Isaiah 16:13
in Isaiah 16This is the message that the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
This is the word that Jehovah spake concerning Moab in time past.
KJV
This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.
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This verse in Isaiah 16
Commentary
11 notes on this verse(Verse 13.) This is the word that the Lord spoke to Moab from that time. From when do you think? Obviously from the time that Moab was created. And the Lord says: The Moabites and Ammonites shall not enter into the Church of God (Deut. XXIII, 3). Whether we understand it from that time as referring to ancient times, which long ago this divine sentence was decreed, not that the foreknowledge of God brought about the cause of the devastation; but that the future devastation was foreknown to the majesty of God.
This site's exposition
the message that the LORD spoke
on Isaiah 16:13-14
A fresh word sets a limit, "In three years, as a hired worker counts the years," the reckoning of a hired servant's contract. Moab's survivors will be "few and feeble" once her splendor becomes an object of contempt. Barnes and Delitzsch connect the three-year term to the Assyrian campaigns.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 13) And this is what it means: That word which the Lord spoke to Moab from that time, with the introductory statement in which he said, the word against Moab, or the burden, let us understand it as the conclusion, so that what he began there, he may complete here. From that time, however, we should understand from when he began to speak to him, that everything he said is one word of God, that is, one sentence.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
In the mystery of prophetical revelation, Christ is symbolized by word, which people heard while they could see no one, as they said: "This is the word that the Lord spoke to Moab."
Here is the epilogue. From that time, from the death of the king Achaz.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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
): This is the word, this is the thing, that the Lord has spoken concerning Moab, since the time that he began to be so proud, and insolent, and abusive to God's people.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Since - Since the beginning of God's Revelation to me concerning Moab, hitherto.
This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning Moab,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
since that time--rather, "respecting that time" [HORSLEY]. BARNES translates it, "formerly" in contrast to "but now" (Isa 16:14): heretofore former prophecies (Ex 15:15; Nu 21:29) have been given as to Moab, of which Isaiah has given the substance: but now a definite and steady time also is fixed.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
This is the word - This is the substance of the “former” predictions respecting Moab. This has been the “general course” or sense of the prophecies respecting Moab, during all its history. Since that time - Formerly; from former times. There had been a course of predictions declaring in general that Moab should be destroyed, and the prophet says here that he had expressed their general sense; or that “his” predictions accorded with them all - for they all predicted the complete overthrow of Moab.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
This is the word the end of Moab’s destruction at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.
2 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.
And now, the Lord has spoken to bring the retribution near to them.
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
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| זֶ֣ה | zeh | this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| הַדָּבָ֗ר | hadavar | [is] the word | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֨ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| דִּבֶּ֧ר | diber | he has spoken | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| יְהוָ֛ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| אֶל־ | ʾel- | concerning | H413 → | 5510 times |
| מוֹאָ֖ב | moav | Moab | H4124 → | 181 times |
| מֵאָֽז׃ | meaz | from then | H227 → | 141 times |
זֶ֣הthis
zehH2088 →1180 times
הַדָּבָ֗ר[is] the word
hadavarH1697 →1440 times
אֲשֶׁ֨רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
דִּבֶּ֧רhe has spoken
diberH1696 →1141 times
יְהוָ֛הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
אֶל־concerning
ʾel-H413 →5510 times
מוֹאָ֖בMoab
moavH4124 →181 times
מֵאָֽז׃from then
meazH227 →141 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
5 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
Isaiah 44:8Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:10
“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed,…
- 1 Samuel 2:2
There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God.
- Deuteronomy 4:35
You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him.
- Deuteronomy 4:39
Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
- John 10:30
I and the Father are one.”
- Isaiah 43:10
About Isaiah
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 14; Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.