Isaiah 16:9

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Therefore I will weep for Sibmah's vine as I weep for Ya'zer; I will water you with my tears, Heshbon and El'aleh; because the shouts of battle are falling on your summer fruits and harvest;

Berean Standard Bible:

So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest.

American Standard Version:

Therefore I will weep with the weeping of Jazer for the vine of Sibmah; I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for upon thy summer fruits and upon thy harvest the battle shout is fallen.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Therefore I will bewail{H1058} with the weeping{H1065} of Jazer{H3270} the vine{H1612} of Sibmah{H7643}: I will water{H7301} thee with my tears{H1832}, O Heshbon{H2809}, and Elealeh{H500}: for the shouting{H1959} for thy summer fruits{H7019} and for thy harvest{H7105} is fallen{H5307}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Jeremiah 40:12

  • Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

Jeremiah 40:10

  • As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

Isaiah 15:4

  • And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard [even] unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him.

Isaiah 15:5

  • My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives [shall flee] unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.

Isaiah 9:3

  • Thou hast multiplied the nation, [and] not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, [and] as [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil.

Judges 9:27

  • And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

Jeremiah 48:32

  • O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach [even] to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.

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Commentary for Isaiah 16:9

Isaiah 16:9 is part of a lamentation found in the Book of Isaiah, which is a collection of prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah. This verse specifically is set within a larger prophetic oracle concerning Moab, an ancient nation located east of the Dead Sea and frequently in conflict with Israel and Judah.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the geopolitical dynamics of the ancient Near East during the 8th century BCE. At this time, the Assyrian Empire was expanding and exerting pressure on the smaller kingdoms of the region, including Moab. The verse reflects the prophet's sorrow over the impending or ongoing destruction of Moabite cities such as Jazer, Sibmah, Heshbon, and Elealeh, which were known for their fertile lands and abundant harvests.

The themes present in Isaiah 16:9 include:

1. **Lamentation**: The prophet expresses deep grief and mourning over the fate of these Moabite cities. The act of bewailing and watering the land with tears underscores the emotional toll of the devastation.

2. **Agricultural Loss**: The mention of "summer fruits" and "harvest" fallen indicates a loss of livelihood and sustenance for the people. The fruitfulness of the land, once a source of joy and celebration, has become a source of sorrow due to its destruction.

3. **Divine Judgment**: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader context of Isaiah's oracles suggests that this destruction is a result of divine judgment. The fall of Moab's cities is seen as an act of God, possibly as a punishment for their pride, idolatry, or aggression against Israel and Judah.

4. **Compassion**: Despite the tensions between Moab and Israel, Isaiah demonstrates a profound sense of compassion for the Moabites. His tears reveal a shared humanity and the tragedy of war and destruction that affects all people, regardless of nationality.

In summary, Isaiah 16:9 captures the prophet's emotional response to the calamity that has befallen the Moabite cities. It reflects the deep sorrow over the loss of life and prosperity, and serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of war and divine judgment in the ancient world.

*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: H1058
    There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּכָה
    Transliteration: bâkâh
    Pronunciation: baw-kaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep.
  2. Strong's Number: H1065
    There are 29 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בְּכִי
    Transliteration: Bᵉkîy
    Pronunciation: bek-ee'
    Description: from בָּכָה; a weeping; by analogy, a dripping; overflowing, [idiom] sore, (continual) weeping, wept.
  3. Strong's Number: H3270
    There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יַעֲזֵיר
    Transliteration: Yaʻăzêyr
    Pronunciation: yah-az-ayr'
    Description: lemma יַעֲזִיִר third vowel, corrected to יַעֲזֵיר; or יַעְזֵר; from עָזַר; helpful; Jaazer or Jazer, a place East of the Jordan; Jaazer, Jazer.
  4. Strong's Number: H1612
    There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גֶּפֶן
    Transliteration: gephen
    Pronunciation: gheh'-fen
    Description: from an unused root meaning to bend; a vine (as twining), especially the grape; vine, tree.
  5. Strong's Number: H7643
    There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׂבָם
    Transliteration: Sᵉbâm
    Pronunciation: seb-awm'
    Description: or (feminine) שִׂבְמָה; probably from בָּשָׂם; spice; Sebam or Sibmah, a place in Moab; Shebam, Shibmah, Sibmah.
  6. Strong's Number: H7301
    There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָוָה
    Transliteration: râvâh
    Pronunciation: raw-vaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to slake the thirst (occasionally of other appetites); bathe, make drunk, (take the) fill, satiate, (abundantly) satisfy, soak, water (abundantly).
  7. Strong's Number: H1832
    There are 22 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דִּמְעָה
    Transliteration: dimʻâh
    Pronunciation: dim-aw'
    Description: feminine of דֶּמַע; weeping; tears.
  8. Strong's Number: H2809
    There are 37 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֶשְׁבּוֹן
    Transliteration: Cheshbôwn
    Pronunciation: khesh-bone'
    Description: the same as חֶשְׁבּוֹן; Cheshbon, a place East of the Jordan; Heshbon.
  9. Strong's Number: H500
    There are 433 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶלְעָלֵא
    Transliteration: ʼElʻâlêʼ
    Pronunciation: el-aw-lay'
    Description: or (more properly) אֶלְעָלֵה; from אֵל and עָלָה; God (is) going up; Elale or Elaleh, a place east of the Jordan; Elealeh.
  10. Strong's Number: H1959
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: הֵידָד
    Transliteration: hêydâd
    Pronunciation: hay-dawd'
    Description: from an unused root (meaning to shout); acclamation; shout(-ing).
  11. Strong's Number: H7019
    There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קַיִץ
    Transliteration: qayits
    Pronunciation: kah'-yits
    Description: from קוּץ; harvest (as the crop), whether the product (grain or fruit) or the (dry) season; summer (fruit, house).
  12. Strong's Number: H7105
    There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָצִיר
    Transliteration: qâtsîyr
    Pronunciation: kaw-tseer'
    Description: from קָצַר; severed, i.e. harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, or simply foliage); bough, branch, harvest (man).
  13. Strong's Number: H5307
    There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָפַל
    Transliteration: nâphal
    Pronunciation: naw-fal'
    Description: a primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative); be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for פָּלַל), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be ([idiom] hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, [idiom] surely, throw down.