Isaiah 16 14

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 verses

Isaiah 16 14 meaning

Isaiah 16:14 declares a precise and certain judgment against Moab. It states that within three years, the grandeur, power, and wealth (the "glory") of Moab will be diminished and brought to contempt. This destruction will encompass its vast population and military, reducing the survivors to a very small and feeble remnant. The Lord Himself pronounces this sentence, highlighting its divine authority and unalterable nature, and emphasizing the definite, non-negotiable timeframe of its fulfillment, like a strict contract for a hired worker.

Isaiah 16 14 Context

Isaiah chapters 15 and 16 contain an oracle—a divine message of judgment—specifically directed against Moab, a nation located east of the Dead Sea, historically related to Israel (descended from Lot, Gen 19:37) but frequently an adversary. Chapter 15 describes the widespread lament and destruction befalling various Moabite cities. Chapter 16 shifts to describe Moab's plight, its appeals for help from Judah, and its underlying pride despite its despair. Verses 1-5 describe Moab’s plea for refuge and Judah's potential role. Verses 6-12 reiterate Moab's great pride and Judah's mourning over its destruction. Verse 13 explicitly states that this is an ancient prophecy, delivered by the Lord previously. Then, verse 14 adds a fresh, precise, and unalterable declaration from God Himself, providing a strict timeframe for the fulfillment of Moab’s humiliation, thus making the previously spoken word even more imminent and certain. Historically, this period aligns with the Assyrian Empire's expansion, and the judgment would likely have been executed through their military campaigns against Moab.

Isaiah 16 14 Word analysis

• But now (וְעַתָּה - ve'attah): This Hebrew phrase often introduces a significant shift or a new, emphatic declaration, moving from a general statement to a specific, urgent pronouncement. It signifies a decisive moment, "now, for certain."
• the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): The personal, covenant name of God. Its use here emphasizes the divine origin and unassailable authority of the prophecy. This is not a human prediction but a decree from the sovereign Creator.
• has spoken (דִּבֶּר - dibber): Implies a direct, authoritative verbal communication, a clear and decisive word, leaving no room for misinterpretation.
• saying: Connects God's action of speaking directly to the content of the prophecy.
• In three years (שָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים - shalosh shanim): A remarkably precise, specific numerical time period. It suggests a definite end point, not a vague or extended duration, demonstrating God's sovereign control over time.
• like the years of a hired worker (כִּשְׁנֵי שָׂכִיר - kashney sakhir): This is a powerful simile. A hired worker (שָׂכִיר - sakhir) works for a strictly defined period, and when that time is up, the contract ends without extension. The metaphor underscores the absolute certainty and precise, non-negotiable conclusion of the prophetic period; there will be no delay or alteration.
• the glory of Moab (כְּבוֹד מוֹאָב - kevod Mo'av): Kevod (כְּבוֹד) denotes honor, weight, splendor, riches, population, power, and prestige—all that Moab prided itself on and valued. It encompasses their national wealth, military might, and cultural achievements.
• will be despised (וְנִקְלָה - ve'niqlah): From the root qalah, meaning to be light, insignificant, lightly esteemed, contemptible, or disgraced. Moab’s impressive "glory" will be rendered worthless, insignificant, and viewed with scorn, having lost its weight and importance.
• with all his great multitude (עִם כָּל־הֶהָמוֹן הָרָב - im kol-ha'hamon ha'rav): "Multitude" (hamon) refers to its large population, potentially implying its military strength or general populace. "Great" emphasizes its large number. The judgment is comprehensive, affecting even their demographic strength.
• and the remnant (וּשְׁאָר - u'sh'ar): Those who survive the devastating judgment.
• will be very small and feeble (מְעַט מִזְעָר - me'at miz'ar): Literally "little, very little" or "few, very few." This strong Hebrew intensifier emphasizes the extreme reduction and insignificance of the survivors, not just in number but also in strength or influence.

Isaiah 16 14 Bonus section

The specific timeframe of "three years" is a hallmark of precision in biblical prophecy, pointing to the immediate and unavoidable nature of God's pronouncement. It reflects an aspect of divine administration where events are orchestrated with specific deadlines. Some scholars suggest that this timeline could have been specifically directed to Assyria's known three-year siege cycles or military campaigns of the period, possibly referencing events like Sargon II's campaigns around 711 BCE which devastated Moab, although other destructions of Moab also occurred at various times.

Furthermore, the "glory of Moab" falling into contempt contrasts sharply with the "glory of the LORD," which alone is everlasting. Moab's self-exaltation (recounted in Jer 48:29-30 and Isa 16:6) placed its own temporal "glory" in competition with the divine, leading directly to its abasement. This judgment underscores a universal biblical principle: divine judgment inevitably falls on pride and arrogance (Proverbs 16:18, Isaiah 2:12). Even in moments of seemingly compassionate lament over Moab (Isa 16:1-5, 7-12), the divine pronouncement of a fixed and harsh judgment reminds us that God's justice is uncompromising despite any initial expressions of pity for the suffering that sinful choices incur.

Isaiah 16 14 Commentary

Isaiah 16:14 serves as a potent divine verdict against the proud nation of Moab, marking a decisive and irreversible turn in its destiny. The prophetic declaration opens with "But now the LORD has spoken," establishing absolute divine authority and an imminent shift from observation or lament to a concrete sentence. The phrase "in three years, like the years of a hired worker" is critical, underscoring the remarkable precision and certainty of the Lord's judgment. Just as a laborer's contract has a fixed, unextendable term, so too Moab's period of glory and security would conclude without delay or alteration. This contrasts starkly with human predictions, affirming God's sovereignty over time and nations.

Moab's "glory" represented everything the nation treasured—its wealth, power, population, cultural identity, and self-worth. Yet, the prophecy dictates that all this would become "despised," or brought to utter contempt. This humiliation stemmed from Moab's arrogance, its defiance of the Lord, and its animosity towards Judah, God’s chosen people, as evidenced in chapter 15 and by other prophets. The judgment targets not merely Moab’s physical assets but its very pride. The ensuing destruction would be so comprehensive that even its "great multitude," symbolic of its strength and numerical superiority, would be vastly diminished. The "remnant"—the survivors—would be rendered "very small and feeble," stripped of their former power and significance. This extreme reduction indicates a complete national humiliation, serving as a stark warning to all who trust in their own strength or defy the Living God. The precision of the timeframe and the clarity of the outcome underline the immutability of God's prophetic word and His active involvement in human history, often through the instruments of powerful empires like Assyria, which frequently executed such divine judgments upon nations.