Isaiah 15:3
1 This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!
2 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.
In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping.
4 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore the soldiers of Moab cry out; their souls tremble within.
5 My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- In their streets, they clothe themselves in sackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping abundantly.
- ASV
- In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.
- DARBY
- In their streets they are girded with sackcloth; on their roofs, and in their broadways, every one howleth, melted into tears.
- BLB
- In its streets they have girded on sackcloth; on its rooftops and in the square, everyone wails, going down with weeping.
- ÅB
- På dets gater binder de sekk om seg; på dets tak og på dets streder skal alle hyle og la sine tårer strømme.
- OTB
- På gatene kler de seg i sekkestrie; På hustakene og i de offentlige torgene, alle jamrer, overveldet av tårer.
- B1930
- På dets gater binder de sekk om sig; på dets tak og på dets streder skal alle hyle og la sine tårer strømme.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jonah 3:6–8
When word reached the king of Nineveh, he got up from his throne, took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
Read in context2 Samuel 3:31
Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier.
Read in contextMatthew 11:21
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Read in contextDeuteronomy 22:8
If you build a new house, you are to construct a railing around your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if someone falls from it.
Read in contextJeremiah 19:13
The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be defiled like that place, Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops they burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out drink offerings to other gods.”
Read in contextIsaiah 15:2
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.
Read in contextJeremiah 48:38–39
On all the rooftops of Moab and in the public squares, everyone is mourning; for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar,” declares the LORD.
Read in contextIsaiah 22:1
This is the burden against the Valley of Vision: What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the rooftops,
Read in context