Isaiah 15 6

Isaiah 15:6 kjv

For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.

Isaiah 15:6 nkjv

For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate, For the green grass has withered away; The grass fails, there is nothing green.

Isaiah 15:6 niv

The waters of Nimrim are dried up and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone and nothing green is left.

Isaiah 15:6 esv

the waters of Nimrim are a desolation; the grass is withered, the vegetation fails, the greenery is no more.

Isaiah 15:6 nlt

Even the waters of Nimrim are dried up!
The grassy banks are scorched.
The tender plants are gone;
nothing green remains.

Isaiah 15 verses

Isaiah 15 6 meaning

Isaiah 15:6 declares a further consequence of the divine judgment pronounced upon Moab: the desolation of the crucial waters of Nimrim, leading to a complete and widespread destruction of all vegetation. This paints a stark picture of severe drought and ecological collapse, directly illustrating the depth of suffering and ruin inflicted by God's impending judgment on the land and its people.

Isaiah 15 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 15, along with chapter 16, comprises an "oracle concerning Moab" (מַשָּׂא מוֹאָב, massa' Mo'av). This is one of a series of "burdens" or judgments that the prophet Isaiah declares against various foreign nations, demonstrating Yahweh's sovereignty over all peoples, not just Israel. Historically, Moab was a kingdom east of the Dead Sea, descended from Lot (Gen 19:37), and frequently an antagonist to Israel due to their pride, idolatry (worship of Chemosh), and general hostility. This prophecy depicts a sudden, overwhelming devastation of Moab, resulting in widespread mourning, destruction of cities, and economic ruin. The primary agents of this judgment were likely the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III or Sargon II, and later the Babylonians. The immediate context of verse 6 describes specific sites within Moab being affected, indicating the pervasive nature of the coming disaster. The verse follows the lament of the previous verses over Moab's destruction, now focusing on the ecological impact—the drying up of vital water sources and the subsequent perishing of all vegetation, making the land uninhabitable and reflecting the comprehensive nature of God's judgment.

Isaiah 15 6 Word analysis

• For (כִּי, ki): This conjunction serves as a causal or explanatory particle, linking the description of further desolation in this verse to the reasons for the widespread lamentation and cries mentioned in the preceding verses. It explains why the Moabites are mourning.
• the waters of Nimrim (מֵי נִמְרִים, mei Nimrim):
  • מֵי (mei): Plural construct of מַיִם (mayim), meaning "waters of." This signifies a specific and identified water source.
  • נִמְרִים (Nimrim): A geographical location in Moab, likely a fertile oasis or stream area. The name possibly relates to נְמֵרִים (n'merim), meaning "leopards," or could refer to "clear/pure waters," making its impending desolation ironically significant. This was a vital lifeline for agriculture and sustenance in Moab.
• will be desolate (יִהְיוּ לְשַׁמָּה, yihyu l'shammah):
  • יִהְיוּ (yihyu): "They will be," future tense, prophetic statement.
  • לְשַׁמָּה (l'shammah): "For a desolation" or "into a waste." Shammah (שַׁמָּה) denotes a profound state of ruin, barrenness, or astonishment due to destruction. It conveys complete devastation, far beyond temporary drought.
• indeed, the grass is withered (כִּי יָבֵשׁ חָצִיר, ki yavesh chatzir):
  • כִּי (ki): Again, an emphatic or explanatory "indeed" or "for."
  • יָבֵשׁ (yavesh): "Is withered," in a state of dryness or decay. It refers to vegetation that has lost all moisture and vitality.
  • חָצִיר (chatzir): Common grass, fodder, or green herbage. This is a fundamental element of pasturage and the Moabite agricultural economy.
• the plants fail (כָּלָה דֶּשֶׁא, kalah deshe):
  • כָּלָה (kalah): "Fail," "cease," "are consumed," or "are finished." It signifies the complete consumption or disappearance of something.
  • דֶּשֶׁא (deshe): Young grass, tender plants, or fresh verdure. This term often describes the initial green shoots after rain, indicating lush growth. Its "failing" suggests the inability for anything to even begin to grow.
• there is no green thing (יֶרֶק אֵין, yereq ein):
  • יֶרֶק (yereq): "Greenness," "green plant," or "fresh vegetation." It denotes anything alive and vibrant with color, symbolizing life and freshness.
  • אֵין (ein): "There is not" or "nothing." This is an absolute negation, leaving no ambiguity.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate": This phrase pinpoints the origin of the calamity. By striking at a specific and vital water source, the judgment targets the very foundation of life and fertility in Moab. It signals a targeted yet widely impactful devastation.
  • "indeed, the grass is withered, the plants fail, there is no green thing": This is a cascading sequence describing a total ecological collapse. From common grass (chatzir) to tender shoots (deshe) and then to the absolute absence of any greenness (yereq), the progression emphasizes the comprehensiveness and severity of the drought and desolation. It indicates an end to all life-sustaining flora, resulting in a landscape utterly devoid of vitality. This progression acts as an intensified hyperbolic statement emphasizing the thoroughness of the judgment.

Isaiah 15 6 Bonus section

The desolation described in Isaiah 15:6 and throughout chapters 15-16 stands in stark contrast to the prophecies of future restoration and spiritual blessing often found elsewhere in Isaiah (e.g., Isa 35, 41, 55). While Moab faced a specific judgment due to its pride and antagonism towards Israel, God's ultimate plan often includes elements of restoration or, more generally, an eventual and eternal provision of water and life through the Messiah (Jn 4, Rev 22:1). This particular judgment on Moab, though severe, demonstrates that divine justice extends beyond Israel, affirming God's universal governance. The detailed, vivid description of the ecological destruction also serves a literary purpose, enhancing the emotional impact of the prophetic lament and painting a picture of overwhelming catastrophe that leaves no doubt about the severity of the coming judgment. This complete lack of greenery reflects not just physical deprivation but also the extinguishing of hope and life from the very essence of the region.

Isaiah 15 6 Commentary

Isaiah 15:6 powerfully illustrates the all-encompassing nature of God's judgment on Moab. The oracle highlights not just human suffering but the devastation of the land itself, directly striking at the natural resources essential for survival. By predicting the desolation of Nimrim's waters, the prophecy targets a key source of life and fertility in agricultural Moab. The subsequent images of withered grass, failing plants, and the absence of any green thing complete the picture of a lifeless, barren wasteland. This physical desolation serves as a tangible manifestation of Moab's spiritual death and their rejection of God, challenging their reliance on their own strength, their idol Chemosh (a fertility deity), and the natural bounty of their land. The message is clear: God's judgment overrules all earthly security, revealing His absolute sovereignty over life, prosperity, and the very ground beneath their feet. The destruction of the fertile land also highlights a polemic against pagan fertility cults that claimed to guarantee such bounty.