Isaiah 16:11
in Isaiah 16Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Wherefore my heart soundeth like a harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-heres.
KJV
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir–haresh.
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This verse in Isaiah 16
Commentary
9 notes on this verseWherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab,.... Making a noise as the harp does, and a mournful one as that, when used at funerals; which it makes when it is stricken or played on with the hand, as these were, through the afflictive and punitive hand of God; and which, when stricken, causes a quavering of the strings, to which the inward trembling of the bowels is compared, and is very expressive of the prophet's sympathy, or those he personates; for, when one string of the harp is touched, the rest sound.
This site's exposition
gladness is taken away
on Isaiah 16:10-12
Every mark of harvest joy is stripped away: no singing in the vineyards, no shouting, the treaders' feet silenced in the presses that should be bearing Sibmah's fruit. The prophet's own grief sounds again, his bowels like a harp for Moab, mourning without holding himself apart from the nation under judgment. When Moab is seen weary on her high place and comes to her sanctuary to pray, she shall not prevail, which Adam Clarke reads as the verse's verdict on the whole cult of Chemosh she trusted.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Verse 11) On this account, my belly will sound like a lyre for Moab, and my inward parts like a wall of cooked bricks. It is not to be understood as a chant of joy for the prophet, through which he rejoices that the enemies of the people of Israel have been made captive, but rather, he says, with affection and deep sorrow of heart, that he mourns the formerly mighty city that has been destroyed.
(Verse 11) The error of Moab has been destroyed; indeed, false joy has turned into mourning and tears. My belly, the prophet, who is composed like a lyre with musical skill, and who, conceived in the fear of God, has produced many children, so that there is no string that does not produce its sound, will resonate the lament of Moab, who is repenting: and all my bowels will be like a wall of baked bricks, as Theodotius interpreted it as a wall scattered. For all the defenses of opposites, in which they previously trusted, will be destroyed and will fall. These, however, are the bowels and inner parts of the prophet, about which David also said in the Psalm: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and let all my innards proclaim his holy name (Psalm 102, 1). For just as a lyre does not emit a vocal sound and harmonious, if at least one string is broken; similarly, the spiritual belly of the prophet, if one string of virtues is lacking in it, will not be able to resound sweet melody; nor proclaim with all its innards against the brick wall. It is also the opinion of the philosophers to cling to virtues; and the Apostle James says that if one is lacking one virtue, all virtues are lacking in that person. Moreover, according to the Septuagint version, we can explain the prophet's innermost thoughts being renewed by God, and him being ashamed, that is, Moab, and entering into the altars, and the things that are made by hand, so that we may say that the prophet's innermost thoughts are always renewed, and made stronger by God, so that their adversaries may be confounded, and they may understand that the things made by human hand are useless, and do not contribute to salvation.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Third, the conclusion is inferred as from a proof: over this, misfortune, my bowels, that is, my senses, shall sound like a harp, making a sound for lamentation, or because the harp increases joy in the cheerful and sadness in the sad, or because of …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
), it appears to be an inward grief: My bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab; it should make such an impression upon him that he should feel an inward trembling, like that of the strings of a harp when it is played upon.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
4 Let mine outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the face of the spoiler: for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land. 5 And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Wherefore my bowels - This is also an expression of the deep grief of the prophet in view of the calamities which were coming upon Moab. The “bowels” in the Scriptures are everywhere represented as the seat of compassion, pity, commiseration, and tender mercy Gen 43:30: ‘His bowels did yearn upon his brother’ - he deeply felt for him, he greatly pitied him 1Ki 3:26; Psa 25:6; Pro 12:10; Son 5:4; Isa 63:15; Jer 4:19; Jer 31:20; Php 1:8; Php 2:
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
It means the inward seat of emotion, the heart, &c. (Isa 63:15; compare Isa 15:5; Jer 48:36). sound . . . harp--as its strings vibrate when beaten with the plectrum or hand.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
from the fruitful field Heb. כַּרְמֶל. That is a place of a forest and grain fields.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
that Moab has wearied on the high place to wage war on the high places of the towers.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 2 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| עַל־ | ʾal- | there- | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| כֵּן֙ | ken | -fore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| מֵעַ֣י | meai | inward parts my | H4578 → | 32 times |
| לְמוֹאָ֔ב | lemoav | for Moab | H4124 → | 181 times |
| כַּכִּנּ֖וֹר | kakinor | like <the> harp | H3658 → | 42 times |
| יֶֽהֱמ֑וּ | yehemu | they make a sound | H1993 → | 34 times |
| וְקִרְבִּ֖י | vekirbi | and inner being my | H7130 → | 227 times |
| לְקִ֥יר | lekir | for Kir | H7025 → | 10 times |
| חָֽרֶשׂ׃ | chares | Heres | H7025 → | 10 times |
עַל־there-
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
כֵּן֙-fore
kenH3651 →771 times
מֵעַ֣יinward parts my
meaiH4578 →32 times
לְמוֹאָ֔בfor Moab
lemoavH4124 →181 times
כַּכִּנּ֖וֹרlike <the> harp
kakinorH3658 →42 times
יֶֽהֱמ֑וּthey make a sound
yehemuH1993 →34 times
וְקִרְבִּ֖יand inner being my
vekirbiH7130 →227 times
לְקִ֥ירfor Kir
lekirH7025 →10 times
חָֽרֶשׂ׃Heres
charesH7025 →10 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philippians 2:1Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,
it leads to
- Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- 1 John 4:12
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
- 1 John 4:7–8
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
- 2 Corinthians 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
- Colossians 2:2
that they may be encouraged in heart, knit together in love, and filled with the full riches of complete understanding, so that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ,
- Colossians 3:12
Through
Hosea 11:8How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within…
it leads to
- Jeremiah 31:20
Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you…
- Hosea 6:4
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.
- Jeremiah 31:20
About Isaiah
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.