Isaiah 16:12

And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.

And it shall come to pass, when it is seen {H7200} that Moab {H4124} is weary {H3811} on the high place {H1116}, that he shall come {H935} to his sanctuary {H4720} to pray {H6419}; but he shall not prevail {H3201}.

Even when Mo'av is seen growing weary of worshipping on the high places and entering their sanctuaries to pray, they will have accomplished nothing.

When Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good.

And it shall come to pass, when Moab presenteth himself, when he wearieth himself upon the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail.

Commentary

Isaiah 16:12 concludes a poignant prophecy against Moab, highlighting the futility of their religious practices and reliance on false gods in the face of impending divine judgment. This verse serves as a stark warning about where true help can be found.

Context

Chapters 15 and 16 of Isaiah contain a "burden" or oracle concerning Moab, a nation historically related to Israel through Lot (Genesis 19:37) but often hostile and known for its pride and idolatry. The prophecy describes the utter desolation and lamentation that will befall Moab as Godโ€™s judgment is executed. Moabite cities like Kir-hareseth and Ar are mentioned as targets of destruction, leading to widespread mourning and a desperate search for refuge. The preceding verses detail Moab's suffering and flight. Verse 12 specifically addresses Moab's spiritual desperation: when their worldly strength and places of pagan worship fail, they will turn to their false deities, but their efforts will be in vain.

Key Themes

  • The Futility of Idolatry: The core message is that Moab's worship of gods like Chemosh on "high places" (pagan altars) and their prayers in their "sanctuary" will offer no salvation or relief from God's decree. This powerfully illustrates the emptiness of trusting in man-made gods or anything apart from the true God.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: God's judgment upon Moab demonstrates His absolute authority over all nations and false religions. Despite Moab's fervent prayers to their own deities, God's will prevails, underscoring His sovereignty over earthly kingdoms.
  • Consequences of Pride and Rebellion: Moab's impending suffering is a direct consequence of their long-standing pride and rebellion against God, as noted in other prophetic condemnations (e.g., Jeremiah 48). When their pride is broken, they turn to their idols, but it is too late for their false hopes.

Linguistic Insights

  • "High place" (ื‘ึธึผืžึธื” - bamah): This Hebrew term refers to elevated sites, often hilltops, used for religious worship. While sometimes used by Israelites, they were more commonly associated with pagan worship of deities like Baal and Chemosh, involving rituals and sacrifices condemned by God.
  • "Sanctuary" (ืžึดืงึฐื“ึธึผืฉื - miqdash): In this context, it denotes a temple or sacred precinct dedicated to Moabite gods. The verse reveals that even their most sacred pagan sites and earnest prayers within them would be powerless.
  • "Shall not prevail" (ืœึนื ื™ื•ึผื›ึทืœ - lo yukhal): This strong negation emphasizes their complete inability to succeed, endure, or avert the impending disaster through their own gods or efforts. Their strength, their gods, and their prayers are all useless.

Practical Application

Isaiah 16:12 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Where Do We Turn in Crisis? When faced with overwhelming difficulties or despair, where do we instinctively turn for help? This verse challenges us to examine whether our trust is truly in God or in "high places" of our own making โ€“ be it wealth, career, relationships, self-reliance, or any false ideology.
  • The Futility of False Hope: It reminds us that any hope placed outside of God's truth and grace is ultimately futile. Just as Moab's prayers to Chemosh were useless, so too are our efforts when they are not aligned with God's will or when we rely on anything other than Him.
  • Humility Before God: Moab's suffering came after their pride. The verse implicitly calls us to humility and genuine repentance, seeking God's mercy and truth before we are brought low by circumstances. True prevailing comes from God alone.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Numbers 23:28

    And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.

  • 1 Kings 18:29

    And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that [there was] neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

  • Numbers 23:14

    And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on [every] altar.

  • Jeremiah 48:35

    Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

  • Numbers 22:39

    And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth.

  • 2 Kings 19:16

    LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.
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