Isaiah 16:8
6 We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his overflowing arrogance. But his boasting is empty.
7 Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.
For the fields of Heshbon have withered, along with the grapevines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations have trampled its choicest vines, which had reached as far as Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots had spread out and passed over the sea.
9 So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest.
10 Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards. No one tramples the grapes in the winepresses; I have put an end to the cheering.
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
- For the fields of Heshbon have withered, along with the grapevines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations have trampled its choicest vines, which had reached as far as Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots had spread out and passed over the sea.
- KJV
- For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.
- WEB
- For the fields of Heshbon languish with the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have broken down its choice branches, which reached even to Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness. Its shoots were spread abroad. They passed over the sea.
- ASV
- For the fields of Heshbon languish, [and] the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have broken down the choice branches thereof, which reached even unto Jazer, which wandered into the wilderness; its shoots were spread abroad, they passed over the sea.
- DARBY
- For the fields of Heshbon languish, the vine of Sibmah; the lords of the nations have broken down its choice plants: they reached unto Jaazer, they wandered [through] the wilderness; its shoots stretched out, they went beyond the sea.
- BLB
- For the fields of Heshbon languish, [and] the vine of Sibmah. The lords of the nations have struck down its choicest vines, [which] had reached as far as Jazer, and wandered [to] the desert—her branches stretched out [and] passed over the sea.
- ÅB
- For Hesbons marker er visnet, og Sibmas[^1] vintre, hvis edle ranker slo folkenes herskere[^2] til jorden; de nådde like til Jaser og forvillet seg ut i ørkenen; dets kvister bredte seg ut og gikk over havet.
- OTB
- Markene i Hesjbon visner, vinrankene i Sibma også. Herrene over nasjonene har trampet ned de utvalgte vinrankene, som nådde Jaser og spredte seg mot ørkenen. Deres ranker strakte seg og nådde havet.
- B1930
- For Hesbons marker er visnet, og Sibmas vintre, hvis edle ranker slo folkenes herskere til jorden; de nådde like til Jaser og forvillet sig ut i ørkenen; dets kvister bredte sig ut og gikk over havet. / < Sibma lå nær ved Hesbon.> / < beruset dem så de falt drukne om.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 15:4
Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore the soldiers of Moab cry out; their souls tremble within.
Read in contextNumbers 32:38
as well as Nebo and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. And they renamed the cities they rebuilt.
Read in contextIsaiah 10:7
But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.
Read in context2 Samuel 1:21
O mountains of Gilboa, may you have no dew or rain, no fields yielding offerings of grain. For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
Read in contextIsaiah 24:7
The new wine dries up, the vine withers. All the merrymakers now groan.
Read in contextJeremiah 27:6–7
So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him.
Read in contextJoshua 13:25
The territory of Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, near Rabbah;
Read in contextJoshua 13:19
Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley,
Read in context