Isaiah 16:9 kjv
Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.
Isaiah 16:9 nkjv
Therefore I will bewail the vine of Sibmah, With the weeping of Jazer; I will drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; For battle cries have fallen Over your summer fruits and your harvest.
Isaiah 16:9 niv
So I weep, as Jazer weeps, for the vines of Sibmah. Heshbon and Elealeh, I drench you with tears! The shouts of joy over your ripened fruit and over your harvests have been stilled.
Isaiah 16:9 esv
Therefore I weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I drench you with my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh; for over your summer fruit and your harvest the shout has ceased.
Isaiah 16:9 nlt
So now I weep for Jazer and the vineyards of Sibmah;
my tears will flow for Heshbon and Elealeh.
There are no more shouts of joy
over your summer fruits and harvest.
Isaiah 16 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 16:9 | therefore will I weep for the wall of Jazer will I weep; | Lament over Moab |
| Isa 15:4 | For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land. | Judgment on Moab |
| Jer 48:31 | I will therefore wail for Moab, and cry for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres. | Lamentation for Moab |
| Jer 48:36 | Wherefore mine heart shall as the whales in Kirheres: as the abundance of the people of Kirheres. | God's sorrow for Moab |
| Amos 2:1 | Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: | Moab's Sins and Punishment |
| Ezek 25:12 | Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged itself upon them; | Judgment on Edom (neighboring Moab) |
| Jer 50:37 | And I will bring a sword upon the inhabitants of Aram, and upon all that are therein, and they shall smite them with the sword, and cast down their ruins, and slay them with the sword. | Judgment on Aram (neighboring region) |
| Luke 19:41 | And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, | Jesus Weeps over Jerusalem |
| Jer 9:1 | Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! | Jeremiah's Lament |
| Ps 38:16 | For in mine enemies I said, lest they rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. | Plea for help |
| Ps 69:20 | Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was no man, neither found I any to comfort me. | David's distress |
| Isa 16:8 | For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the noble plants thereof, they are gone even unto Zoar, the heifer of Ephraim: they were the strength of the fearful flock. | Moab's Plight |
| Isa 16:10 | And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall ye, nor shall tread with shouting: no craftsman shall tread out the wine. | Loss of Joy in Moab |
| Isa 16:11 | Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for the men of Kirheres. | God's sympathy |
| Hos 11:8 | How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. | God's Compassion for Israel |
| Deut 29:23 | And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor bringeth forth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath: | Punishment of the Land |
| 2 Pet 2:6 | And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that afterward should live ungodly; | Sodom and Gomorrah's Fate |
| Isa 1:7 | Your cities are burned with fire: your lands, strangers devour them in your presence, and they are desolate, as overthrown by strangers. | Desolation of Judah |
| Jer 17:5 | Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. | Trust in the Lord |
| Ps 30:11 | Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; | God's deliverance |
Isaiah 16 verses
Isaiah 16 9 Meaning
The verse expresses God's distress and compassion over the impending judgment and devastation of Moab due to its transgressions. It reveals God's deep sorrow as He looks upon the consequences of sin.
Isaiah 16 9 Context
This verse is found within Isaiah's prophecy concerning Moab, a neighboring kingdom to Israel. Chapters 15 and 16 describe the devastation that will befall Moab due to its sins. The prophecies speak of widespread destruction, weeping, and loss. This particular verse highlights the emotional response of God to this impending judgment, attributing human-like sorrow to His divine nature as He foresees the consequences of Moab's actions and the resulting suffering. It follows the descriptions of the destruction of vineyards and fields, the loss of crops, and the silenced songs of celebration in Moab.
Isaiah 16 9 Word Analysis
Therefore (Lach-ken): This introduces a consequence or reason for the following action. It signifies that the preceding context of Moab's actions and their consequences leads to this expression of grief.
I will weep (Abkeh): From the root "bakah" (to weep, cry). It conveys deep sorrow and lamentation.
For Jazer (Mi-Ya'azer): Jazer was a city in Gilead known for its vineyards, often associated with the tribe of Reuben or Gad. The weeping is specifically directed towards the destruction that will befall this place.
The vine (Gepen): Refers to the grapevine. It is used metonymically for the product of the vine, wine, and more broadly, for the prosperity and well-being associated with viticulture, which was a significant part of the ancient economy.
Of Sibmah (Sibmah): Sibmah was another town, famous for its exceptionally good vineyards, known for producing wine. Its vineyards were renowned throughout the region. The lament is for the destruction of these prized resources.
Shall mourn (Yebel-lu): From the root "yabal" (to lament, mourn). It signifies a deep grieving.
The lords (Adonei): This refers to the rulers, masters, or nobles of the heathen nations or of Moab itself.
Of the heathen (Ha- Goyim): Denotes the nations, often referring to Gentiles, those outside of Israel. It suggests that foreign invaders or their destructive actions are responsible.
Have broken down (Shabathu): From the root "shabat" (to cease, to abolish, to destroy). It indicates that the vitalizing activity of life has been stopped or removed.
The noble plants (Soreq): This refers to the choice vines, the best kind of grapevines. It highlights the preciousness and value of what is being destroyed.
They are gone even unto Zoar: Zoar was a small city on the southern end of the Dead Sea, known as a refuge. This phrase implies that the devastation has spread so far as to impact even this place, indicating a comprehensive ruin.
The heifer of Ephraim: Ephraim is often used to represent the northern kingdom of Israel. The term "heifer" can symbolize strength and vigor, or perhaps a pampered but vulnerable entity. Here it might suggest the enemies are reaching into or affecting areas historically linked to Ephraim's domain, or perhaps that even the enemies who once threatened Israel are now caught up in this general destruction, or that the Moabites are likened to a vulnerable heifer. The specific context suggests a comparison for their former strength or pride being overthrown.
They were the strength of the fearful flock: This suggests that the prosperity symbolized by the vines was the strength and security for the people, likened to a flock. The lords of the heathen have shattered this source of strength and security.
Words-group analysis:
- "For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah:" This pair of phrases establishes the setting of devastation: prime agricultural lands and prized vineyards, symbols of Moab's prosperity and livelihood, are suffering.
- "the lords of the heathen have broken down the noble plants thereof": This identifies the agents of destruction (heathen lords) and their action (destroying the best vines), signifying the removal of prosperity.
- "they are gone even unto Zoar, the heifer of Ephraim: they were the strength of the fearful flock." This extends the scope of destruction to Zoar and provides an analogy (heifer of Ephraim) and the consequence for Moab's people (loss of strength/security).
Isaiah 16 9 Bonus Section
This verse, like other passages in Isaiah and Jeremiah concerning Moab, highlights a theological principle: God's judgment, while righteous, is not devoid of compassion. His "weeping" and "bowels sounding" (Isa 16:11) anthropomorphize God, revealing His deep emotional involvement with the fate of His creation. This should not be understood as weakness or indecision, but as a reflection of the true weight of sin and its consequences in God's perspective. Scholars note that such expressions help the human reader to grasp the divine sorrow that accompanies the necessary act of judgment for unrepentant sin. The weeping can be seen as a precursor to the execution of justice, emphasizing that judgment is a painful necessity for a just God.
Isaiah 16 9 Commentary
The verse powerfully depicts God's emotional response to the sin and impending judgment of Moab. It's not merely a statement of fact about destruction, but a revelation of divine sorrow. God grieves over the suffering caused by sin. The specific mention of "Jazer" and "Sibmah" and their renowned vineyards underscores the destruction of sources of livelihood and prosperity, painting a vivid picture of loss. The phrase "heifer of Ephraim" is somewhat enigmatic but suggests the widespread nature of the disruption and perhaps the fate of those associated with past Israelite might. This deep divine lament serves as a profound testament to God's concern for His creation and His distress over human transgression and its painful outcomes, echoing a similar lament of Jesus over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41.