Isaiah 16:14 kjv
But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.
Isaiah 16:14 nkjv
But now the LORD has spoken, saying, "Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble."
Isaiah 16:14 niv
But now the LORD says: "Within three years, as a servant bound by contract would count them, Moab's splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble."
Isaiah 16:14 esv
But now the LORD has spoken, saying, "In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be brought into contempt, in spite of all his great multitude, and those who remain will be very few and feeble."
Isaiah 16:14 nlt
But now the LORD says, "Within three years, counting each day, the glory of Moab will be ended. From its great population, only a feeble few will be left alive."
Isaiah 16 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 16:14 | Yet within a very few years, like the years of a hired worker, Moab's glory will be brought to contempt, with all its great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and inglorious. | Isaiah 16 (its immediate context) |
| Jeremiah 48:30 | I know his arrogance, declares the Lord, his very great arrogance; and his pride and his insolence, his presumptuous pride and the pride of his heart. | Jeremiah 48 (parallel prophecy) |
| Ezekiel 25:3 | say to the Ammonites, Thus says the Lord God: Because you said, ‘Aha!’ over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house of Judah when they went into exile, | Ezekiel 25:3 (judgment on surrounding nations) |
| Zephaniah 2:9 | As I live, declares the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, surely Moab shall be like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land of weeds and salt pits and a wasteland forever. | Zephaniah 2:9 (similar judgment) |
| Isaiah 10:25 | For in a very little while my indignation will cease, and my anger will turn to their destruction. | Isaiah 10:25 (God's indignation) |
| Jeremiah 48:39 | How glorious it is! . . . Moab is put to shame, for it is dismayed. Yes, you shall be a laughingstock and a horror to all who are around it. | Jeremiah 48:39 (Moab's shame) |
| Jeremiah 49:22 | See, he comes on wings like an eagle, with wings like a vulture, over Bozrah; and the heart of Edom's warriors in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor. | Jeremiah 49:22 (judgment on Edom, neighboring nation) |
| Amos 6:1 | Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel resorts! | Amos 6:1 (woe to those at ease) |
| Luke 1:52 | He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, | Luke 1:52 (scattering the proud) |
| James 4:6 | but he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” | James 4:6 (God opposes the proud) |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” | 1 Peter 5:5 (humility and pride) |
| Proverbs 18:12 | Before destruction, pride goes before a fall, and an arrogant spirit before a humbled spirit. | Proverbs 18:12 (pride and downfall) |
| Isaiah 23:9 | The Lord of hosts has planned it, to make high-minded pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. | Isaiah 23:9 (contempt for pride) |
| Psalm 75:7 | but God is the judge: he puts down one, and lifts up another. | Psalm 75:7 (God's sovereignty) |
| Isaiah 14:25 | I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him down. And his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden from their shoulder. | Isaiah 14:25 (judgment on oppressor) |
| Romans 9:27 | And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the children of Israel were as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, | Romans 9:27 (remnant theme) |
| Jeremiah 50:45 | And they shall deal with them according to their deeds and according to the works of their rebellious hands; declares the Lord. | Jeremiah 50:45 (deeds and judgment) |
| Nahum 3:4 | because of the many harlotries of the prominent one, the graceful and beautiful mistress of sorcery, who sells nations with her harlotries and families with her sorceries. | Nahum 3:4 (judgment on haughty) |
| Isaiah 5:26 | He will raise a signal for the nations afar off, and will whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, they will come with speed! | Isaiah 5:26 (nations called for judgment) |
Isaiah 16 verses
Isaiah 16 14 Meaning
This verse declares that a specific time is coming, and it will be a time of humiliation for Moab. It foretells that Moab's former glory and numerous population will be brought low, to the point of insignificance, and only a remnant will be left. This remnant will be very few and will possess little power or standing.
Isaiah 16 14 Context
This verse is the concluding statement of Isaiah's prophecy concerning Moab in chapters 15 and 16. The preceding verses detail the devastation that will befall Moab due to its pride and arrogance, particularly its mocking of Israel and its refusal to acknowledge the God of Israel. The prophecy mentions specific cities and regions within Moab that will experience destruction and mourning. The prophecy culminates in this verse by summarizing the ultimate consequence of Moab's defiance: a complete and ignominious downfall. The context emphasizes God's sovereign judgment against nations that exalt themselves and oppress His people. The prediction serves as a warning about the fate of pride and a reassurance to Israel of God's protective power and ultimate justice.
Isaiah 16 14 Word Analysis
- "Yet": (Hebrew: וְעַתָּה - we‘attah) This is a conjunctive particle, signaling a contrast or a shift in the discourse, introducing the consequence of the preceding declarations. It often introduces a prophetic denouement or a turning point.
- "within a very few years": (Hebrew: כְּיָמִים שָׁנִים - kəyāmîm śəṇāh) This phrase signifies a relatively short, finite period of time. It suggests that the predicted judgment will not be immediate but will arrive swiftly once the appointed time is reached. This is further clarified by the comparison that follows.
- "like the years of a hired worker": (Hebrew: כִּימֵי שָׂכִיר - kîmê śāḵîr) This simile emphasizes the limited and appointed nature of the timeframe. A hired worker's service is for a specific duration, usually contracted and predictable. It suggests that the coming period of Moab's reckoning is predetermined and will conclude in a definite span. This implies a swiftness rather than a protracted decline.
- "Moab's glory": (Hebrew: כְּבוֹד-מוֹאָב - ḵəḇōḏ-mōʾāḇ) "Glory" here refers to Moab's prosperity, strength, abundance, and the sources of its national pride and reputation. It encompasses its fertile lands, its population, and its political influence.
- "will be brought to contempt": (Hebrew: וּבְזֹה תִּבָּזֶה - ūḇəḇōh ṯəḇāzêh) This signifies a profound shame and disgrace, a loss of honor and respect. The Hebrew verb implies being trodden down or despised, a complete reversal of its former status. The repetition of the root "bazah" emphasizes the depth of the degradation.
- "with all its great multitude": (Hebrew: כָּל-רָב-לֹא - kāl-rōḇ-lōʾ) "Great multitude" refers to Moab's large population and its extensive wealth and resources. The "lo" (לא) at the end here signifies "not" or "no," implying that all this abundance and population will amount to nothing significant. Some translations interpret this as "all its numerous inhabitants," but the context implies that even their large numbers will not save them from disgrace.
- "and the remnant": (Hebrew: וְהַשְּׁאֵרִית - wəhaššəʾērîṯ) "Remnant" signifies the few who survive a calamity or judgment. This term is significant throughout Isaiah, often referring to a faithful few or those preserved for a future purpose.
- "will be very small": (Hebrew: קָטֹן - qāṭōn) Indicates a minimal number, a greatly reduced population.
- "and inglorious": (Hebrew: לֹא-נִכְבַּד - lōʾ-niḵḇāḏ) Means without honor, without distinction, devoid of former splendor or significance. It directly contrasts with "Moab's glory."
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "like the years of a hired worker": The simile strongly suggests not just a short time, but a limited, appointed time that is destined to end, just as a worker's engagement is temporary. It highlights the finiteness of Moab's pride and prosperity before divine judgment.
- "brought to contempt, with all its great multitude": This phrase pairs the totality of Moab's former grandeur ("glory," "great multitude") with its impending shame. It underscores that even their strengths and numbers will not protect them from being utterly disgraced. All that they once valued will be rendered worthless and objects of scorn.
- "remnant will be very small and inglorious": This is a potent description of utter defeat. Not only will very few survive, but those survivors will carry no honor or status. Their existence will be marked by insignificance and likely a memory of past desolation.
Isaiah 16 14 Bonus Section
The concept of a "remnant" is crucial in biblical theology. While in this specific prophecy about Moab, the remnant is described as "very small and inglorious," other passages in Isaiah, particularly concerning Israel, speak of a faithful remnant preserved by God to endure judgment and continue His plan (e.g., Isaiah 1:9, Isaiah 10:20-22). This contrast highlights that while judgment falls upon nations that defy God, His ultimate purpose involves preservation and redemption, often through a small, faithful remnant of His own people. The ultimate fulfillment of God's justice and mercy is seen in Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate descendant of a faithful remnant.
Isaiah 16 14 Commentary
Isaiah 16:14 delivers a stark prophecy of Moab's downfall. The nation's arrogance and defiance against God and His people will lead to a swift, decisive judgment. What once was considered Moab's glory—its land, its people, its prosperity—will be utterly despised. Even those who survive will be a mere handful, stripped of any honor or significance. This verse reflects a recurring theme in the prophets: God judges pride and exalts the humble. The short timeframe indicated ("like the years of a hired worker") suggests that while judgment is certain, its duration leading up to its fulfillment is definite and not eternal, but the consequence for Moab is complete destruction of its former state.