Isaiah 16 11

Isaiah 16:11 kjv

Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

Isaiah 16:11 nkjv

Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, And my inner being for Kir Heres.

Isaiah 16:11 niv

My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth.

Isaiah 16:11 esv

Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth.

Isaiah 16:11 nlt

My heart's cry for Moab is like a lament on a harp.
I am filled with anguish for Kir-hareseth.

Isaiah 16 verses

Isaiah 16 11 meaning

Isaiah 16:11 expresses the prophet Isaiah's profound and visceral grief over the impending judgment and desolation of Moab. His deepest emotional core, symbolized by his "bowels" and "inward parts," is stirred to an audible lament, likened to the mournful sounds of a harp. This verse reveals a prophetic empathy and sorrow for the suffering of an enemy nation, highlighting that God's judgment, while just, can also elicit sorrow and compassion, reflecting His nature. The intensity of this sorrow underscores the severity of the coming destruction upon Moab, particularly its prominent city, Kirhareseth.

Isaiah 16 11 Context

Isaiah 16:11 is situated within chapters 15-16 of Isaiah, which form a specific oracle or "burden" concerning Moab. These chapters depict the utter devastation and widespread lamentation that will befall Moab, a nation historically situated east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel and Judah. The judgment is portrayed as so severe that its cities are destroyed, its rich agricultural lands ruined, and its people are driven into exile, seeking refuge in foreign lands, even appealing to Judah for shelter. The prophet first describes Moab's downfall (Chapter 15 and 16:1-10) and then shifts to expressing his own personal, profound sorrow in 16:9-11, lamenting for the vineyards, harvests, and cities of Moab that will be laid waste. This particular verse deepens the prophetic voice from merely foretelling judgment to deeply empathizing with the impending suffering, making the sorrow a personal, physical experience for the prophet.

Isaiah 16 11 Word analysis

• Therefore (כֵּן, kên): This particle links the prophet's profound emotional response to the preceding detailed descriptions of Moab's destruction. It signifies cause and effect, presenting his lament as the direct, inescapable consequence of Moab's desolation.
• my bowels (מֵעַי, me'ai): This Hebrew term literally refers to the intestines or inward parts. Biblically, it is widely used as the seat of deep emotions, affections, pity, and compassion. It indicates a deep, visceral, and almost physical manifestation of grief and anguish, rather than merely an intellectual or surface-level emotion.
• shall sound / lament (הָמָה, hāmâ): This verb means to murmur, make noise, roar, or be in an uproar. Here, it conveys an inner groaning or rumbling that is so intense it becomes an audible expression of grief. It suggests a powerful, uncontrollable lament emanating from deep within.
• like an harp (כְּכִנּוֹר, kikinnôr): The kinnor (harp or lyre) was a stringed instrument known for producing a wide range of sounds, from joyous to deeply mournful. Here, its inclusion emphasizes the plaintive, resonating, and almost musical quality of Isaiah's sorrow. It is a sorrow that vibrates deeply, not a dull, internal ache.
• for Moab (לְמוֹאָב, lĕmō'āḇ): Explicitly names the recipient of this intense lament, reiterating the prophet's focus and the direct object of his grief.
• and mine inward parts (וְקִרְבִּי, wĕqirbî): Qereb is another Hebrew word for "inward part" or "inner being," closely synonymous with me'ai (bowels). Its usage in parallelism serves to reinforce and intensify the idea of the prophet's total emotional immersion in sorrow. It implies that every facet of his deepest self is affected.
• for Kirhareseth (לְקִיר חֶרֶשׂ, lĕqîr ḥereś): This was a major, fortified city of Moab (also called Kir of Moab or Kirhereseth), often considered its capital or a principal stronghold. Naming this specific city highlights the totality of the destruction; if a city this strong falls, the entire nation is encompassed by the lament.

Words-group analysis:

• "Therefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab": This phrase portrays an exceptionally profound and personalized lament. The "bowels," as the center of emotion, are not just feeling sadness, but producing a distinct, resonating "sound" or "lament." The comparison to a "harp" indicates a poignant, melodious, and deeply sorrowful tone, not unlike a dirge. It personifies the prophet's interior state as actively participating in and broadcasting his grief over Moab's tragic fate.
• "and mine inward parts for Kirhareseth": This is a poetic parallelism that powerfully echoes and reinforces the preceding sentiment. "Mine inward parts" serves as a synonymous and intensifying parallel to "my bowels," emphasizing the comprehensive and wholehearted nature of the prophet's anguish. By specifically naming Kirhareseth, a key Moabite city, the lament underscores the concrete reality of the impending destruction, specifying the pain for individual places and thus, for the entire nation.

Isaiah 16 11 Bonus section

The profound empathy demonstrated by Isaiah for Moab prefigures a more universal scope of God's redemptive concern that would be fully revealed in the New Testament. While Moab's historical narrative often includes periods of enmity with Israel, the prophet's lament here transcends political boundaries, reflecting a sorrow consistent with God's ultimate desire that all would turn to Him (Eze 33:11). This prophetic stance offers a template for understanding how spiritual leaders, despite proclaiming divine judgment, can simultaneously experience and express a profound, Christ-like grief over human suffering. The imagery of the kinnor (harp) not only conveys mournfulness but also artistry in lament, implying a dignified and profound expression of sorrow, elevating it beyond mere crying to a resonant melody of grief. This depth of feeling suggests that God Himself is moved by the pain of His creation, even when their choices bring about deserved consequences.

Isaiah 16 11 Commentary

Isaiah 16:11 provides a powerful insight into the prophet's heart, demonstrating a deep compassion for the judgment awaiting even an adversarial nation like Moab. This lament is more than a prediction; it's a visceral expression of identification with suffering, signifying that divine justice, though necessary, does not always preclude divine or prophetic sorrow. The language of "bowels" and "inward parts" signifies an all-encompassing, deeply human anguish that cannot be contained. The "sounding like a harp" adds a poetic dimension, suggesting a sorrow that is profound, perhaps audible in mournful tones, a resonant lament for what is lost—Moab's vineyards, prosperity, and cities. This response is critical in understanding God's heart, which finds no pleasure in the destruction of the wicked, but longs for repentance. It calls believers to cultivate empathy for all humanity, even those at odds with them, recognizing suffering as a universal experience that can evoke profound grief.