6820 — Full Word Study →, as far as Eglath-shelishiyahעֶגְלַ֣ת‘eḡ·laṯ — Young female calf or heiferH5697 — Full Word Study →. With weepingבִּבְכִי֙biḇ·ḵî — Weeping, tears, or act of cryingH1065 — Full Word Study → they ascendיַֽעֲלֶה־ya·‘ă·leh- — to ascend, rise up, go upH5927 — Full Word Study → the slopeמַעֲלֵ֣הma·‘ă·lêh — ascent, going up, stairwayH4608 — Full Word Study → of Luhithהַלּוּחִ֗יתhal·lū·ḥîṯ — A Moabite cityH3872 — Full Word Study →; they lamentיְעֹעֵֽרוּ׃yə·‘ō·‘ê·rū — To wake up, rouse, stir up, awakenH5782 — Full Word Study → their destructionשֶׁ֖בֶרše·ḇer — Breaking, fracture, or shattering; destruction or ruinH7667 — Full Word Study → on the roadדֶּ֣רֶךְde·reḵ — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study → to Horonaimחוֹרֹנַ֔יִםḥō·w·rō·na·yim — Two CavesH2773 — Full Word Study →. 6The watersמֵ֥יmê — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → of Nimrimנִמְרִ֖יםnim·rîm — Waters of NimrimH5249 — Full Word Study → areיִֽהְי֑וּyih·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → dried upמְשַׁמּ֣וֹתmə·šam·mō·wṯ — Devastation, ruin, desolation; astonishment or horrorH4923 — Full Word Study →, and the grass is witheredיָבֵ֤שׁyā·ḇêš — to wither, dry up, or be ashamedH3001 — Full Word Study →; the vegetationדֶ֔שֶׁאḏe·še — grass, verdant vegetation, tender green growthH1877 — Full Word Study → is goneכָּ֣לָהkā·lāh — to finish, complete, or bring to an endH3615 — Full Word Study →, and the greenery isהָיָֽה׃hā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → no moreלֹ֥אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study →. 7Soעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → they carryיִשָּׂאֽוּם׃yiś·śā·’ūm — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → their wealthיִתְרָ֣הyiṯ·rāh — Abundance, surplus, excessH3502 — Full Word Study → and belongingsוּפְקֻדָּתָ֔םū·p̄ə·qud·dā·ṯām — visitation, oversight, punishment, accountH6486 — Full Word Study → overעַ֛ל‘al — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → the Brookנַ֥חַלna·ḥal — A stream or winter torrent; a narrow valleyH5158 — Full Word Study → of the Willowsהָעֲרָבִ֖יםhā·‘ă·rā·ḇîm — Willow tree; weeping willowH6155 — Full Word Study →. 8Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → their outcryהַזְּעָקָ֖הhaz·zə·‘ā·qāh — A cry or outcry; a shout of distress or complaintH2201 — Full Word Study → echoesהִקִּ֥יפָהhiq·qî·p̄āh — to encircle, surround, or strike downH5362 — Full Word Study → to the borderגְּב֣וּלgə·ḇūl — boundary, border, or limit of a regionH1366 — Full Word Study → of Moabמוֹאָ֑בmō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study →. Their wailingיִלְלָתָ֔הּyil·lā·ṯāh — Wailing, loud lamentation, or howling cryH3215 — Full Word Study → reaches Eglaimאֶגְלַ֙יִם֙’eḡ·la·yim — A border townH97 — Full Word Study →; it is heard in Beer-elimאֵילִ֖ים’ê·lîm — Beer-elim, a well in the wildernessH879 — Full Word Study →. 9The watersמֵ֤יmê — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → of Dimonדִימוֹן֙ḏî·mō·wn — A city in MoabH1775 — Full Word Study → are full ofמָ֣לְאוּmā·lə·’ū — to fill, fulfill, completeH4390 — Full Word Study → bloodדָ֔םḏām — blood; life force; bloodshed; guiltH1818 — Full Word Study →, butכִּ֣יkî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → I will bringאָשִׁ֥ית’ā·šîṯ — to set, place, or appointH7896 — Full Word Study → moreנוֹסָפ֑וֹתnō·w·sā·p̄ō·wṯ — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study → uponעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → Dimonדִּימ֖וֹןdî·mō·wn — A city in MoabH1775 — Full Word Study →a lionאַרְיֵ֔ה’ar·yêh — A lion; fierce predatorH738 — Full Word Study → upon the fugitivesלִפְלֵיטַ֤תlip̄·lê·ṭaṯ — Survivor; remnant of those who escapeH6413 — Full Word Study → of Moabמוֹאָב֙mō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study → and upon the remnantוְלִשְׁאֵרִ֖יתwə·liš·’ê·rîṯ — Those who remain; a surviving remnantH7611 — Full Word Study → of the landאֲדָמָֽה׃’ă·ḏā·māh — Land, soil, ground, earthH127 — Full Word Study →.
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Chapter Commentary — Isaiah 15
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Chapter Overview

Isaiah 15 presents a prophetic "burden" (a weighty message of judgment) against Moab, an ancient nation east of the Dead Sea that was often at odds with Israel. Though the prophecy uses vivid imagery of military devastation and national mourning, it ultimately reveals God's sovereignty over all nations and His determination to bring judgment upon those who oppose His purposes. This chapter demonstrates that no nation—however powerful or proud—escapes God's righteous assessment, and it invites believers to reflect on the seriousness of turning away from the Lord.

Verses 1–3: The Sudden Devastation of Moab's Cities

Isaiah opens by announcing that in a single night, the major Moabite cities of Ar and Kir are destroyed and rendered silent—a poetic way of describing total defeat (v. 1). The prophet then describes the people's response: they ascend to the high places to weep, wail over Mount Nebo and Medeba, and perform acts of mourning including shaving their heads and beards (v. 2). In verses 2–3, we see the entire nation engulfed in grief: inhabitants wear sackcloth in the streets and on their rooftops, weeping with abandonment.

The speed and totality of this judgment—happening "in the night" and affecting all social spaces—emphasizes God's power and the futility of human resistance. The physical acts of mourning (shaving, sackcloth) were customary ways ancient peoples expressed despair and submission. Devotional note: This passage reminds us that pride and self-reliance lead to downfall, while humility before God brings blessing.

Verses 4–5: The Cry of Anguish Spreads

As news of the disaster spreads, cities throughout Moab—Heshbon, Elealeh, and Jahaz—cry out in unified distress (v. 4). Even the armed soldiers, normally symbols of strength, wail because their lives have become unbearable. In verse 5, Isaiah's own heart is moved with compassion for Moab's suffering, and he describes refugees fleeing southward to Zoar (one of the cities of the plain, near the Dead Sea). The fugitives climb the mountain pass at Luhith weeping, while others travel the road of Horonaim raising "a cry of destruction."

Remarkably, the prophet shows pastoral sympathy even while announcing judgment. Isaiah's heart "cries out for Moab," revealing that God's judgments, though necessary, are not celebrated with glee. This teaches us that witnessing judgment upon the wicked should evoke both sober acknowledgment of justice and compassionate concern for human suffering.

Verses 6–9: Environmental Desolation and Continued Judgment

The final section expands the scope of judgment beyond military defeat to include environmental collapse. The waters of Nimrim dry up, vegetation withers, and nothing green remains—suggesting a land rendered barren and lifeless (vv. 6–7). All the wealth Moab accumulated will be carried away by survivors fleeing to the brook of willows. The mourning is so widespread that it echoes from one end of Moab's borders to the other (v. 8).

Verse 9 contains a final, ominous note: the waters of Dimon will be filled with blood, and God promises to bring lions upon Moab's survivors and remnant. This introduces an additional layer of judgment—not only human conquest but also natural predators will pursue the people. The imagery emphasizes relentless divine judgment from which no escape is possible.

Application for Today

Isaiah 15 calls us to remember that God's authority extends over all nations and peoples, not merely believers. Prosperity and military might offer no protection against divine judgment when a nation—or individual—pursues injustice and rebellion. For Christians, this should inspire both gratitude for God's mercy toward us through Christ and prayerful intercession for those who do not yet know Him, that they might turn from their sin before judgment falls. Let us also cultivate humble hearts, recognizing that our own security rests not in earthly strength but in submission to our sovereign God.

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