Isaiah 16:12 kjv
And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.
Isaiah 16:12 nkjv
And it shall come to pass, When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, That he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail.
Isaiah 16:12 niv
When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail.
Isaiah 16:12 esv
And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail.
Isaiah 16:12 nlt
The people of Moab will worship at their pagan shrines,
but it will do them no good.
They will cry to the gods in their temples,
but no one will be able to save them.
Isaiah 16 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 16:12 | But when your abomination appears, | Isaiah 16:12 (Focus on "abomination") |
| Isaiah 1:29 | surely you shall be ashamed and confounded | Isaiah 1:29 (Shame from sin) |
| Isaiah 2:8 | their land is also full of silver and gold, | Isaiah 2:8 (Pride from wealth) |
| Isaiah 14:13 | You said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; | Isaiah 14:13 (Pride and exultation) |
| Jeremiah 48:7 | For because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken. | Jeremiah 48:7 (Trust in works/treasures leads to capture) |
| Jeremiah 48:15 | Moab shall be ruined, so that it shall not be a nation, for it has become a boast against the people of the LORD. | Jeremiah 48:15 (Moab as a boast/pride) |
| Jeremiah 48:20 | Moab is put to shame, for it is overthrown; | Jeremiah 48:20 (Moab's shame and overthrow) |
| Jeremiah 48:30 | I know his arrogance, the insolence of his pride— an empty boast, says the LORD. | Jeremiah 48:30 (Moab's arrogance and boast) |
| Ezekiel 25:6 | for you have said, ‘Aha!’ concerning my sanctuary when it was profaned, and concerning the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and concerning the house of Judah when they went into exile, | Ezekiel 25:6 (Joy in Jerusalem's downfall) |
| Ezekiel 25:12 | because Edom acted vengefully and took vengeance on the house of Judah, and became grievously at fault by avenging themselves on them, | Ezekiel 25:12 (Vengeance and fault) |
| Ezekiel 35:12 | and you shall know that I, the LORD, have heard all the reproach that you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are desolate; they have been given to us for pasture.” | Ezekiel 35:12 (Reproach against Israel) |
| Ezekiel 36:2 | Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, “Aha!” and, “The ancient high places are now our possession,” | Ezekiel 36:2 (Enemy's boast about holy places) |
| Micah 1:11 | Go out from your cities, inhabitants of Shaphir, in nakedness and shame; the inhabitants of Zaanan do not come out; the wailing of Beth-Ezel shall take away its support from you. | Micah 1:11 (Shame and distress) |
| Micah 5:14 | and I will tear out your Asherim from your midst. | Micah 5:14 (Destruction of idols) |
| Zephaniah 2:5 | Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast, | Zephaniah 2:5 (Woe to inhabitants) |
| Zephaniah 2:8 | I have heard the reproach of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, with which they have reproached my people and kanëvailed themselves against their border. | Zephaniah 2:8 (Moab's reproach against God's people) |
| Matthew 24:15 | “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— | Matthew 24:15 (Abomination of desolation) |
| Luke 21:20 | “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. | Luke 21:20 (Jerusalem surrounded) |
| Revelation 17:5 | and on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” | Revelation 17:5 (Babylon's abominations) |
| Revelation 18:2 | He cried out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, and a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean and hateful bird. | Revelation 18:2 (Fall of great city) |
Isaiah 16 verses
Isaiah 16 12 Meaning
This verse laments Moab's impending destruction due to their pride and idolatry. It speaks of their king being cut off, signifying a loss of leadership and national ruin.
Isaiah 16 12 Context
Isaiah chapter 16 is a prophecy concerning Moab, a neighboring kingdom to Israel. The chapter begins with an appeal to Moab to show compassion and receive the exiles from Judah. However, it quickly turns into a judgment against Moab for their pride and arrogance. Historically, Moab had a contentious relationship with Israel, often oppressing them. The prophet Isaiah, through this oracle, pronounces a future downfall upon Moab. This specific verse, Isaiah 16:12, serves as a pivotal point within this judgment, highlighting the cause and nature of their impending doom. The "abomination" refers to their idolatrous practices and defiant actions against God and His people.
Isaiah 16 12 Word Analysis
- וְהָיָה (v'háyáh): "And it shall come to pass," or "And it will be." A common temporal conjunction indicating a future event or consequence.
- כִּי (kí): "When," or "Because." Introduces the condition or cause for the following action.
- תִּרָאֶה (tir'éh): "You shall be seen," or "You shall appear." The second person feminine singular, suggesting the "abomination" is personified or represents something visually apparent and shocking.
- שִׁקּוּצְךָ (shiqquçəḵá): "Your abomination." The Hebrew word "shiqquç" refers to an idol, an abominable thing, or an object of disgust and abhorrence, particularly in the context of forbidden religious practices and idolatry. The possessive suffix "-ḵá" indicates it belongs to or is associated with Moab.
- עָז (ʿáz): "In strength," "mightily," or "greatly." An adverbial use indicating the manner in which the following action occurs.
- קָנֶה (qáneh): "To acquire," "to get," "to possess," or "to buy." Here it suggests an attempt to take possession or make gain, likely in defiance or arrogance.
- גַּבְרֹון (gavrōn): "Mighty one," "strong one," or "hero." This word is interpreted in various ways; it can refer to their king, a strong defender, or even an idol considered powerful. Some translations render it as "stronghold."
- כְּפַּרְתֹּו (kəfar-tōw): "His stronghold," "his dwelling," or "his town." It refers to a fortified place or a refuge.
- מְרַאֲשֵׁי (məra'ashéy): "From the heads of," "from the beginnings of," or "from the chief places." It denotes a source or a prominent location.
- נָס (nās): "Fleeing," "he fled," or "escape." The past tense of the verb "to flee."
- מַרְאִית (mar'ít): "Appearance," "sight," or "vision." Often refers to something seen, observed, or contemplated.
Words-Group Analysis
- "When your abomination appears" (כִּי תִרָּאֶה שִׁקּוּצְךָ): This phrase strongly links the impending destruction with the visible manifestation of Moab's abominable practices, likely their idolatry or their defiant pride.
- "In strength you acquire your stronghold" (בְּעֹז קָנֶה גַבְרֹון כְּפַּרְתֹּו): This likely refers to Moab's attempt to establish or defend themselves with their own might and fortifications, either to ward off attackers or to assert their independence, rather than relying on God. The meaning of "gavron" here is key; if it refers to a god, it emphasizes reliance on pagan deities. If it refers to a human king or stronghold, it highlights self-reliance.
- "From the heads of your visions, fleeing" (מִמַּרְאִית מְרַאֲשֵׁי נָס): This part is more challenging. It could imply that their esteemed visions or esteemed leaders (from the "heads" or "chief places" of their sight) are fleeing, indicating utter despair and the breakdown of their leadership and security. Another interpretation suggests that even their proud display or fortified places offer no escape, leading to their flight.
Isaiah 16 12 Bonus Section
The concept of "abomination" in the Old Testament (Hebrew: shiqquç) is strongly tied to idolatry and any practice that defiles the land or God's people, turning away from covenant faithfulness. This verse echoes the denunciation of idolatrous practices seen throughout Isaiah and other prophetic books, particularly against neighboring nations like Moab. The mention of their "king" or "stronghold" being "cut off" signifies not just personal defeat but national collapse and loss of identity, a recurring theme in divine judgments against rebellious nations. The utter despair suggested by "fleeing from the sight" underscores the totality of the impending destruction, leaving no room for escape or solace. This oracle against Moab can be seen as a precursor to later prophetic pronouncements and a foreshadowing of God's ultimate judgment on all who oppose Him and His people.
Isaiah 16 12 Commentary
Isaiah 16:12 foretells the ultimate failure of Moab's reliance on their own perceived strength and idols. Their "abomination" represents their rejection of the true God and their embrace of false worship and arrogance. The verse implies that despite their efforts to fortify themselves or seek strength in their supposed powerful deities or leaders, these efforts will prove futile. The destruction will be so severe that even their most valued or strong places will be abandoned, and their people will be forced to flee from the sight of their own ruin, rather than finding refuge. It is a powerful statement about the emptiness of human pride and idolatry in the face of divine judgment. The scattering of their people signifies the end of their national entity as foretold in other prophetic passages.