The big picture
Isaiah 16 opens in verse 1 with “Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of…”, and closes in verse 14 with “But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling…” Repeated or prominent terms include Moab, shouting, Heshbon, howl, Jazer. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 14Isaiah 16:1-7
1–7: Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness…
Isaiah 16:1–7 opens with “Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the…” and reaches “Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 16 develops its own movement around Moab, shouting, Heshbon, howl, Jazer, with particular weight carried by Moab, howl, judgment.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.” Naming Sela and Send keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Isaiah 16:1-7
King James Version1Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.
2For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
3Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
4Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land.
5And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
6We have heard of the pride of Moab; he is very proud: even of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: but his lies shall not be so.
7Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
Isaiah 16:8-14
8–14: For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of…
Isaiah 16:8–14 opens with “For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken…” and reaches “But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 16 develops its own movement around Moab, shouting, Heshbon, howl, Jazer, with particular weight carried by Moab, shouting, Heshbon.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 16:8-14
King James Version8For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
9Therefore 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.
10And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease.
11Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-haresh.
12And 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.
13This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
14But 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 16:1 begins with “Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 16:7 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.”
The final note
Isaiah 16:14 leaves the reader with “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…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Moab, shouting, Heshbon, howl, Jazer, judgment help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Whose perspective receives unexpected attention?
Hagar's. The messenger finds her, names her and speaks about her future.
What does Ishmael's name commemorate?
God has heard her affliction, according to verse 11.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.