Isaiah 15:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.

Complete Jewish Bible:

For the cry has circulated throughout Mo'av's territory - its howling has reached Eglayim, its howling has reached Be'er-Elim.

Berean Standard Bible:

For their outcry echoes to the border of Moab. Their wailing reaches Eglaim; it is heard in Beer-elim.

American Standard Version:

For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the wailing thereof unto Eglaim, and the wailing thereof unto Beer-elim.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For the cry^{H2201} is gone round about^{H5362} the borders^{H1366} of Moab^{H4124}; the howling^{H3215} thereof unto Eglaim^{H97}, and the howling^{H3215} thereof unto Beerelim^{H879}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Isaiah 15:8

Isaiah 15:8 is part of a lamentation found in the Book of Isaiah, specifically within the prophecies concerning Moab. Moab was an ancient nation located east of the Dead Sea, in modern-day Jordan, and was frequently in conflict with Israel and Judah. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, Abraham's nephew, through an incestuous union with his daughter (Genesis 19:37).

In the broader context of Isaiah 15-16, the prophet Isaiah is foretelling the destruction and distress that will befall Moab as a result of divine judgment. This judgment is often associated with the historical campaigns of the Assyrian Empire, which was a dominant power in the region during the 8th and 7th centuries BCE. The Assyrians were known for their ruthless military tactics and their conquest of many nations, including parts of Israel and Judah.

The verse itself, Isaiah 15:8, captures the intensity of Moab's anguish. The "cry" that has "gone round about the borders of Moab" suggests that the nation's devastation is both widespread and well-known, reaching even to its most distant regions. The "howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim" personifies the land with cries of lamentation, indicating that the sorrow is so profound that even specific cities or regions within Moab—Eglaim and Beerelim—are caught up in the wailing. These place names are not well-documented outside of this scripture, but they are understood to be locations within the territory of Moab.

The themes present in this verse include the inevitability of divine judgment, the suffering that comes with military invasion, and the far-reaching impact of a nation's downfall. It also reflects the biblical concept of prophecy, where the downfall of Moab is foretold as a consequence of their pride and their opposition to God's people. The verse underscores the emotional toll of such catastrophic events, as the lament extends to every corner of the land, affecting all its inhabitants.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H2201
   There are 18 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זַעַק
   Transliteration: zaʻaq
   Pronunciation: zah'-ak
   Description: and (feminine) זְעָקָהxlit zᵉâqâh corrected to zᵉʻâqâh; from זָעַק; a shriek or outcry; cry(-ing).
   
2. Strong's Number: H5362
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָקַף
   Transliteration: nâqaph
   Pronunciation: naw-kaf'
   Description: a primitive root; to strike with more or less violence (beat, fell, corrode); by implication (of attack) to knock together, i.e. surround or circulate; compass (about, -ing), cut down, destroy, go round (about), inclose, round.
   
3. Strong's Number: H1366
   There are 196 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גְּבוּל
   Transliteration: gᵉbûwl
   Pronunciation: gheb-ool'
   Description: or גְּבֻל; (shortened) from גָּבַל; properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed; border, bound, coast, [idiom] great, landmark, limit, quarter, space.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4124
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מוֹאָב
   Transliteration: Môwʼâb
   Pronunciation: mo-awb
   Description: from a prolonged form of the prepositional prefix m-and אָב; from (her (the mother's)) father; Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants; Moab.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3215
   There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְלָלָה
   Transliteration: yᵉlâlâh
   Pronunciation: yel-aw-law'
   Description: feminine of יְלֵל; {a howl}; a howling.
   
6. Strong's Number: H97
   There are 258 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶגְלַיִם
   Transliteration: ʼEglayim
   Pronunciation: eg-lah'-yim
   Description: dual of אֶגֶל.; a double pond; Eglajim, a place in Moab; Eglaim.
   
7. Strong's Number: H879
   There are 12958 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּאֵר אֵלִים
   Transliteration: Bᵉʼêr ʼÊlîym
   Pronunciation: be-ayr' ay-leem'
   Description: from בְּאֵר and the plural of אֵל; well of heroes; Beer-Elim, a place in the Desert; Beer-elim.