Isaiah 16 1

Isaiah 16:1 kjv

Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.

Isaiah 16:1 nkjv

Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, From Sela to the wilderness, To the mount of the daughter of Zion.

Isaiah 16:1 niv

Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, across the desert, to the mount of Daughter Zion.

Isaiah 16:1 esv

Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Sela, by way of the desert, to the mount of the daughter of Zion.

Isaiah 16:1 nlt

Send lambs from Sela as tribute
to the ruler of the land.
Send them through the desert
to the mountain of beautiful Zion.

Isaiah 16 1 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isaiah 16:1Send the lamb of the ruler from Sela to the wilderness...Isa 16:1
Psalm 50:23Whoever offers praise glorifies me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!Psa 50:23
Jeremiah 17:2They seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, as if it were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God.Jer 17:2
Hosea 14:2Take with you words, and turn to the LORD; say to him, “Take away all iniquity; accept that which is good, and we will render the service of our lips for the fruit of our lips.”Hos 14:2
Micah 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?Mic 6:8
John 1:29The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”John 1:29
John 14:15If you love me, you will keep my commandments.John 14:15
Acts 1:8but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Acts 1:8
Romans 12:1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.Rom 12:1
Romans 15:1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak, rather than to please ourselves.Rom 15:1
Galatians 5:22-23But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.Gal 5:22-23
Philippians 2:3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.Phil 2:3
Hebrews 12:14Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.Heb 12:14
1 Peter 2:5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.1 Pet 2:5
Revelation 5:12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”Rev 5:12
2 Samuel 8:2And David struck down Moabites and counted them with a line, casting them on the ground; he measured two lines for putting to death and one full line for keeping alive. So the Moabites became servants to David, and paid tribute.2 Sam 8:2
2 Kings 14:7It was he who struck down ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela by warfare and gave it a name, calling it Joktheel, unto this day.2 Kgs 14:7
Jeremiah 48:46Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh is lost, for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters carried captive.Jer 48:46
Matthew 2:11and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.Matt 2:11
Psalm 72:10-11May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts! May all kings bow down to him, all nations serve him!Psa 72:10-11

Isaiah 16 verses

Isaiah 16 1 Meaning

"Send the lamb of the ruler from Sela to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion." This verse marks a shift in focus for the prophet Isaiah, moving from the judgment of Moab to a call for them to offer a tribute of reconciliation. It signifies a transition from judgment to potential restoration, a plea for submission and a desire for peace. The act of sending the lamb represents an offering, a symbol of humility and acknowledgment of a higher authority.

Isaiah 16 1 Context

Isaiah chapter 16 follows the pronouncements of judgment against Moab in chapter 15. This verse, therefore, serves as a plea or instruction to the remnant of Moab. After declaring severe judgment on Moab for their pride and defiance, God, through Isaiah, issues a call to this ravaged people. They are instructed to send a symbol of appeasement and submission from their stronghold of Sela, through the wilderness, to Jerusalem, the city of God's dwelling. This act implies a recognition of a higher authority, specifically the God of Israel, and an acknowledgment of their subordinate position following the anticipated devastation. The wilderness symbolizes a journey of humility and a renunciation of their former self-sufficiency. The destination, Mount Zion, represents God's presence and the seat of His dominion. Historically, Moab had often been antagonistic towards Israel. The reference to Sela points to a significant stronghold of Edom, captured by Amaziah, king of Judah, centuries earlier (2 Kings 14:7). While Sela was Edomite, it's plausible Moab might have occupied it or that Isaiah uses it poetically to represent a key territory under Moabite control or influence in this period.

Isaiah 16 1 Word Analysis

  • “Send”: (Hebrew: שְׁלָחוּ - shəlaḥū) - Imperative plural verb, meaning to dispatch, send forth, or commission. It is a command, an instruction to act.
  • “the lamb”: (Hebrew: אַיִּל - ʼayil) - Primarily means ram, but can be used poetically for a leader or chief, or for a lamb. Here, it strongly implies a young, choice animal, often used for sacrifice. The article "the" suggests a specific or representative lamb.
  • “of the ruler”: (Hebrew: שַׂר־ - śar) - Meaning a prince, chief, commander, or ruler. It refers to the leader or lord of the flock or of the people. The possessive implied suggests a lamb belonging to or representing the ruler.
  • “from Sela”: (Hebrew: מִסֶּלַע - missélaʻ) - From the rock. Sela refers to a prominent rock city, likely Petra, capital of Edom. Its mention indicates a journey originating from a strong, possibly fortified place.
  • “to the wilderness”: (Hebrew: מִדְבָּרָהָה — midbārah ) - A desert, wilderness, or open country. This suggests a journey through desolate and possibly difficult terrain, away from accustomed habitation or places of strength.
  • “to the mount”: (Hebrew: הַר־ - har) - Mountain.
  • “of the daughter of Zion”: (Hebrew: בַּת־צִיּוֹן - baṯ-ṣiyyôn) - Zion's daughter. A poetic and personifying designation for the city of Jerusalem, or more broadly, the people of Judah or Zion. It refers to the dwelling place of God's presence.

Word-Group Analysis

  • "Send the lamb of the ruler": This phrase conveys a directive for a submission or tribute. The "ruler" (śar) and the "lamb" (ʼayil) are linked, indicating that the ruler is either providing the lamb or the lamb represents the ruler himself in a sacrificial capacity.
  • "from Sela to the wilderness": This segment outlines the origin and the initial path of the offering. Sela signifies a significant, likely fortified place, implying that the submission comes from a position of perceived strength that is now being surrendered for a journey into the unknown and difficult.
  • "to the mount of the daughter of Zion": This final part specifies the destination – Jerusalem, representing God's dwelling place and sovereign authority. The journey concludes with an offering at the seat of power, signifying a final act of obedience and reconciliation.

Isaiah 16 1 Bonus Section

The act of sending "the lamb" can be seen as a prefigurement of Christ, the ultimate Lamb of God who is sent to reconcile humanity to the Father. The journey "from Sela to the wilderness" also reflects the path of repentance, often arduous and solitary, before arriving at the sanctuary of God's presence. It highlights that genuine submission and reconciliation with God do not originate from a place of power or pride, but from a state of humble dependence and willingness to traverse difficult paths for the sake of peace. This call to bring tribute also aligns with broader prophetic themes of Gentile nations eventually coming to worship and serve the God of Israel, acknowledging His dominion.

Isaiah 16 1 Commentary

Isaiah 16:1 is a crucial verse that calls for humility and submission from the proud nation of Moab, following God's pronouncements of judgment. It paints a picture of Moab’s defeated leadership sending a sacrificial lamb from their strongholds. This act signifies a recognition of a higher power, namely the God of Israel, and an admission of their fallen status. The journey through the wilderness to Mount Zion underscores the difficulty and sacrifice involved in such an submission. It foreshadows a desire for peace and acceptance into the fold of God’s protected people, a contrast to their prior defiance. This principle of offering and humility is echoed throughout Scripture, particularly in how God calls for a repentant heart and sincere worship, often symbolized by sacrifices, and most profoundly in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. The verse speaks to the universal human need to acknowledge God's sovereignty and to seek reconciliation through humbling ourselves before Him.