Isaiah 15:3

In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

In their streets {H2351} they shall gird {H2296} themselves with sackcloth {H8242}: on the tops {H1406} of their houses, and in their streets {H7339}, every one shall howl {H3213}, weeping {H1065} abundantly {H3381}.

In the streets they wear sackcloth; on their roofs and in their squares, everyone howls and weeps profusely.

In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping.

In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.

Commentary

Isaiah 15:3 vividly portrays the deep and public anguish that will befall the people of Moab. This verse is part of a prophetic "burden" or oracle against Moab, outlining the swift and devastating judgment God would bring upon this nation, a frequent adversary and neighbor of Israel.

Context of Isaiah 15:3

Chapters 15 and 16 of Isaiah contain a detailed prophecy concerning Moab, a kingdom situated east of the Dead Sea. The prophet declares that within a short time, Moab's cities would be destroyed, and its people would experience immense sorrow and humiliation. Isaiah 15:3 specifically describes the outward expressions of this national calamity, emphasizing the widespread and inescapable nature of the distress that would lead to such public lamentation.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Widespread Lamentation: The phrase "every one shall howl, weeping abundantly" underscores that the suffering is universal within Moab. No one is exempt from the impending catastrophe, signifying a national rather than localized disaster.
  • Public Display of Grief: The mourning is not confined to private spaces but takes place "in their streets" and "on the tops of their houses." This public demonstration signifies the overwhelming nature of their despair, so great it cannot be hidden, and a stark loss of dignity.
  • Symbolism of Sackcloth: Girding oneself with sackcloth was a common ancient Near Eastern practice. It was a coarse, uncomfortable fabric worn as an outward sign of deep sorrow, repentance, humiliation, or extreme distress in the face of calamity.
  • Divine Judgment: At the heart of this scene of profound sorrow is the theme of God's sovereign judgment over nations. Moab's suffering is presented as a direct consequence of its pride and hostility, demonstrating God's ultimate authority over all earthly powers. Jeremiah 48 also contains a significant prophecy against Moab, echoing themes of its downfall.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "howl" (Χ™Φ°ΧœΦ΅Χœ, yelal) denotes a loud, piercing, mournful cry, typically associated with lamentation over death or great disaster. The phrase "weeping abundantly" (Χ‘ΦΌΦΉΧ›ΦΆΧ” Χ™ΦΉΧ¨Φ΅Χ“, bokheh yored) literally means "weeping going down" or "weeping descending," vividly portraying tears streaming down faces in copious amounts, emphasizing the intensity and duration of their sorrow.

Practical Application

This powerful depiction of Moab's judgment and mourning offers several enduring lessons:

  • The Seriousness of Sin: The calamity upon Moab serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences that can result from national pride, rebellion, and antagonism against God's purposes. It highlights that actions, whether individual or collective, have consequences.
  • God's Sovereignty: The prophecy affirms God's absolute control over the course of history and His ability to execute His righteous judgments upon all nations, regardless of their perceived strength or influence.
  • The Reality of Suffering: While specific to Moab, this passage illustrates the universal reality of suffering and distress that can come upon humanity. It encourages reflection on our own spiritual state and the importance of humility and repentance before God, rather than facing the consequences of unaddressed sin.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.

Cross-References

  • Jonah 3:6

    For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered [him] with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

  • Jonah 3:8

    But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that [is] in their hands.

  • Matthew 11:21

    Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

  • Jeremiah 19:13

    And the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses of the kings of Judah, shall be defiled as the place of Tophet, because of all the houses upon whose roofs they have burned incense unto all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings unto other gods.

  • Isaiah 22:1

    ΒΆ The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

  • Isaiah 15:2

    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.

  • 2 Samuel 3:31

    And David said to Joab, and to all the people that [were] with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David [himself] followed the bier.
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