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 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 16:11 | "Therefore he will put on sackcloth, mourn like jackals..." | Directly quoted |
| Jeremiah 49:3 | "Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed!" | Shared imagery of lament |
| Micah 1:8 | "I will wail and cry out, I will go stripped and bare..." | Prophetic lament |
| Luke 19:41 | "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it..." | Jesus weeping over Jerusalem |
| Revelation 18:19 | "They will throw dust on their heads and cry out, weeping and mourning..." | Lament over Babylon's fall |
| Joel 1:13 | "Put on sackcloth and mourn, O priests; wail, you ministers of the altar." | Call to communal mourning |
| Lamentations 5:18 | "For Mount Zion which lies desolate, jackals prowl over it." | Jackals in desolate places |
| Ezekiel 26:18 | "To whom are you now compared in glory and in greatness among the well-watered gardens of the sea?" | God's judgment on nations |
| Jeremiah 9:10 | "I will make the cities of Judah desolate..." | Desolation as punishment |
| Isaiah 13:22 | "And the desert creatures will mingle with the wolves, and the wild goats will bleat to each other..." | Depiction of ruin |
| Isaiah 15:2 | "They go up to the temple and to Dibon, to the high places to weep; over Nebo and over Medeba the Moabites wail." | Moabite lamentation |
| Isaiah 34:13 | "Thorns will overrun its castles, nettles and brambles its fortresses." | Imagery of desolation |
| Zephaniah 2:14 | "Herdsmen will lie down there, and flocks will settle in its squares." | Post-judgment quiet |
| Jeremiah 23:29 | "Is not my word like fire,' declares the LORD, 'and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?'" | Power of God's word |
| Matthew 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!" | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem |
| 1 Corinthians 12:26 | "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it." | Body of Christ experiencing distress |
| Romans 8:22 | "For we know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." | Creation's groaning due to sin |
| 2 Corinthians 7:10 | "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." | Contrasting types of sorrow |
| Isaiah 22:12 | "And on that day the Lord GOD of hosts called to weeping and to mourning..." | Day of mourning in Jerusalem |
| Isaiah 30:29 | "And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival..." | Contrast with joyous singing |
| Habakkuk 3:16 | "I heard, and my body trembled; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay creeps into my bones, and my legs tremble beneath me." | Prophetic awe and fear |
Isaiah 16 verses
Isaiah 16 11 Meaning
This verse describes the consequence of Judah's and Israel's apostasy: God will mourn and wail like jackals and ostriches, signifying deep distress and desolation. This outward expression of grief reflects the inner spiritual death and destruction brought about by their sin.
Isaiah 16 11 Context
Chapter 16 of Isaiah deals with the oracle against Moab. Moab had a history of conflict with Israel. Earlier in the chapter, the people of Judah are urged to show compassion and send lambs to the ruler of Moab. However, the verses preceding verse 11 (specifically verses 9 and 10) transition to a more somber tone, lamenting Moab's imminent destruction as a result of its pride and rebellion against God. Verse 11, therefore, directly connects this coming desolation with the spiritual state of God's own people, Judah and Israel, whose faithlessness mirrors and even surpasses Moab's defiance. The lament serves as a warning and a prophecy of judgment that will befall them due to their apostasy.
Isaiah 16 11 Word Analysis
- Therefore (לָכֵן): Indicates a consequence or result. Because of what has been described (likely Moab's unresponsiveness to Judah's appeal, or more broadly, sin), this is what will happen.
- he (הוּא): Refers to God.
- will put on (יִלְבַּשׁ): A Hiphil infinitive of לָבַשׁ (lavash), meaning to clothe or to put on. God is personified here, donning symbols of mourning.
- sackcloth (שַׂק): (saq) A coarse, rough cloth, usually made of goat hair. It was worn as a sign of mourning, penitence, or distress (Gen 37:34, Esth 4:3).
- mourn (אָבַל): (aval) To grieve, lament, be in mourning.
- like jackals (כַּתַּנִּים): (kattanîn) The plural of תָּּן (tann). This word is often translated as "jackals" or "wild jackals" and also potentially "dragons" or "serpents" in other contexts, signifying creatures of the desert, wasteland, and desolate places, associated with lament and howling.
- like ostriches (כְּיַעֲנָה): (k'ya'anah) The singular feminine of יַעֲנָה (ya'anah), which means "ostrich" or "female ostrich." Ostriches were known for their loud cries, especially during mating or distress, and their association with desolate, dry places. Their calls are described as mournful.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "sackcloth, mourn like jackals": This grouping powerfully illustrates a profound level of grief and desolation. Sackcloth is an outward, visible sign of deep sorrow, often associated with national calamity or repentance. The comparison to jackals, known for their mournful howls echoing in empty, ruined places, amplifies this sense of despair and the extent of the devastation that will occur.
Isaiah 16 11 Bonus Section
The lament of God in Isaiah 16:11 is a profound theological concept. While God is immutable, this personification expresses the sorrow inherent in divine justice when confronted with persistent sin. It communicates the heartbreak of a Creator witnessing His creation marred by rebellion. The choice of specific lamenting creatures (jackals and ostriches) adds a vivid, earthy dimension to this divine sorrow, grounding the abstract concept in tangible imagery of desolation familiar to the ancient audience. These creatures were associated with barren wilderness and ruins, places utterly devoid of human presence and celebration.
Isaiah 16 11 Commentary
God expresses sorrow not as an emotional human experience, but as a prophetic depiction of the devastation resulting from sin. The act of "putting on sackcloth" and "mourning like jackals" is God's own commentary on the ruins and spiritual decay that will come upon the disobedient. It underscores the severity of judgment. This imagery highlights the absence of joy and life, replaced by the howling of despair in places once vibrant. The parallel between Moab's plight and the consequences for Judah and Israel shows that spiritual faithfulness is paramount for national well-being.