Read & explore together
The Burden against Moab
Isaiah 15 speaks a burden against Moab. The passage is a prophecy of sudden ruin, widespread grief and continuing danger. It also shows that the cry over judgement is not cold or distant, because the speaker says, "My heart cries out for Moab."
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
This passage is presented as "The burden of Moab" and then traces distress across many Moabite places. The text moves from sudden destruction at Ar and Kir to public mourning, fleeing nobles, dried-up waters, carried-away goods and one final warning of further harm for survivors and the remnant.
Isaiah 15:1–9Main takeaway
Isaiah 15 teaches that judgement on Moab is overwhelming and far-reaching, yet the passage also speaks with grief rather than indifference.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A burden and a sudden fallThe passage begins by naming this message "the burden of Moab". The next lines stress speed and completeness: Ar of Moab and Kir of Moab are each laid waste "in a night" and brought to nothing.
Explanation
The passage begins by naming this message "the burden of Moab". The next lines stress speed and completeness: Ar of Moab and Kir of Moab are each laid waste "in a night" and brought to nothing. The repetition makes the disaster sound sudden, heavy and decisive.
02Public signs of grief everywhereThe prophecy then lists places where Moab weeps and wails. People go up to high places to mourn.
Explanation
The prophecy then lists places where Moab weeps and wails. People go up to high places to mourn. Their grief shows in shaved heads, cut beards, sackcloth, loud crying in streets and on housetops, and abundant weeping. The whole community is pictured as openly lamenting.
03Fear spreads from city to soldiersThe crying does not stay in one town. Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, and the voice is heard as far as Jahaz.
Explanation
The crying does not stay in one town. Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, and the voice is heard as far as Jahaz. Even the armed men of Moab cry aloud, and their souls tremble within them. Strength and military readiness do not remove this fear.
04Flight, desolation and more to comeThe speaker says, "My heart cries out for Moab," then describes nobles fleeing with weeping and cries of destruction.
Explanation
The speaker says, "My heart cries out for Moab," then describes nobles fleeing with weeping and cries of destruction. The land also suffers, with desolate waters and no green thing. People carry away what they stored up, yet the wailing reaches the borders, and Dimon still faces more blood and danger.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated words or ideas in verse 1 make the opening feel sudden and severe?
Look for the repeated time phrase and the repeated result for Ar and Kir.
02Which details show that Moab's sorrow is public and visible, not hidden?
Notice the body signs of mourning and the places where people are weeping.
03How does verse 5 affect the tone of the prophecy?
Pay attention to the line "My heart cries out for Moab" before the description of fleeing and destruction.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 15:1–9
1The burden of Moab. For in a night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing.
2They have gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep. Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba. Baldness is on all of their heads. Every beard is cut off.
3In their streets, they clothe themselves in sackcloth. In their streets and on their housetops, everyone wails, weeping abundantly.
4Heshbon cries out with Elealeh. Their voice is heard even to Jahaz. Therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud. Their souls tremble within them.
5My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.
6For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.
7Therefore they will carry away the abundance they have gotten, and that which they have stored up, over the brook of the willows.
8For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab, its wailing to Eglaim, and its wailing to Beer Elim.
9For the waters of Dimon are full of blood; for I will bring yet more on Dimon, a lion on those of Moab who escape, and on the remnant of the land.