Isaiah 15:2

KJV

He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off.

KJV (with Strong's)

He is gone up {H5927} to Bajith {H1006}, and to Dibon {H1769}, the high places {H1116}, to weep {H1065}: Moab {H4124} shall howl {H3213} over Nebo {H5015}, and over Medeba {H4311}: on all their heads {H7218} shall be baldness {H7144}, and every beard {H2206} cut off {H1438}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He went up to the temple, to Dibon and to the high places, to weep. On N'vo and Meidva Mo'av is howling, every head shaved bald, every beard cut off.

Berean Standard Bible

Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off.

American Standard Version

They are gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep: Moab waileth over Nebo, and over Medeba; on all their heads is baldness, every beard is cut off.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 15:2, part of a prophetic oracle against Moab, vividly portrays the profound and widespread lamentation that will engulf the nation in the wake of divine judgment. It depicts the Moabite people ascending to their prominent cities and high places, not in worship, but in desperate public displays of grief, marked by ritualistic acts of sorrow such as weeping, howling, shaving heads, and cutting beards, underscoring the depth of their despair and the futility of their reliance on false gods.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the "Burden of Moab" (Isaiah 15-16), a prophetic oracle detailing the impending destruction and desolation of the Moabite kingdom. Chapter 15 specifically focuses on the immediate impact of this calamity, describing the swiftness and totality of the devastation across various Moabite cities and regions. The preceding verse, [Isaiah 15:1](/isaiah/15-1 "Isaiah 15:1 - Prophecy Against Moab"), declares that "in a night Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence," setting the stage for the intense mourning described in verse 2. The subsequent verses continue to elaborate on the widespread sorrow and flight of the inhabitants, painting a comprehensive picture of national collapse and despair.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Moab was an ancient nation situated east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. This prophecy likely refers to an invasion by a powerful foreign entity, most probably the Assyrians, who were the dominant imperial force in the Near East during Isaiah's ministry (8th century BCE). The mention of specific cities like Bajith, Dibon, Nebo, and Medeba highlights the geographical scope of the disaster, affecting key religious centers and urban hubs. The "high places" (Hebrew: *bamot*) were elevated sites commonly used for worship, often associated with pagan deities like Chemosh, the national god of Moab. The acts of shaving heads and cutting beards were extreme, public expressions of grief, humiliation, and national devastation in the ancient Near East, often associated with mourning for the dead or national calamity, and sometimes forbidden to Israelites due to their association with pagan practices (e.g., [Deuteronomy 14:1](/deuteronomy/14-1 "Deuteronomy 14:1 - Prohibitions on Mourning Rites")).
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. It underscores the **Sovereignty of God** over all nations, demonstrating His justice even against those outside the covenant people of Israel. The intense imagery of "weeping" and "howling" highlights the theme of **Profound Lament and Despair** in the face of overwhelming calamity, showcasing the human response to utter loss. Furthermore, the Moabites' desperate ascent to their "high places" in their distress, only to find no deliverance, emphasizes the **Futility of Idolatry** and reliance on false gods. This serves as a stark contrast to the true refuge found only in the Lord, a theme consistently presented throughout the book of [Isaiah](/isaiah/1 "The Book of Isaiah").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Bajith (Hebrew, _Bayith'_):** This word, meaning "house" or "temple," is used here as a specific place name in Moab (H1006). Its mention alongside Dibon and other cities suggests a significant, perhaps religious, center to which the Moabites would flee or gather in their distress. The act of "going up" to Bajith implies a pilgrimage or desperate ascent, likely to a high place or temple, seeking solace or deliverance from their deities.
* **howl (Hebrew, _yâlal'_):** From the primitive root (H3213), this word signifies a deep, mournful wailing or a loud, boisterous yell. It conveys an intense, unrestrained expression of anguish and despair, far beyond mere sadness. The prophecy indicates that Moab's lament will be public, audible, and pervasive, reflecting the utter collapse of their national well-being and the depth of their suffering.
* **baldness (Hebrew, _qorchâh'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to be bald" (H7144), this term refers to the act of shaving the head as a ritualistic sign of extreme mourning, humiliation, and defilement. Coupled with the cutting off of beards, this imagery depicts a complete abandonment of dignity and a profound state of national grief, signifying utter despair and the loss of all honor in the face of overwhelming catastrophe.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep:"** This clause describes the immediate reaction of the Moabite populace. "He" is a collective singular, representing the people of Moab. They ascend to their prominent cities and cultic "high places" – elevated sites often associated with pagan worship – not for celebration, but for lamentation. The purpose of their ascent is explicitly "to weep," indicating a desperate outpouring of sorrow in places traditionally associated with seeking divine intervention, though here it will be in vain.
* **"Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba:"** The prophecy continues to specify the widespread nature of the lament. "Moab" here refers to the nation as a whole, personified in its collective anguish. They will "howl" – an even more intense expression of grief than weeping – over Nebo and Medeba, two other significant Moabite cities or regions. This reinforces the idea that no part of the land will be spared from the overwhelming sorrow.
* **"on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off."** This final clause vividly portrays the ritualistic and public display of extreme mourning. Shaving the head and cutting off the beard were ancient Near Eastern customs signifying profound grief, humiliation, and often, a state of defilement or utter loss. The phrase "on all their heads" and "every beard" emphasizes the universality of this despair, indicating that the calamity will affect everyone, from the highest to the lowest, leaving no one untouched by the national tragedy.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 15:2 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey the intensity of Moab's impending suffering. The most prominent is **Personification**, where the nation of Moab is depicted as an individual who "shall howl" over its cities, giving human emotion and action to an entire people. **Hyperbole** is evident in the phrase "on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off," suggesting a universal, almost exaggerated, adoption of mourning rites to emphasize the totality of the despair. The verse also relies heavily on **Imagery**, creating a vivid mental picture of public lamentation, with people ascending to high places, crying out, and physically disfiguring themselves in grief. This sensory detail immerses the reader in the scene of devastation. Finally, the entire passage functions as a **Prophetic Oracle**, a divine pronouncement of judgment, underscoring the certainty and inevitability of Moab's fate as decreed by God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 15:2 serves as a powerful testament to God's ultimate sovereignty over all nations, demonstrating that His justice extends beyond Israel to encompass the entire world. The intense mourning of Moab, marked by futile appeals to their high places and pagan deities, underscores the profound theological truth that reliance on anything other than the one true God inevitably leads to despair and destruction. This prophecy highlights the futility of idolatry and the devastating consequences of national rebellion against divine righteousness. It also foreshadows a broader biblical theme: while judgment is severe, God's ultimate purpose is often redemptive, even for enemy nations, though this specific oracle focuses on the immediate devastation.

* [Jeremiah 48:37-38](/jeremiah/48-37 "Jeremiah 48:37-38 - Moab's Mourning")
* [Ezekiel 7:18](/ezekiel/7-18 "Ezekiel 7:18 - Signs of Despair")
* [Amos 2:1-3](/amos/2-1 "Amos 2:1-3 - Judgment Against Moab")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The vivid depiction of Moab's despair in Isaiah 15:2 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It reminds us that all human endeavors, nations, and false securities are ultimately fragile and subject to the sovereign will of God. When we place our hope, trust, or identity in anything other than the Lord—be it wealth, power, status, or even our own abilities—we are building on shifting sand. The Moabites' desperate, yet futile, ascent to their "high places" to weep illustrates the emptiness of seeking solace or salvation from sources that cannot truly deliver. This passage calls us to examine where our ultimate hope and security lie, urging us to turn from any form of "idolatry" that might subtly creep into our lives and to place our unwavering trust in the living God alone. It also serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of consequences for rebellion against God, prompting humility and a deep reverence for His justice and power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where do I tend to "go up" (seek refuge or comfort) when faced with personal or national distress?**
* **In what subtle ways might I be placing my hope in "high places" (false securities) instead of in God alone?**
* **How does the certainty of God's judgment on nations like Moab inform my understanding of His justice and sovereignty in the world today?**

### FAQ
**Why were shaving heads and cutting beards signs of mourning?**

Answer: In the ancient Near East, hair and beards were symbols of honor, strength, and vitality. Therefore, ritually shaving the head (baldness) and cutting off the beard were extreme, public acts of self-abasement and lamentation, signifying profound grief, humiliation, and utter despair. These actions were a visible manifestation of a person's or nation's complete loss, defilement, and the stripping away of their dignity. While common in pagan mourning rites, such extreme practices were often forbidden to Israelites, particularly priests, because of their association with paganism or defilement (e.g., [Leviticus 21:5](/leviticus/21-5 "Leviticus 21:5 - Priestly Prohibitions")).

**What is the significance of the "high places" in this verse?**

Answer: "High places" (Hebrew: *bamot*) were elevated sites, often hills or artificial mounds, used for religious worship in the ancient world. While some were used for the worship of Yahweh, many, especially among surrounding nations like Moab, were dedicated to pagan deities like Chemosh. In [Isaiah 15:2](/isaiah/15-2 "Isaiah 15:2 - Moab's Lament"), the Moabites are depicted going up to these high places to weep, indicating that in their moment of national crisis, they desperately turned to their traditional gods for help. The prophecy, however, implies the futility of this action, as their gods would be unable to deliver them from the impending judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Isaiah 15:2 describes the temporal judgment upon Moab and their futile lamentation, it profoundly foreshadows the ultimate human condition apart from Christ and points to Him as the true source of hope and deliverance. The "high places" to which Moab ascends in despair represent humanity's desperate attempts to find solace or salvation through self-effort, false gods, or worldly systems, all of which ultimately lead to "baldness" and "cut beards"—symbols of utter humiliation and loss in the face of divine judgment. However, the New Testament reveals that humanity's deepest need for deliverance from sin and its consequences is met not by ascending to high places of pagan worship, but by the descent of God Himself in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the true "high place" of worship, the one mediator through whom we can approach God (as seen in [Hebrews 4:14-16](/hebrews/4-14 "Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus, Our Great High Priest")). The "howling" and "weeping" of Moab find their ultimate echo in the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" that awaits those who reject God's salvation (as described in [Matthew 8:12](/matthew/8-12 "Matthew 8:12 - Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth")). Yet, Christ Himself bore the ultimate lament and suffering on the cross, becoming the "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), so that those who believe in Him might never experience such despair but find true comfort, eternal life, and a hope that does not disappoint ([Romans 5:5](/romans/5-5 "Romans 5:5 - Hope Does Not Disappoint")). Thus, the judgment on Moab serves as a stark background against which the glorious and redemptive work of Christ shines even brighter, offering genuine solace where all other sources fail.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 21:5

They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

Jeremiah 48:1

¶ Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded [and] taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.

Isaiah 3:24

And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty.

Jeremiah 48:18

Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from [thy] glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, [and] he shall destroy thy strong holds.

Numbers 21:30

We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which [reacheth] unto Medeba.

Deuteronomy 34:1

¶ And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that [is] over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

Numbers 32:3

Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,