King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Take counsel, execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Give [us] counsel! Decide [to help]! Make your shadow [over us] like night in the middle of noonday. Hide [our] outcasts! Don't betray [our] fugitives!
Berean Standard Bible:
“Give us counsel; render a decision. Shelter us at noonday with shade as dark as night. Hide the refugees; do not betray the one who flees.
American Standard Version:
Give counsel, execute justice; make thy shade as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; betray not the fugitive.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Take{H935} counsel{H6098}, execute{H6213} judgment{H6415}; make{H7896} thy shadow{H6738} as the night{H3915} in the midst{H8432} of the noonday{H6672}; hide{H5641} the outcasts{H5080}; bewray{H1540} not him that wandereth{H5074}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Isaiah 32:2
- And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
1 Kings 18:4
- For it was [so], when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
Isaiah 56:8
- The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather [others] to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.
Hebrews 13:2
- Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Isaiah 1:17
- Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Isaiah 9:6
- For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Matthew 25:35
- For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 16:3
Isaiah 16:3 is part of the larger prophetic text of Isaiah, specifically within a section that addresses the oracles against foreign nations, in this case, Moab. Moab was an ancient nation located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel and Judah due to their common ancestry and historical disputes. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham.
In the verse, the prophet Isaiah is delivering a message from God, likely during the reign of King Ahaz or Hezekiah of Judah, when the Assyrian Empire was a dominant threat in the region. The verse itself uses poetic and metaphorical language to convey God's instructions to the Moabites. Here's a breakdown of the themes and the historical context:
- "Take counsel, execute judgment": This phrase calls for the Moabites to seek wise advice and to act justly. It suggests a need for righteous governance and decision-making, which may have been lacking at the time.
- "Make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday": This metaphorical instruction implies providing protection and refuge. Just as the shadow offers coolness and shelter from the harsh noonday sun, the Moabites are being told to protect those who are vulnerable.
- "Hide the outcasts; bewray not him that wandereth": The verse continues the theme of protection, urging the Moabites to shelter refugees and to not abandon or betray those who are displaced or wandering. This could refer to those seeking asylum from the Assyrian invasions or from other conflicts of the time.
Overall, Isaiah 16:3 is a call to the Moabites to act with justice and compassion, to offer refuge to those in need, and to protect the vulnerable. It reflects the broader biblical themes of justice, hospitality, and care for the marginalized. The historical context suggests that this message was particularly relevant during a time of regional upheaval and military threat, when many would have been seeking safety and security. The verse also underscores the universality of God's concern for the oppressed and the expectation that even foreign nations should uphold principles of justice and mercy.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H6098
There are 85 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֵצָה
Transliteration: ʻêtsâh
Pronunciation: ay-tsaw'
Description: from יָעַץ; advice; by implication, plan; also prudence; advice, advisement, counsel(l-(or)), purpose. - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H6415
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּלִילָה
Transliteration: pᵉlîylâh
Pronunciation: pel-ee-law'
Description: feminine of פָּלִיל; justice; judgment. - Strong's Number: H7896
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁית
Transliteration: shîyth
Pronunciation: sheeth
Description: a primitive root; to place (in a very wide application); apply, appoint, array, bring, consider, lay (up), let alone, [idiom] look, make, mark, put (on), [phrase] regard, set, shew, be stayed, [idiom] take. - Strong's Number: H6738
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֵל
Transliteration: tsêl
Pronunciation: tsale
Description: from צָלַל; shade, whether literal or figurative; defence, shade(-ow). - Strong's Number: H3915
There are 223 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לַיִל
Transliteration: layil
Pronunciation: lah'-yil
Description: or (Isaiah 21:11) לֵיל; also לַיְלָה; from the same as לוּל; properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e. night; figuratively, adversity; (mid-)night (season). - Strong's Number: H8432
There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
Transliteration: tâvek
Pronunciation: taw'-vek
Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in). - Strong's Number: H6672
There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֹהַר
Transliteration: tsôhar
Pronunciation: tso'-har
Description: from צָהַר; a light (i.e. window); dual double light, i.e. noon; midday, noon(-day, -tide), window. - Strong's Number: H5641
There are 80 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָתַר
Transliteration: çâthar
Pronunciation: saw-thar'
Description: a primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively; be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self), (keep) secret, [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H5080
There are 51 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָדַח
Transliteration: nâdach
Pronunciation: naw-dakh'
Description: a primitive root; to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to expel, mislead, strike, inflict, etc.); banish, bring, cast down (out), chase, compel, draw away, drive (away, out, quite), fetch a stroke, force, go away, outcast, thrust away (out), withdraw. - Strong's Number: H1540
There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּלָה
Transliteration: gâlâh
Pronunciation: gaw-law'
Description: a primitive root; to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal; [phrase] advertise, appear, bewray, bring, (carry, lead, go) captive (into captivity), depart, disclose, discover, exile, be gone, open, [idiom] plainly, publish, remove, reveal, [idiom] shamelessly, shew, [idiom] surely, tell, uncover. - Strong's Number: H5074
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָדַד
Transliteration: nâdad
Pronunciation: naw-dad'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to wave to and fro (rarely to flap up and down); figuratively, to rove, flee, or (causatively) to drive away; chase (away), [idiom] could not, depart, flee ([idiom] apace, away), (re-) move, thrust away, wander (abroad, -er, -ing).