Isaiah 16:14
in Isaiah 16And now the LORD says, “In three years, as a hired worker counts the years, Moab’s splendor will become an object of contempt, with all her many people. And those who are left will be few and feeble.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But now Jehovah hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of a hireling, the glory of Moab shall be brought into contempt, with all his great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and of no account.
KJV
But now the Lord hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble.
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This verse in Isaiah 16
Commentary
12 notes on this verseWithin three years - בשלש beshalish כשלש keshalish, according, or in or about three years, is the reading of nine of Kennicott’s and De Rossi’s MSS., and two ancient editions.
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.
This site's exposition
In three years, as a hired worker counts the years
Jamieson, Fausset and Brown date the fulfilment to the years when Assyria carried the northern kingdom into exile. Wesley adds that a hired worker counts his years exactly. Henry places Moab's glory in its many people.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
(Verse 14) And now the Lord has spoken, saying: In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be taken away from all its people, and only a few will be left, not many. The three years, in which the glory of Moab will be taken away from all its people, whether many in number or rich in wealth, as translated by the LXX, are to be understood mystically. For just as the mercy of the Lord is in weights and measures, so too do the torments and punishments have their measure. After these three years have passed, in which only a few will be left, not many, then the ingloriousness will cease. And this should be noted, that according to the prophecy of Ezekiel, when the days are counted for years for the Israelites (Ezek. IV), that is, the ten tribes which had sinned grievously, they are reckoned as three hundred and ninety years, as it is written in Hebrew, not one hundred and ninety years, as the Vulgate edition has it: and for the Jews, in which there was the Temple of God, forty years. For he who is small deserves mercy, but the powerful endure torment forcefully (Wis. VI). And the servant who knows his master's will and does not do it, will be beaten severely (Luke XII). Therefore Moab, because he was a foreigner, not of the people of God, but having turned away from error, will be left small and humble, and inglorious, not for many years, but only for three. These are the years that we read about elsewhere: Remember the days of old (Isaiah XLVI), and again: I have considered the days of old, and have kept the eternal years in mind (Psalm LXXVI, 6). For if he served the shadows and copies according to the flesh of Israel, and all their solemnity was a type of future things, why do not the present times of this year also foreshadow future times? […]
(Verse 14.) And now the Lord has spoken, saying: In three years, like the years of a hired worker, the glory of Moab will be taken away from all the multitude of people, and only a few will be left, small and insignificant. This prophecy, as we have said before, is directed against the Moabites after the death of Ahaz, during the reign of Hezekiah, when the ten tribes were taken into captivity by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Here he shows the shortness of the time: in three years, which will be until their destruction and from the death of Achaz—in whose time was the vision of this second word—or in which your persecution or battle will last; the years of a hireling, …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Hireling - Within three years precisely counted; for hirelings are very punctual in observing the time for which they are hired. The glory - Their strength, and wealth, and other things in which they glory, shall be made contemptible to those who formerly admired them.
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
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But now the Lord hath spoken,.... Something else.
It was the glory of Moab that their country was very populous and their forces were courageous; but where is her glory when all that great multitude is in a manner swept away, some by one judgment and some by another, and the little remnant that is left shall be very small and feeble, not able to bear up under their own griefs, much less to make head against their enemies' insults?
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Fulfilled about the time when the Assyrians led Israel into captivity. The ruins of Elealeh, Heshbon, Medeba, Dibon, &c., still exist to confirm the inspiration of Scripture. The accurate particularity of specification of the places three thousand years ago, confirmed by modern research, is a strong testimony to the truth of prophecy.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But now the Lord hath spoken - This refers to the particular and specific prophecy of Isaiah that destruction should come upon them in three years. Instead of a “general but indefinite” prediction of calamity to the Moabites, such as had been uttered by the former prophets, or by Isaiah himself before, it was now specific and definite in regard to the “time” when it should be fulfilled. Within three years - We have no means of ascertaining the exact fulfillment of this prediction, nor do we certainly know by whom it was accomplished. As the years of an hireling - A man that is hired has a certain time specified during which he is to labor; the years, the months, the days for which he is engaged are agreed on, nor will he suffer any addition to be made to it. So the prophet says that the very time is fixed. It shall not be varied. It will be adhered to by God - as the time is adhered to between a man who employs another and him who is hired. And it means, that “exactly at the time” which is here specified, the predicted destruction should come upon Moab. The glory of Moab - That in which it glories, or boasts - its wealth, its armies, its cities, towns, etc. Shall be contemned - Shall be esteemed of no value; shall be destroyed. And the remnant - There shall be few cities, few people, and very little wealth that shall escape the desolation (compare Isa 10:25; Isa 24:6). Jerome says that ‘this prophecy was delivered after the death of Ahaz, and in the reign of Hezekiah, during whose reign the ten tribes were led by Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians, into captivity. And, therefore, after three years, the Assyrians came and destroyed Moab, and very few were left in the land who could inhabit the deserted cities, or cultivate the desolate fields.’ But it is not certainly known to what particular time the prophecy refers. […]
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
And now, the Lord has spoken to bring the retribution near to them.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
This is the word the end of Moab’s destruction at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar.
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
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעַתָּ֗ה | veatah | and now | H6258 → | 433 times |
| דִּבֶּ֣ר | diber | he says | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| יְהוָה֮ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| לֵאמֹר֒ | lemor | <to> saying | H559 → | 5305 times |
| בְּשָׁלֹ֤שׁ | beshalosh | in three | H7969 → | 432 times |
| שָׁנִים֙ | shanim | years | H8141 → | 877 times |
| כִּשְׁנֵ֣י | kishnei | like [the] years of | H8141 → | 877 times |
| שָׂכִ֔יר | sakhir | a hired laborer | H7916 → | |
| וְנִקְלָה֙ | veniklah | and it will be lightly esteemed | H7034 → | |
| כְּב֣וֹד | kevod | [the] honor of | H3519 → | 200 times |
| מוֹאָ֔ב | moav | Moab | H4124 → | 181 times |
| בְּכֹ֖ל | bekhol | for all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הֶהָמ֣וֹן | hehamon | the multitude | H1995 → | 83 times |
| הָרָ֑ב | harav | <the> great | H7227 → | 454 times |
| וּשְׁאָ֥ר | ushear | and a remnant | H7605 → | 26 times |
| מְעַ֛ט | meat | little | H4592 → | 101 times |
| מִזְעָ֖ר | mizar | smallness | H4213 → | 4 times |
| ל֥וֹא | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| כַבִּֽיר׃ ס | khabir | [will be] mighty | H3524 → | 10 times |
וְעַתָּ֗הand now
veatahH6258 →433 times
דִּבֶּ֣רhe says
diberH1696 →1141 times
יְהוָה֮Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
לֵאמֹר֒<to> saying
lemorH559 →5305 times
בְּשָׁלֹ֤שׁin three
beshaloshH7969 →432 times
שָׁנִים֙years
shanimH8141 →877 times
כִּשְׁנֵ֣יlike [the] years of
kishneiH8141 →877 times
שָׂכִ֔ירa hired laborer
sakhirH7916 →
וְנִקְלָה֙and it will be lightly esteemed
veniklahH7034 →
כְּב֣וֹד[the] honor of
kevodH3519 →200 times
מוֹאָ֔בMoab
moavH4124 →181 times
בְּכֹ֖לfor all
bekholH3605 →5413 times
הֶהָמ֣וֹןthe multitude
hehamonH1995 →83 times
הָרָ֑ב<the> great
haravH7227 →454 times
וּשְׁאָ֥רand a remnant
ushearH7605 →26 times
מְעַ֛טlittle
meatH4592 →101 times
מִזְעָ֖רsmallness
mizarH4213 →4 times
ל֥וֹאnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
כַבִּֽיר׃ ס[will be] mighty
khabirH3524 →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
Isaiah 23:9The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.
it leads to
- Isaiah 13:11
I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.
- James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Job 40:11–12
Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.
- Isaiah 2:11
The proud look of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
- Isaiah 13:11
Through
Genesis 31:1Now Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken away all that belonged to our father and built all this wealth at our father’s expense.”
it leads to
- Ecclesiastes 4:4
I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.
- Ecclesiastes 4:4
Through
Isaiah 21:16For this is what the Lord says to me: “Within one year, as a hired worker would count it, all the glory of Kedar will be gone.
it leads to
- Psalms 120:5
Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of Kedar!
- Song of Solomon 1:5
I am dark, yet lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.
- Isaiah 60:7
All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you and go up on My altar with acceptance; I will adorn My glorious house.
- Psalms 120:5
About Isaiah
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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.