Isaiah 15:1 kjv
The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence;
Isaiah 15:1 nkjv
The burden against Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste And destroyed, Because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste And destroyed,
Isaiah 15:1 niv
A prophecy against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night!
Isaiah 15:1 esv
An oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone; because Kir of Moab is laid waste in a night, Moab is undone.
Isaiah 15:1 nlt
This message came to me concerning Moab: In one night the town of Ar will be leveled,
and the city of Kir will be destroyed.
Isaiah 15 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 15:1 | The oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is ruined, laid waste like villages. | Isaiah 15:1 (direct reference) |
| Jeremiah 48:1 | Against Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Woe to Nebo, for it is destroyed! Kiriathaim is captured and disgraced!" | Jeremiah 48:1 (parallels judgment on Moab) |
| Jeremiah 48:45 | "In the thicket of Heshbon they halt, fire came forth from Heshbon, and flame from the midst of Sihon, and it has devoured the cheek of Moab, and the pate of the clamorous("//Moabite//). | Jeremiah 48:45 (describes fire consuming Moab) |
| Jeremiah 48:46 | "Woe to you, Moab! The people of the god Chemosh perish, for your sons are taken captive, and your daughters carried captive. | Jeremiah 48:46 (Chemosh and Moabite downfall) |
| Amos 2:1 | Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom. | Amos 2:1 (judgment for Moab's cruelty) |
| Numbers 22:1-6 | Account of Balak king of Moab hiring Balaam to curse Israel. | Numbers 22:1-6 (Moab's past antagonism) |
| Deuteronomy 2:8-9 | Israel passes by Moab without harming them. | Deuteronomy 2:8-9 (past divine prohibition) |
| Judges 3:12-30 | Moabite oppression of Israel under Eglon. | Judges 3:12-30 (Moab's past oppression) |
| 1 Samuel 11:1-11 | Nahash the Ammonite's cruel demand to the men of Jabesh-gilead, suggesting Moabite allies. | 1 Samuel 11:1-11 (Moab's alliance with Ammon) |
| Psalm 60:8 | Moab is my washpot; over Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I triumph. | Psalm 60:8 (metaphor of Moab's subjugation) |
| Psalm 108:9 | Moab is my washpot; over Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I triumph. | Psalm 108:9 (repetition of Moab's subjugation) |
| 2 Kings 3:4-27 | War of Israel, Judah, and Edom against Moab, with supernatural intervention. | 2 Kings 3:4-27 (historical conflict with Moab) |
| Isaiah 25:10 | For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled underfoot in his own place, as straw is trampled down in the dung of the courtyard. | Isaiah 25:10 (foreshadows Moab's defeat) |
| Isaiah 16:1-14 | A plea to Moab to send tribute to the "daughter of Zion." | Isaiah 16:1-14 (further prophecy concerning Moab) |
| Zephaniah 2:8-11 | Judgment upon Moab for insulting God's people. | Zephaniah 2:8-11 (Moab's insult leads to judgment) |
| Acts 2:11 | Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty deeds of God.” | Acts 2:11 (linguistic diversity, opposite of silence) |
| Revelation 18:7-10 | Description of Babylon's downfall, echoing judgment pronouncements. | Revelation 18:7-10 (judgment language echoed) |
| Romans 3:1-8 | Paul discusses God's faithfulness and human sin. | Romans 3:1-8 (divine judgment on sin) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:13 | God is faithful, who will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way of escape that you may be able to endure it. | 1 Corinthians 10:13 (God's ultimate sovereignty) |
| Hebrew 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | Hebrew 12:29 (divine wrath) |
| 2 Samuel 8:2 | And David defeated Moab, and underjawed them with ropes, that he might lie on the ground. Thus he made Moab his servants and brought tribute. | 2 Samuel 8:2 (historical subjugation of Moab) |
| Jeremiah 49:3 | "Howl, Heshbon, for the destructive force has come against you; cry out with cries, gird yourselves with sackcloth; wail and lament. | Jeremiah 49:3 (parallels desolation pronouncements) |
| Isaiah 14:10 | They will all say to you, 'You too have become as weak as we are; you have become like us. | Isaiah 14:10 (spoken of fallen pride) |
| Isaiah 13:11 | I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the complacency of the ruthless. | Isaiah 13:11 (general pronouncement of judgment) |
| Isaiah 15:2 | "To the cities of Aroer. They lament; the mighty men cry out. | Isaiah 15:2 (mourning and distress in Moab) |
Isaiah 15 verses
Isaiah 15 1 Meaning
The prophecy begins with a pronouncement of judgment against Moab. "Mow-ab" (מוֹאָב) is declared devastated, reduced to silence. The declaration implies a swift and total ruin, bringing about a complete loss of power and influence, making its inhabitants unable to speak out or make any sound. The phrase "utterly brought to silence" suggests an absolute cessation of Moabite society and its distinctive cultural expressions, brought about by overwhelming destruction.
Isaiah 15 1 Context
Chapter 15 of Isaiah directly addresses the devastation of Moab, a neighboring kingdom to Israel, known for its animosity and past oppression. The oracle is delivered during a period of impending doom for Moab, likely orchestrated by Assyrian expansionism in the 8th century BCE. The specific cities mentioned, like Ar, Aroer, and Heshbon, were significant Moabite strongholds. This prophecy likely follows a devastating military invasion that crushed Moabite cities, reducing them to ruin and causing widespread lamentation and fear among its people. The reason for this judgment is Moab's proud and rebellious nature, their refusal to acknowledge God's sovereignty, and their mistreatment of Israel, as seen in earlier biblical accounts. The overall context is divine retribution for wickedness and pride.
Isaiah 15 1 Word Analysis
"Mow-ab" (מוֹאָב): Refers to the people and territory of Moab, a nation descended from Lot. The name itself may mean "of the father" or "from the father." In this context, it signifies the nation facing imminent destruction.
"Ar" (עָר): A significant city in Moab, possibly its capital at various times. Its mention here symbolizes the complete ruin of Moab's core strength and identity. The Hebrew suggests "city."
"Ruined" (חָרַב, charav): Means to be devastated, desolated, or made waste. It implies a state of complete destruction and emptiness, the rendering of a place uninhabitable or functionally destroyed.
"Laid waste like villages" (כַּנְּחָלִים, kinachalîm): This phrase suggests that major cities, including potentially Ar itself, are reduced to the state of humble, perhaps abandoned, villages, signifying a drastic loss of status and substance. The word "nachal" means stream or valley, so it implies reduction to mere ditches or depressions where structures once stood.
Isaiah 15 1 Commentary
Isaiah 15:1 is the dramatic opening statement of a full chapter dedicated to prophesying the downfall of Moab. It serves as a pronouncement of judgment from God. The declaration "Mow-ab is laid waste" (meaning ruined or desolate) sets a somber tone, signifying a complete destruction and silencing of this nation. The comparison to "villages" underscores the scale of devastation—even their great cities are reduced to insignificance. This is not a prophecy of temporary setback but of utter ruin. It reflects God's consistent theme of judging nations that act with pride and oppress His people. The prophecy highlights the finality of divine judgment for defiance. This opening sets the stage for a detailed description of the ensuing mourning and loss experienced by the Moabites, emphasizing the devastating consequences of their actions and their arrogant spirit. It paints a vivid picture of national catastrophe.