TRV
“Desolation of the Land and Economic Ruin”· Isaiah 15:6–7
Translation
King James Version
¶ For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
Complete Jewish Bible
The waters of Nimrim are desolate, the grass is dried up, the new growth fails, nothing green is left.
Berean Standard Bible
The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more.
American Standard Version
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the grass is withered away, the tender grass faileth, there is no green thing.
World English Bible Messianic
For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.
Geneva Bible (1599)
For the waters of Nimrim shall be dried vp: therefore the grasse is withered, the herbes consumed, and there was no greene herbe.
Young's Literal Translation
For, the waters of Nimrim are desolations, For, withered hath been the hay, Finished hath been the tender grass, A green thing there hath not been.
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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Isaiah 15:6–9. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Passage under commentIsaiah 15:6–9
6¶ For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
7Therefore the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have laid up, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows.
8For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim, and the howling thereof unto Beerelim.
9For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.
I. II. Main points1. 2. Sub-points
Here the prophet further describes the woeful and piteous lamentations that should be heard throughout all the country of Moab when it should become a prey to the Assyrian army. "By this time the cry has gone round about all the borders of Moab," Isa 15:8. Every corner of the country has received the alarm, and is in the utmost confusion upon it. It has reached to Eglaim, a city at one end of the country, and to Beer-elim, a city as far the other way. Where sin has been general, and all flesh have corrupted their way, what can be expected but a general desolation? Two things are here spoken of as causes of this lamentation: -
I.The waters of Nimrim are desolate (Isa 15:6), that is, the country is plundered and impoverished, and all the wealth and substance of it swept away by the victorious army. Famine is usually the sad effect of war. Look into the fields that were well watered, the fruitful meadows that yielded delightful prospects and more delightful products, and there all is eaten up, or carried off by the enemy's foragers, and the remainder trodden to dirt by their horses. If an army encamp upon green fields, their greenness is soon gone. Look into the houses, and they are stripped too (Isa 15:7): The abundance of wealth that they had gotten with a great deal of art and industry, and that which they had laid up with a great deal of care and confidence, shall they carry away to the brook of the willows. Either the owners shall carry it thither to hide it or the enemies shall carry it thither to pack it up and send it home, by water perhaps, to their own country. Note,
1.Those that are eager to get abundance of this world, and solicitous to lay up what they have gotten, little consider what may become of it and in how short a time it may be all taken from them. Great abundance, by tempting the robbers, exposes the owners; and those who depend upon it to protect them often find it does but betray them.
2.In times of distress great riches are often great burdens, and do but increase the owner's care or the enemies' strength. Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator - The penniless traveller will exult, when accosted by a robber, in having nothing about him.
II.The waters of Dimon are turned into blood (Isa 15:9), that is, the inhabitants of the country are slain in great numbers, so that the waters adjoining to the cities, whether rivers or pools, are discoloured with human gore, inhumanly shed like water. Dimon signifies bloody; the place shall answer to its name. Perhaps it was that place in the country of Moab where the waters seemed to the Moabites as blood (Kg2 3:22, Kg2 3:23), which occasioned their overthrow. But now, says God, I will bring more upon Dimon, more blood than was shed, or thought to be seen, at that time. I will bring additions upon Dimon (so the word is), additional plagues; I have yet more judgments in reserve for them. For all this, God's anger is not turned away. When he judges he will overcome; and to the roll of curses shall be added many like words, Jer 36:32. See here what is the yet more evil to be brought upon Dimon, upon Moab, which is now to be made a land of blood. Some flee, and make their escape, others sit still, and are overlooked, and are as a remnant of the land; but upon both God will bring lions, beasts of prey (which are reckoned one of God's four judgments, Eze 14:21), and these shall glean up those that have escaped the sword of the enemy. Those that continue impenitent in sin, when they are preserved from one judgment, are but reserved for another.
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Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
(Verse 6) For the waters of Nemrim will be deserted. This town is on the Dead Sea, with salty waters, and even this itself is barren. Whether it alludes to the name, or whether it happened after the devastation, that even the waters turned bitter.
Because the grass has withered, the bud has failed, all the greenness has perished. Not as some think, truly because the waters of Nemrim were barren, all the grass has dried up, but Scripture speaks metaphorically. And the meaning is, in all of Moab the waters of Nemrim will be salty and bitter; just as no grass sprouts there, so the whole province will suffer from drought, that is, from Segor to Oronaim, from borders to borders. The same thing is said by Jeremiah: The waters of Nemrim will be very bad (Jerem. XLVIII, 34).
(Verse 3 and following) Over Nebo and over Medeba, Moab will wail; on every head there is baldness, every beard is shaved off. In its streets they are dressed in sackcloth; on its rooftops and in its squares everyone wails and goes down in weeping. Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz; therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembles. My heart cries out for Moab; its bars are dragged away, to Luhith and to Heshbon they come, crying; on the way to Horonaim they raise a cry of destruction; the waters of Nimrim are a desolation; the grass is withered, the vegetation fails, the greenery is no more. According to the magnitude of their work and their visitation, they shall be led to the torrent of the willows; because a cry hath gone round the border of Moab unto Eglaim, the howling thereof unto Beer Elim. For the waters of Dimon have been filled with blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon them that shall flee out of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land. Therefore, since every teaching contrary to the truth, which is born without the inspiration of God from human understanding in the darkness of error, has been laid waste by the night, and its arguments, which are understood as walls, have been destroyed by the words of Ecclesiastes; so that they fall into eternal silence, to such an extent that their entire faction turns to repentance and tears, over Nabo, that is, over prophecy and authority, that is, over their leaders, and over Medaba, where there are no fruitful trees, but barren thickets, in which beasts dwell, as it is written in the twenty-eighth psalm: And he will reveal the hidden things of the forest: there will be wailing and lamentation, and all the ornaments of eloquence will be taken away from their heads, so that they remain naked and deformed. And if anything seemed to have masculinity in a beard, when shaved by a Ecclesiastical man, it is considered effeminate and weak. In their crossroads, that is, the byways of errors, while each one fabricates according to his own will, he is equipped with the sack of penance, and over the roofs and tamed places, in which they first believed themselves to be lofty; and in the streets (because they do not enter by the narrow way, which leads to life, but by the broad way, which leads to death) there will be wailing. And they shall by no means ascend into pride, but descend into weeping. Then they shall understand all their vain thoughts, which are interpreted as Esbon, and the futile ascent of pride, which sounds like Eleale, so that the voice of their deeds may be heard, and the commandment they thought was from God, condemning themselves by their own confession. Therefore, the bars, that is, those who were strong in Moab and understood their error, shall howl, and they who had hopes will begin to have regrets when their soul howls to itself. Where the Prophet speaks with compassionate affection to those whose souls cried out to him, and says: My heart will cry out to Moab, that I may provoke them to repentance. But their beams and all the foundations, which seemed to have support in their heresies, will reach as far as Segor, that is, to the little one: and it will be shown that they are not strong, but fragile. And this Segor, that is, the small repentance, if it perseveres, will lead them to perfect salvation: which is signified by the three-year-old heifer, as we read in Genesis, where Abraham is commanded to offer a calf, a ram, and a three-year-old goat, a perfect sacrifice, that he may deservedly be the heir of the Lord (Genesis 15). And when they have repented, through tears of sorrow, that is, the tears of their cheeks, they will ascend to higher things. And through this as if through a hole and entrance of sorrow, they will raise the cry of contrition to the Lord, so that they may say: Sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit: a contrite and humble heart God will not despise (Ps. 50:19). And this will happen because the waters of Nemrim, that is, the teachings of heretics, which are compared to leopards and transgressors, will be deserted and brought to nothing. They are stubborn, whose variations and blemishes are not changed (Jeremiah XIII), and apostates, of whom we read in the Psalms, I have regarded all the sinners of the earth as transgressors (Psalm CXVIII, 119). Also, every plant and sprout, and everything that seemed green in their speech, withered. And they were visited by God according to the magnitude of their sins, so that those whom they had not felt through blessings, they would come to know through afflictions. Finally, they will be led to the valley or torrent of willows, so that no fruit remains in them. For they say that this is the nature of the seeds of these trees, that whoever drinks it in a cup will be barren. Hence the holy ones who, because of their sins, began to be in the confusion of this world, hang their organs in the willows of the Babylonian rivers (Ps. CXXXVI). The cry of the Moabites goes around all the borders, either calling for repentance or mourning for the error, so that they can offer through their wailing the calves of their lips and reach the spring of the Lord's rams, or the mighty ones, because Elim signifies both. But the waters of Dimon, which is interpreted as sufficient pain or sorrow, which had polluted many with its sprinkling, will be accused by deceived peoples of not being for their salvation, but for their bloodshed. Hence the prophetic speech promises that over flowing tears, which is interpreted as Dibon, they will accumulate not just one sorrow, but multiple additions of sorrow: so that after they have fully repented and fled from the Moabite lion, they may have God as their leader, whom the Septuagint called Ariel, which is interpreted as lion of God: I will refrain from discussing their translation in this place, because it disagrees with the Hebrew truth in many places, and from what we have interpreted, the sense of that can also be understood.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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Summary
Isaiah 15:6 delivers a stark and devastating prophecy concerning the land of Moab, specifically focusing on the fertile region of Nimrim. This verse vividly portrays a comprehensive environmental collapse, where vital water sources are rendered desolate, and all forms of vegetation—from the general field grass to tender sprouts and any fresh green plant life—perish entirely. It serves as a potent and visceral image of divine judgment, signifying not merely a localized drought but a complete and utter collapse of sustenance and life, leaving the land barren and its inhabitants without hope or provision.
Context
Literary Context
Isaiah 15:6 is an integral part of the "burden" or oracle concerning Moab, which spans Isaiah 15 and Isaiah 16. This specific section is one of several prophecies (often termed "burdens" or "oracles") directed against foreign nations, found within the broader collection of Isaiah 13-23. These oracles collectively serve to underscore Yahweh's absolute sovereignty over all peoples and nations, not just Israel. The verses immediately preceding Isaiah 15:1-5 describe widespread wailing, lamentation, and the desperate flight of Moabite inhabitants from their cities, setting a tone of profound national mourning and impending doom. Verse 6 then provides the concrete, environmental manifestation of this devastation, detailing why the people are fleeing and lamenting. It is a specific, tangible consequence of the judgment previously announced, directly contributing to the scenes of sorrow and despair by illustrating the complete loss of the land's life-sustaining capacity.
Historical & Cultural Context
Moab was an ancient nation situated east of the Dead Sea, characterized by a complex and often adversarial relationship with Israel. Their history, as recorded in passages like Numbers 22-25, included attempts to curse Israel and entice them into idolatry. The Moabites were notably proud (Isaiah 16:6) and worshipped Chemosh, their national deity, often engaging in abhorrent practices like child sacrifice. The land of Moab, particularly its central plateau and valleys such as those near Nimrim, was renowned for its agricultural fertility and productivity, sustained by reliable water sources. Therefore, the prophecy of the "waters of Nimrim shall be desolate" and the perishing of all vegetation would have been an especially devastating blow. This judgment targeted the very foundation of Moab's prosperity, economy, and survival, serving as a divine rebuke for their idolatry, pride, and antagonism towards God's covenant people.
Key Themes
Isaiah 15:6 powerfully contributes to several overarching theological and narrative themes within the book of Isaiah. Firstly, it vividly illustrates the theme of Divine Judgment and Desolation, portraying God's righteous wrath against nations that oppose His will and succumb to pride and idolatry. The comprehensive destruction of natural resources signifies a judgment that leaves nothing untouched, emphasizing the totality of God's power to bring about ruin. Secondly, it underscores the Fragility of Earthly Security and Sustenance. The swift perishing of water and vegetation reveals how quickly human provisions and natural prosperity can be stripped away, challenging any reliance on anything other than God. This theme is echoed throughout prophetic literature, reminding humanity that true security is found only in the Lord, not in chariots or horses (Psalm 20:7). Finally, the verse contributes to the profound theme of God's Sovereignty Over All Nations. By pronouncing such a severe judgment on Moab, a powerful neighbor, Isaiah affirms that Yahweh is not merely the God of Israel but the supreme ruler of all the earth, orchestrating the destinies of kingdoms according to His divine purpose and establishing His universal dominion (Daniel 4:17).
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the root שָׁמֵם (shamem), this word (H4923) conveys a profound sense of utter ruin, waste, and astonishment. It implies that the devastation is so complete and overwhelming that it evokes shock and horror. It describes a state not merely of emptiness but of active desolation, a place laid waste and rendered uninhabitable, reflecting the severe and comprehensive impact of God's judgment.
This primitive root (H3001) means "to dry up" (as water) or "to wither" (as herbage). In the context of Isaiah 15:6, it specifically refers to the drying and shriveling of the "hay" (châtsîyr). This term emphasizes the complete loss of moisture and vitality, leading directly to death and decay, serving as a direct consequence of the desolation of the vital water sources.
Derived from a root suggesting "pallor" or the "sickly yellowish-green of young vegetation," this term (H3418) refers to any fresh, verdant plant life. Its complete absence signifies the absolute and comprehensive destruction of all living vegetation. The progression from "hay is withered" to "grass faileth" and finally "no green thing" indicates a total and final eradication of all life-sustaining flora, leaving behind a barren, lifeless wasteland.
Verse Breakdown
"For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate"
This opening clause pinpoints a specific, vital water source in Moab—the waters of Nimrim, likely a fertile oasis, stream, or region known for its lushness. The declaration that these waters "shall be desolate" (mᵉshammâh) implies not merely a drying up but a complete laying waste, rendering the area uninhabitable and unproductive. This is presented as the foundational cause of the subsequent agricultural and ecological collapse described in the verse.
"for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth"
This section details the immediate and direct consequences of the desolation of the waters. "Hay" (châtsîyr, H2682) refers to the general field grass, while "grass" (desheʼ, H1877) refers to tender sprouts or young vegetation. Both are depicted as dying off: the hay "withered away" (yâbêsh, dried up) and the grass "faileth" (kâlâh, ceases to exist, perishes). This vividly portrays the agricultural and pastoral devastation, which would severely impact livestock and human sustenance.
"there is no green thing"
This concluding phrase serves as a powerful summary and intensification of the preceding clauses. It signifies the complete and utter absence of any fresh, living vegetation whatsoever. It underscores the totality of the destruction, leaving a barren, lifeless landscape, a stark and absolute image of the comprehensive judgment that has befallen Moab.
Literary Devices
Isaiah 15:6 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of utter devastation. The most prominent is Imagery, which creates a vivid and sensory mental picture of a parched, lifeless landscape. The deliberate progression from the desolation of "waters" to the "withered" hay, the "failing" grass, and finally the complete absence of "any green thing" builds a cumulative image of increasing barrenness, appealing directly to the reader's visual and tactile senses. This cumulative effect is further intensified by Hyperbole, as the declaration of "no green thing" pushes beyond the scope of a mere natural drought to suggest an extreme and total destruction, emphasizing the severity and completeness of the divine judgment. While a literal drought is certainly implied, the language elevates it to an absolute, divinely ordained ruin. Furthermore, the desolation of the waters and the death of vegetation function as powerful Symbolism for the collapse of Moab's national strength, prosperity, and indeed, its very lifeblood. Just as a land cannot survive without water and plants, a nation cannot endure when its fundamental sources of life and well-being are utterly destroyed by divine decree.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Isaiah 15:6 profoundly illustrates the principle of divine judgment, demonstrating God's sovereign power to bring about severe consequences for national sin, particularly pride, idolatry, and antagonism towards His people. The desolation of Moab's most fertile and vital areas serves as a stark reminder that no earthly security, no matter how abundant or seemingly self-sufficient, is immune to God's righteous wrath and sovereign decree. It challenges the human tendency to place ultimate trust in material resources, natural provisions, or economic prosperity, revealing their inherent fragility and transient nature. The verse implicitly calls for a recognition of God as the ultimate and unfailing source of all sustenance and life, contrasting the fleeting nature of physical provisions with the eternal and steadfast provision found in Him alone.
Reflection and Application
The stark imagery of Isaiah 15:6, while depicting an ancient judgment on Moab, resonates with timeless truths for believers today. It serves as a powerful and sobering reminder that all earthly provisions, securities, and sources of comfort are ultimately transient and subject to God's sovereign will. In a world that often places its ultimate trust in economic stability, natural resources, technological advancements, or even personal achievements, this verse calls us to deeply examine where our ultimate hope and security truly lie. It urges us to cultivate a posture of profound humility and absolute dependence on God, recognizing that true sustenance, flourishing, and lasting peace come not from the abundance of what we possess, but from our intimate relationship with the Creator and Sustainer of all things. When we witness natural disasters, economic downturns, or societal collapses, this passage reminds us that God remains on His throne, and His justice will ultimately prevail. It prompts us to seek spiritual nourishment that can never wither or fail, to invest in the eternal rather than the temporal, and to find our deepest satisfaction in the unfailing wellspring of God's presence and provision.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "Nimrim" in this verse?
Nimrim (H5249, Nimrîym) refers to a specific location in Moab, likely a fertile area or a stream known for its abundant waters and lush vegetation. Its mention is highly significant because it highlights the comprehensiveness of the judgment. If even such a renowned and vital source of life and fertility is rendered "desolate" (H4923, mᵉshammâh'), it underscores that the destruction is not localized or partial, but total and devastating to the very heart of Moab's agricultural and economic well-being. It emphasizes that no stronghold, no matter how prosperous or secure, is exempt from God's judgment.
Does this prophecy imply a literal drought or a broader destruction?
While the language describes a literal drying up of water and perishing of vegetation, the context of a divine "burden" or oracle against a nation suggests a broader destruction that may include, but is not limited to, a natural drought. The desolation described is presented as a direct consequence of God's judgment on Moab's pride and idolatry (Isaiah 16:6). Therefore, it signifies a complete collapse of their society, economy, and national life, with the environmental devastation serving as a powerful metaphor and a tangible manifestation of this comprehensive ruin. It's an act of divine judgment that impacts every aspect of their existence, leaving "no green thing" behind.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Isaiah 15:6 speaks of earthly desolation and judgment upon Moab, its profound themes resonate deeply with the redemptive work of Christ. The perishing of "waters," "hay," "grass," and "green things" vividly portrays a world under the pervasive curse of sin, where life itself withers and fails, and human efforts to find lasting sustenance prove futile. This inherent brokenness and spiritual barrenness point to humanity's desperate need for a new and unfailing source of life and sustenance, one that is not subject to the fleeting nature of earthly provisions. Jesus Christ is presented in the New Testament as the ultimate and complete fulfillment of this profound need. He is the Living Water who, unlike the waters of Nimrim, will never run dry, offering eternal life and true satisfaction to all who believe (John 4:14). He is the Bread of Life, providing spiritual nourishment that truly satisfies and prevents spiritual perishing. In Christ, the "desolate" places of our hearts and lives, once barren due to sin, are made fruitful and verdant, for He promises to make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert (Isaiah 43:19). The judgment on Moab, leading to utter barrenness, foreshadows the ultimate spiritual barrenness of a life lived apart from God, a condition that Christ came to reverse, bringing forth abundant life and spiritual flourishing (John 10:10). He is the "green thing" that never fails, the eternal source of vitality and life in a world prone to withering and decay.