Isaiah 15 9

Isaiah 15:9 kjv

For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.

Isaiah 15:9 nkjv

For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood; Because I will bring more upon Dimon, Lions upon him who escapes from Moab, And on the remnant of the land."

Isaiah 15:9 niv

The waters of Dimon are full of blood, but I will bring still more upon Dimon? a lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon those who remain in the land.

Isaiah 15:9 esv

For the waters of Dibon are full of blood; for I will bring upon Dibon even more, a lion for those of Moab who escape, for the remnant of the land.

Isaiah 15:9 nlt

The stream near Dibon runs red with blood,
but I am still not finished with Dibon!
Lions will hunt down the survivors ?
both those who try to escape
and those who remain behind.

Isaiah 15 verses

Isaiah 15 9 meaning

Isaiah 15:9 portrays a continuation and intensification of the divine judgment upon Moab, specifically highlighting the region of Dimon. The prophecy declares that the literal waters around Dimon will be saturated with the blood of the slaughtered, indicating extensive battle and loss of life. Beyond this initial devastation, the Lord announces even further calamities for Dimon. A "lion" – symbolizing a fierce, predatory force, likely an invading army – is appointed to hunt down and destroy those Moabites who manage to escape the initial destruction, targeting both the fugitives and any remaining inhabitants of the land. This verse underscores the inescapable and total nature of God's judgment.

Isaiah 15 9 Context

Isaiah chapter 15, along with chapter 16, presents a prophetic "burden" or oracle concerning Moab, Israel's southeastern neighbor. This prophecy details a widespread lament over Moab's imminent and devastating destruction. The chapter describes city after city (Ar of Moab, Kir of Moab, Heshbon, Elealeh, Jahaz, Zoar) being ravaged, its inhabitants fleeing in terror, and the land being filled with wailing. The graphic imagery of destruction, fear, and sorrow permeates the chapter, suggesting a swift and thorough conquest. Historically, such devastation for Moab often came from powerful empires like Assyria (during Isaiah's time, specifically Sargon II or Sennacherib) or later Babylon, which frequently swept through the region, bringing an end to the independence of smaller states. Verse 9 intensifies this already bleak picture by asserting that the destruction will not only be severe but also inescapable, targeting even those who initially survive and attempt to flee.

Isaiah 15 9 Word analysis

• For the waters of Dimon will be full of blood;

  • waters (máyim): Literal water bodies. In this context, they will not just be defiled but will manifest the carnage.
  • Dimon (Dîmōn): A city in Moab. This spelling is possibly a deliberate prophetic wordplay on dâm (blood) from Dibon (Dîḇōn), a well-known Moabite city (Num 21:30; Jer 48:18). This linguistic alteration powerfully links the place directly to its predicted fate.
  • full of blood (dâm mālʾû): A graphic depiction of widespread slaughter. It denotes that so many will be slain that their blood will pollute the very water sources. This signifies an overwhelming loss of life, not just isolated deaths.

• for I will bring more upon Dimon, a lion upon him who escapes from Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.

  • I will bring (wǝśamtî): The Hebrew uses the first-person singular, indicating that the Lord God (YHWH) is the ultimate agent orchestrating this judgment. This highlights divine sovereignty and purposeful action behind the impending calamity.
  • more upon Dimon (ʿal-dîmôn nôṣāfōṯ): Literally "additions upon Dimon." This signifies a second, even greater wave of calamities or an intensification of the initial judgment. The destruction is not a single event but an accumulating catastrophe.
  • a lion (ʾaryêh): A powerful, predatory animal, metaphorically representing a fierce, ruthless, and conquering enemy force, likely the Assyrian army, known for its brutality and widespread conquest. The lion imagery conveys strength, swiftness, and an unyielding predatory instinct.
  • upon him who escapes from Moab (lîfleyṭat-môʾāḇ): "Those who escape," "the fugitives," "the remnant." This phrase points to individuals who have managed to survive the initial onslaught described earlier in the chapter. The prophecy ensures their doom, revealing the comprehensiveness of the judgment.
  • and upon the remnant of the land (wǝlišʾerîṯ ʾăḏāmâ): This phrase either emphasizes the same group as "him who escapes" or refers to any remaining population in general. It highlights that the destruction will be absolute, leaving no place or person untouched by the Lord's decreed judgment.

Isaiah 15 9 Bonus section

• The deliberate alteration from "Dibon" to "Dimon" serves as a striking rhetorical device, ensuring the audience associates the city's very name with the bloody outcome (dam meaning blood). This reinforces the inevitability and graphic nature of the prophecy.
• The concept of a "remnant" usually carries a positive connotation in prophetic literature, referring to those who survive judgment by divine grace or faithfulness. Here, however, the "remnant" is presented negatively—those who escape initial disaster only to be pursued by a greater judgment. This highlights the absolute nature of the judgment on Moab, contrasting it sharply with the hope of a faithful remnant promised to Israel in other passages.
• The "lion" as an agent of divine judgment is a recurring motif in the Bible, signifying irresistible power and destructive force (e.g., Hos 5:14). This imagery would have evoked profound fear among ancient Near Eastern audiences, who understood the lion as a apex predator representing a primal, inescapable threat.

Isaiah 15 9 Commentary

Isaiah 15:9 culminates the dirge over Moab, affirming God's inescapable and intensified judgment. The initial stage of disaster fills Dimon's waters with blood, symbolizing immense slaughter. This is followed by an even greater catastrophe, personally orchestrated by God ("I will bring"), likened to a "lion" that hunts down the survivors. This predatory force, typically understood as an invading army such as the Assyrians, will ensure that no fugitive or "remnant" of Moab escapes, turning any hope of survival into another phase of destruction. This divine action underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations, even those outside Israel, ensuring that prideful enemies face their appointed doom, a vivid illustration of His righteous justice against those who have spurned Him or His people. The specificity of the targeting of the "escapes" and "remnant" reveals a judgment without loopholes or mercy for those destined for destruction.