Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 16:8
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
Shedemah means a cultivated field, and it can also refer to a field that has been blasted or destroyed. This word is used in the Bible to describe agricultural land and its condition.
Definition: field Also means: she.re.mah (שְׁרֵמָה "field" H8309)
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: blasted, field. See also: Deuteronomy 32:32; Isaiah 37:27; Isaiah 16:8.
Heshbon was a city east of the Jordan River, serving as the capital of the Amorites under King Sihon, and later becoming part of the tribes of Reuben and Gad.
Definition: § Heshbon = "stronghold" the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located on the western border of the high plain and on the border line between the tribes of Reuben and Gad
Usage: Occurs in 37 OT verses. KJV: Heshbon. See also: Numbers 21:25; Joshua 12:5; Isaiah 15:4.
To weaken or be weak is the meaning of this verb, which can also imply being sick or mourning. In Psalm 6:2, David asks God to heal him, as his bones are weak. The term describes a state of physical or emotional exhaustion.
Definition: 1) to be weak, to droop, to languish, to be exhausted 1a) (Qal) pass participle (of the heart) 1a1) to be weak 1a2) to droop 1b) (Pulal) 1b1) to be or grow feeble 1b2) to languish
Usage: Occurs in 14 OT verses. KJV: languish, be weak, wax feeble. See also: 1 Samuel 2:5; Jeremiah 15:9; Isaiah 16:8.
The Hebrew word for vine, often referring to Israel or prosperity, appears in the Bible as a symbol of God's people. It is also used to describe a grapevine. In the Bible, vines are often associated with abundance and fruitfulness.
Definition: 1) vine, vine tree 1a) of Israel (fig.) 1b) of stars fading at Jehovah's judgment (metaph.) 1c) of prosperity
Usage: Occurs in 53 OT verses. KJV: vine, tree. See also: Genesis 40:9; Isaiah 24:7; Psalms 78:47.
Sibmah was a town in Moab, east of the Jordan River, known for its fragrance and allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad.
Definition: § Shebam or Shibmah or Sibmah = "fragrance" one of the towns in the pastoral district on the east of the Jordan in Moab; allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: Shebam, Shibmah, Sibmah. See also: Numbers 32:3; Isaiah 16:8; Isaiah 16:9.
Means master or owner, often referring to a husband or leader, as seen in the book of Genesis and Exodus.
Definition: : master/leader 1) owner, husband, lord 1a) owner 1b) a husband 1c) citizens, inhabitants 1d) rulers, lords 1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
Usage: Occurs in 79 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of. See also: Genesis 14:13; 1 Samuel 23:11; Proverbs 1:17.
This word refers to a Gentile, someone who is not Hebrew or Israeli. It can also describe a large group of animals or a nation of people, emphasizing their unity and shared identity.
Definition: 1) nation, people 1a) nation, people 1a1) usually of non-Hebrew people 1a2) of descendants of Abraham 1a3) of Israel 1b) of swarm of locusts, other animals (fig.) 1c) Goyim? = "nations" Also named: ethnos (ἔθνος "Gentiles" G1484)
Usage: Occurs in 511 OT verses. KJV: Gentile, heathen, nation, people. See also: Genesis 10:5; Judges 4:16; Psalms 2:1.
To smite means to strike down or conquer, like God smiting the Egyptians in Exodus 3:20. It can also mean to hammer or overcome, as in Jeremiah 23:29.
Definition: (Qal) to smite, strike, hammer, strike down
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: beat (down), break (down), overcome, smite (with the hammer). See also: Judges 5:22; Psalms 141:5; Psalms 74:6.
In the Bible, this word refers to a grapevine or its tendrils, as seen in the book of Genesis. It symbolizes growth and abundance. The KJV translates it as a principal plant.
Definition: vine-tendrils or clusters
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: principal plant. See H8320 (שָׂרֻק), H8321 (שֹׂרֵק). See also: Isaiah 16:8.
This Hebrew word means until or as far as, describing a point in time or space. It's used in the Bible to set boundaries or limits, like in Exodus when describing the Israelites' journey.
Definition: prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)
Usage: Occurs in 1128 OT verses. KJV: against, and, as, at, before, by (that), even (to), for(-asmuch as), (hither-) to, [phrase] how long, into, as long (much) as, (so) that, till, toward, until, when, while, ([phrase] as) yet. See also: Genesis 3:19; Exodus 32:20; Numbers 23:24.
Jazer was a city east of the Jordan River, in the territory of Gad, and was originally an Amorite city. The name Jazer means helped and it is mentioned in the Bible as a Levitical city.
Definition: § Jazer or Jaazer = "helped" a Levitical city east of the Jordan, in Gilead in the territory of Gad, formerly an Amorite city; site uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 12 OT verses. KJV: Jaazer, Jazer. See also: Numbers 21:32; 2 Samuel 24:5; Isaiah 16:8.
This Hebrew word means to touch or reach something, and can also mean to strike or defeat someone. It is used in Exodus to describe God's power and in Psalms to describe human emotions. The word has various translations, including beat, bring, and plague.
Definition: 1) to touch, reach, strike 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to touch 1a2) to strike 1a3) to reach, extend to 1a4) to be stricken 1a4a) stricken (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to be stricken, be defeated 1c) (Piel) to strike 1d) (Pual) to be stricken (by disease) 1e) (Hiphil) to cause to touch, reach, approach, arrive 1e1) to cause to touch, apply 1e2) to reach, extend, attain, arrive, come 1e3) to approach (of time) 1e4) to befall (of fate)
Usage: Occurs in 142 OT verses. KJV: beat, ([idiom] be able to) bring (down), cast, come (nigh), draw near (nigh), get up, happen, join, near, plague, reach (up), smite, strike, touch. See also: Genesis 3:3; 2 Chronicles 3:12; Psalms 32:6.
This word means to go astray or wander, and can be used physically or morally. It can also mean to cause someone to err or stumble.
Definition: 1) to err, wander, go astray, stagger 1a) (Qal) to err 1a1) to wander about (physically) 1a2) of intoxication 1a3) of sin (ethically) 1a4) wandering (of the mind) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made to wander about, be made to stagger (drunkard) 1b2) to be led astray (ethically) 1c) (Hiphil) to cause to wander 1c1) to cause to wander about (physically) 1c2) to cause to wander (of intoxication) 1c3) to cause to err, mislead (mentally and morally)
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: (cause to) go astray, deceive, dissemble, (cause to, make to) err, pant, seduce, (make to) stagger, (cause to) wander, be out of the way. See also: Genesis 20:13; Isaiah 9:15; Psalms 58:4.
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Definition: 1) mouth 1a) mouth (as organ of speech)
Usage: Occurs in 257 OT verses. KJV: desert, south, speech, wilderness. See also: Genesis 14:6; Joshua 5:4; Psalms 29:8.
This word means a shoot or branch of a plant, like a new growth on a tree. In the Bible, it is used to describe the growth of plants and trees in the Promised Land.
Definition: shoot, branch
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: branch. See also: Isaiah 16:8.
To leave or forsake something, like God forsaking his people in the book of Isaiah. It can also mean to permit or let something happen. In the Bible, it is often used to describe God's relationship with his people.
Definition: 1) to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to leave, let alone, lie fallow, entrust to 1a2) to forsake, abandon 1a3) to permit 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be forsaken 1b2) to be loosened, be loose 1b3) to be let go, spread abroad 1c) (Pual) to be abandoned, be deserted
Usage: Occurs in 39 OT verses. KJV: cast off, drawn, let fall, forsake, join (battle), leave (off), lie still, loose, spread (self) abroad, stretch out, suffer. See also: Genesis 31:28; Psalms 78:60; Psalms 27:9.
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Definition: 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish 1a6c) to perish, cease to exist 1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree) 1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands 1b) (Niphal) to be crossed 1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote 1d2) to cause to pass through 1d3) to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by 1d4) to cause to pass away, cause to take away 1e) (Hithpael) to pass over
Usage: Occurs in 493 OT verses. KJV: alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. See also: Genesis 8:1; Deuteronomy 27:2; 1 Samuel 25:19.
Refers to a large body of water like the Mediterranean Sea or a sea in general, sometimes specifically the west or seaward direction.
Definition: This name means sea, seaward, westward Another name of eph.ron (עֶפְרוֹן "(Mount )Ephron" H6085H)
Usage: Occurs in 339 OT verses. KJV: sea ([idiom] -faring man, (-shore)), south, west (-ern, side, -ward). See also: Genesis 1:10; Joshua 17:10; Psalms 8:9.
Context — Moab’s Destruction
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) |
| 1 |
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. |
| 2 |
Numbers 32:38 |
as well as Nebo and Baal-meon (whose names were changed), and Sibmah. And they renamed the cities they rebuilt. |
| 3 |
Jeremiah 48:32 |
I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah, more than I weep for Jazer. Your tendrils have extended to the sea; they reach even to Jazer. The destroyer has descended on your summer fruit and grape harvest. |
| 4 |
Joshua 13:19 |
Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill in the valley, |
| 5 |
Numbers 32:3 |
“Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, |
| 6 |
Isaiah 24:7 |
The new wine dries up, the vine withers. All the merrymakers now groan. |
| 7 |
Joshua 13:25 |
The territory of Jazer, all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer, near Rabbah; |
| 8 |
Jeremiah 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. All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him. |
| 9 |
Isaiah 16:9 |
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 |
2 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. |
Isaiah 16:8 Summary
[Isaiah 16:8 tells us that the fields and grapevines of Moab have been destroyed by other nations, which represents the loss of their prosperity and abundance. This is a reminder that our prosperity and success come from God, and we should always trust and depend on Him, as seen in Psalm 37:3-4. Just like the shoots of the vines spread out and passed over the sea, we can spread out and reach others with God's love and message. However, when we experience destruction or loss, we can trust God to restore us, as seen in Joel 2:25.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the fields of Heshbon and the grapevines of Sibmah in Isaiah 16:8?
The fields of Heshbon and the grapevines of Sibmah represent the prosperity and abundance of Moab, which have been destroyed by the rulers of the nations, as seen in Isaiah 16:8, much like the destruction of Babylon in Isaiah 13:19.
Who are the rulers of the nations that trampled the choicest vines of Moab?
The rulers of the nations that trampled the choicest vines of Moab are likely the Assyrian or Babylonian empires, which were known for their conquests and destruction of neighboring nations, as mentioned in 2 Kings 15:29 and Isaiah 39:1.
What does it mean that the shoots of the vines had spread out and passed over the sea?
The shoots of the vines spreading out and passing over the sea may symbolize the extensive reach and influence of Moab's prosperity, which has now been cut off, much like the warning in Deuteronomy 8:14 to not forget God when prospering.
How does this verse relate to the rest of Isaiah 16?
Isaiah 16:8 is part of a larger lamentation over the destruction of Moab, and it specifically highlights the loss of the nation's prosperity and abundance, as seen in the surrounding verses, Isaiah 16:6-7 and Isaiah 16:9-10.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I have experienced withering or destruction, and how can I trust God to restore them, as seen in Isaiah 58:11?
- How can I avoid the pride and arrogance of Moab, and instead cultivate a heart of humility and dependence on God, as encouraged in Proverbs 22:4?
- What are some ways that I can spread out and reach others with the love and message of God, just like the shoots of the vines spread out and passed over the sea?
- What does it mean to 'weep with Jazer' and mourn the loss of something precious, and how can I apply this to my own life and relationships, as seen in Romans 12:15?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 16:8
For the fields of Heshbon languish,.... Through drought; or because of the forage of the enemy, and their treading upon them; or because there were no men left to till and manure them. Of Heshbon [See comments on Isaiah 15:4].
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 16:8
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
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 16:8
The fields of Heshbon languish; either for want of rain, as , or because there are no men left to till and manure them. The lords of the heathen; the Assyrians or Chaldeans, the great rulers of the Eastern nations. The principal plants; the choicest vines; under which one particular he seems to understand not only all other fruits and goods, but even their persons and choicest people. They are come even unto Jazer; either, 1. The lords of the heathen are come as far as Jazer, which is the utmost border of Moab; or, 2. The people of Moab are going into captivity, and part of them are already gone as far as Jazer. Some understand this and the following clauses of the vines, which are here commended, to aggravate the loss and ruin of them, and render the words, which reached even unto Jazer, which vineyards were planted for many miles together, even as far as Jazer. They wandered through the wilderness; others of the Moabites fled away for their lives, and wandered hither and thither in the wilderness of Moab; of which see . Her branches, i.e. her people, called plants before. Are stretched out; or, are spread abroad, as this word signifies, ; are driven from their own homes, and dispersed into several countries.
Over the sea; over the Dead Sea, which was the border of Moab. They were forced to flee out of their own country to save their lives.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 16:8
Isaiah 16:8 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.Ver. 8. For the fields of Heshbon languish.] As being decayed and destroyed; hence so great mourning in Moab. Their father and founder was begotten in wine, and themselves were likely great wine bibbers. Historians say that some of their cities were built by Bacchus. Fitly therefore are these drunken Moabites bereft of their vines, as those gluttonous Sodomites were of their victuals. The drunkard’ s motto is, Take away my liquor, and take away my life. The lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof.] The great Turk causeth all the vines to be cut down wherever he cometh, because he read in the Koran that in every grape there dwelleth a devil.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 16:8
(8) The fields of Heshbon languish . . .—For Heshbon see Note on Isaiah 15:4. Sibmah appears as assigned to the tribe of Reuben, in Numbers 32:38, Joshua 13:19, and in Jeremiah 48:32 as famous for its vines. Jerome (Comm. in Esai. 5) speaks of it as about half a Roman mile from Heshbon, and as one of the strongest fortresses of Moab. It has not been identified by recent travellers. The names of the chief Moabite cities are brought together by Milton with a singular rhythmical majesty in Par. Lost, 1, 406-411. The lords of the heathen . . .—The words admit of this rendering; but another version, equally admissible grammatically, is preferred by most recent critics. Its branches smote down the lords of the nations, i.e., the wine of Sibmah was so strong that it “overcame” the princes who drank of it (Isaiah 28:1; Jeremiah 23:9). In the word for “lords” (baalim), we have a parallel to the “lords of the high places of Arnon,” in Numbers 21:28. They are come even unto Jazer.—The pronoun may be referred either to the “branches of the vine,” or to the “lords of the heathen,” as destroyers.
Adopting the former construction, we find in the words a description of the extent of the culture of the Sibmah vine. Northward it spread to Jazer on the Gilead frontier (Numbers 32:1; Numbers 32:3; 1 Chronicles 26:31), rebuilt by the Gadites (Numbers 32:35), eastward to the wilderness, westward it crossed the Dead Sea, and re-appeared in the vine-clad slopes of Engedi (Son 1:14). In Jeremiah 48:32, we have “the sea of Jazer.” See Note there.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 16:8
Verse 8. Languish - "Are put to shame"] Here the text of Jeremiah leaves us much at a loss, in a place that seems to be greatly corrupted. The Septuagint join the two last words of this verse with the beginning of the following. Their rendering is: καιουκεντραπησῃ, ταπεδιαΕσεβων. For אך ach they must have read al; otherwise, how came they by the negative, which seems not to belong to this place? Neither is it easy to make sense of the rest without a small alteration, by reading, instead of εντραπησῃτα, εντραπησεται. In a word, the Arabic version taken from the Septuagint, plainly authorizes this reading of the Septuagint, and without the negative; and it is fully confirmed by MSS. Pachom. and I. D. II., which have both of them εντραπησεταιπεδιαΕσεβων, without the negative; which makes an excellent sense, and, I think, gives us the true reading of the Hebrew text; אך נכלמו שדמות חשבון ak nichlemu shadmoth cheshbon.
They frequently render the verb נכלם nichlam by εντρεπομαι. And נכלמו nichlemu answers perfectly well to אמלל umlal, the parallel word in the next line. The MSS. vary in expressing the word נכאים nechaim, which gives no tolerable sense in this place; one reads נוכאים nochaim; two others בכאים bechaim; in another the כ caph is upon a rasure of two letters; and the Vulgate instead of it reads מכותם mecotham, plagas suas. - L. For the men of Kirhares ye shall make a moan. For the fields of Heshbon are put to shame. This is Bp. Lowth's sense of the passage. Her branches are stretched out - "Her branches extended themselves."] For נטשו nitteshu, a MS. has נגשו niggeshu; which may perhaps be right. Compare Jeremiah 48:32, which has in this part of the sentence the synonymous word נגעו nagau. The meaning of this verse is, that the wines of Sibmah and Heshbon were greatly celebrated, and in high repute with all the great men and princes of that and the neighbouring countries; who indulged themselves even to intemperance in the use of them.
So that their vines were so much in request as not only to be propagated all over the country of Moab to the sea of Sodom, but to have scions of them sent even beyond the sea into foreign countries. הלמו halemu, knocked down, demolished; that is overpowered, intoxicated. The drunkards of Ephraim are called by the prophet, Isaiah 28:1, הלומי יין halumey yayin, drinkers of wine. See Schultens on Proverbs 23:25. Grotius, speaking of the Mareotic wine, says of it, Pharios quae fregit noxia reges. CYNEG. 312.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 16:8
8. the fields] means here as in Deuteronomy 32:32 “vineyards.” the vine of Sibmah] Sibmah, in the vicinity of Heshbon, must have been famous for a choice variety of vines, which are here described by a title resembling that used in ch. Isaiah 5:2 for the “choicest vine” of Jehovah’s vineyard. the lords of the heathen … thereof] Better: whose choice grapes struck down (i.e. intoxicated) the lords of the nations. For the figure see ch. Isaiah 28:1. The wine of Sibmah was found on the tables of princes far and near, and its potent effects were well known. The remainder of the verse celebrates the extensive cultivation of this variety of the vine on the east of the Jordan. The writer is not thinking of anything so prosaic as the export trade in the wine of Sibmah; he represents the whole vine culture of the district under the image of a single vine, which reached to Jazer in the north, strayed to the desert on the east, and passed to the (Dead) Sea on the west.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 16:8
For the fields of Heshbon - (See the note at Isaiah 15:4.) Languish - They are parched up with drought. The ‘fields’ here evidently mean “vineyards,” for so the parallelism demands.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 16:8
8. Fields of Heshbon — The region around Heshbon on the north, noted for choice vineyards. Languish — Or, wither.