Isaiah 16:6

ยถ We have heard of the pride of Moab; [he is] very proud: [even] of his haughtiness, and his pride, and his wrath: [but] his lies [shall] not [be] so.

We have heard {H8085} of the pride {H1347} of Moab {H4124}; he is very {H3966} proud {H1341}: even of his haughtiness {H1346}, and his pride {H1347}, and his wrath {H5678}: but his lies {H907} shall not be so.

We have heard about Mo'av's pride, how very proud they are; about their haughty arrogance, their insolence and bravado.

We have heard of Moabโ€™s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his overflowing arrogance. But his boasting is empty.

We have heard of the pride of Moab, thathe is very proud; even of his arrogancy, and his pride, and his wrath; his boastings are nought.

Commentary

Isaiah 16:6, part of a prophetic oracle concerning Moab, vividly describes the notorious character of this ancient nation. The verse highlights Moab's excessive pride, haughtiness, and wrath, declaring that their deceptive boasts or claims will ultimately prove false or ineffective.

Context

This verse is situated within a larger prophecy (Isaiah 15-16) detailing the impending judgment and desolation of Moab, a neighboring kingdom to Israel, east of the Dead Sea. Historically, Moab was often an adversary of Israel, known for its wealth and agricultural prosperity, particularly its vineyards, which often led to a sense of self-sufficiency and arrogance. The prophet Isaiah, speaking on behalf of God, reveals that despite their apparent strength and defiant attitude, Moab's pride would be their downfall, and their boasts would not stand. The preceding verses in chapter 16 even suggest a plea for Moab to offer refuge, indicating a period of distress before this stark condemnation of their character.

Key Themes

  • The Destructive Nature of Pride: The verse emphasizes Moab's pride through repetition ("pride," "very proud," "haughtiness"). This highlights that their arrogance was a defining characteristic and a primary reason for their impending judgment. Pride often blinds nations and individuals to their true state and God's sovereignty.
  • Divine Judgment on Arrogance: God consistently opposes the proud and brings down those who exalt themselves. Moab's pride is presented not merely as a character flaw but as an offense that warrants divine intervention and judgment.
  • Futility of Human Boasting: The phrase "but his lies shall not be so" indicates that Moab's boasts, deceptive statements, or arrogant claims of self-sufficiency would come to nothing. Their words would not align with reality, and their schemes would fail.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "pride" used here, ga'on (ื’ึผึธืื•ึนืŸ), can also mean "majesty" or "excellency" in a positive sense, but in contexts like this, it clearly denotes excessive, defiant pride or arrogance. The repetition of this concept ("pride," "haughtiness," "very proud") underscores its pervasive nature in Moab's character. "Wrath" (evrah, ืขึถื‘ึฐืจึธื”) suggests not just anger, but often a furious, overflowing rage, perhaps reflecting Moab's oppressive actions or aggressive posture. The "lies" (baddim, ื‘ึผึทื“ึผึดื™ื) refer to empty boasts or idle talk, which are exposed as hollow and ineffective: "shall not be so" implies they will not come to pass or hold true.

Related Scriptures

The principle of God opposing the proud is a recurring theme throughout Scripture. Proverbs 16:18 famously states that "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." The New Testament reinforces this, declaring that "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6; also 1 Peter 5:5). This verse in Isaiah serves as an Old Testament testament to this unchanging divine principle.

Practical Application

Isaiah 16:6 serves as a timeless warning against the dangers of pride and arrogance. For individuals and nations alike, it reminds us that self-exaltation and reliance on human strength or deceitful boasting ultimately lead to a fall. True stability and strength come from humility and dependence on God, not from human achievements or defiant self-assertion. It encourages us to cultivate humility, recognize God's sovereignty, and understand that our words and actions are ultimately judged by divine truth.

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

  • Amos 2:1

    ยถ Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:

  • Jeremiah 48:29

    We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.

  • Jeremiah 48:30

    I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but [it shall] not [be] so; his lies shall not so effect [it].

  • Obadiah 1:3

    The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

  • Obadiah 1:4

    Though thou exalt [thyself] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 48:42

    And Moab shall be destroyed from [being] a people, because he hath magnified [himself] against the LORD.

  • Zephaniah 2:8

    ยถ I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified [themselves] against their border.
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