Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version When Moab appears at her high place, she only wears herself out; when she goes to her shrine to pray, it is to no avail. New Living Translation The people of Moab will worship at their pagan shrines, but it will do them no good. They will cry to the gods in their temples, but no one will be able to save them. English Standard Version And when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail. Berean Standard Bible When Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good. Berean Literal Bible And it will come to pass, when it is seen that Moab has become weary on the high place, that he will come to his sanctuary to pray; he will not prevail. King James Bible And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail. New King James Version And it shall come to pass, When it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, That he will come to his sanctuary to pray; But he will not prevail. New American Standard Bible So it will come about when Moab presents himself, When he tires himself upon his high place And comes to his sanctuary to pray, That he will not prevail. NASB 1995 So it will come about when Moab presents himself, When he wearies himself upon his high place And comes to his sanctuary to pray, That he will not prevail. NASB 1977 So it will come about when Moab presents himself, When he wearies himself upon his high place, And comes to his sanctuary to pray, That he will not prevail. Legacy Standard Bible So it will be when Moab appears, When he wearies himself upon his high place And comes to his sanctuary to pray, That he will not prevail. Amplified Bible So it will come to pass when Moab presents himself, When he wearies himself [worshiping] on his high place [of idolatry] And comes to his sanctuary [of Chemosh, god of Moab] to pray, That he will not prevail. Berean Annotated Bible When Moab (of his father) appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good. Christian Standard Bible When Moab appears and tires himself out on the high place and comes to his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good. Holman Christian Standard Bible When Moab appears on the high place, when he tires himself out and comes to his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good. American Standard Version And it shall come to pass, when Moab presenteth himself, when he wearieth himself upon the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail. Contemporary English Version It's useless for Moab's people to wear themselves out by going to their altars to worship and pray. English Revised Version And it shall come to pass, when Moab presenteth himself, when he wearieth himself upon the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail. GOD'S WORD® Translation When the people of Moab appear at the worship site, they will only wear themselves out. They will come into the holy place to pray, but they won't be able to. Good News Translation The people of Moab wear themselves out going to their mountain shrines and to their temples to pray, but it will do them no good. International Standard Version When Moab appears, when he arrives upon the high place and comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail." NET Bible When the Moabites plead with all their might at their high places, and enter their temples to pray, their prayers will be ineffective! New Heart English Bible It will happen that when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, and comes to his sanctuary to pray, that he will not prevail. Webster's Bible Translation And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good. World English Bible It will happen that when Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself on the high place, and comes to his sanctuary to pray, that he will not prevail. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd it has come to pass, when it has been seen, "" That Moab has been weary on the high place, "" And he has come to his sanctuary to pray, "" And is not able. Berean Literal Bible And it will come to pass, when it is seen that Moab has become weary on the high place, that he will come to his sanctuary to pray; he will not prevail. Young's Literal Translation And it hath come to pass, when it hath been seen, That weary hath been Moab on the high place, And he hath come unto his sanctuary to pray, And is not able. Smith's Literal Translation And it was when it was seen that Moab was weary upon the height, and coming to his holy place to pray and he shall not be able. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is wearied on his high places, that he shall go in to his sanctuaries to pray, and shall not prevail. Catholic Public Domain Version And this shall be: when it is seen that Moab has struggled upon his high places, he will enter his holy places to pray, but he will not prevail. New American Bible When Moab wears himself out on the high places, and enters his sanctuary to pray, it shall avail him nothing. New Revised Standard Version When Moab presents himself, when he wearies himself upon the high place, when he comes to his sanctuary to pray, he will not prevail. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high places, that he shall come to the sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And when he sees that Moab was weary because of sacrifices, he will come to the holy place to pray and cannot OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab hath wearied himself upon the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail Brenton Septuagint Translation And it shall be to thy shame, (for Moab is wearied at the altars,) that he shall go in to the idols thereof to pray, but they shall not be at all able to deliver him. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Prophecy of Moab's Devastation…11Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres. 12 When Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good. 13This is the message that the LORD spoke earlier concerning Moab.… Cross References When Moab appears on the high place, Jeremiah 48:35 In Moab, declares the LORD, I will bring an end to those who make offerings on the high places and burn incense to their gods. Jeremiah 48:13 Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel. 2 Kings 17:11 They burned incense on all the high places like the nations that the LORD had driven out before them. They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger. when he wearies himself Habakkuk 2:13 Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain? Isaiah 57:10 You are wearied by your many journeys, but you did not say, “There is no hope!” You found renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak. Isaiah 47:13 You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate. and enters his sanctuary to pray, Isaiah 45:20 Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save. Isaiah 44:17-20 From the rest he makes a god, his graven image. He bows down to it and worships; he prays to it and says, “Save me, for you are my god.” / They do not comprehend or discern, for He has shut their eyes so they cannot see and closed their minds so they cannot understand. / And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?” … Judges 10:14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.” it will do him no good. Jeremiah 11:12 Then the cities of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to which they have been burning incense, but these gods certainly will not save them in their time of disaster. Jeremiah 2:28 But where are the gods you made for yourselves? Let them rise up in your time of trouble and save you if they can; for your gods are as numerous as your cities, O Judah. Isaiah 46:7 They lift it to their shoulder and carry it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands, not budging from that spot. They cry out to it, but it does not answer; it saves no one from his troubles. Jeremiah 48:36-37 Therefore My heart laments like a flute for Moab; it laments like a flute for the men of Kir-heres, because the wealth they acquired has perished. / For every head is shaved and every beard is clipped; on every hand is a gash, and around every waist is sackcloth. Jeremiah 48:38-39 On all the rooftops of Moab and in the public squares, everyone is mourning; for I have shattered Moab like an unwanted jar,” declares the LORD. / “How shattered it is! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! Moab has become an object of ridicule and horror to all those around him.” Jeremiah 48:40-42 For this is what the LORD says: “Behold, an eagle swoops down and spreads his wings against Moab. / Kirioth has been taken, and the strongholds seized. In that day the heart of Moab’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor. / Moab will be destroyed as a nation because he vaunted himself against the LORD. Jeremiah 48:43-44 Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of Moab,” declares the LORD. / “Whoever flees the panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD. Treasury of Scripture And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail. when Isaiah 15:2 He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off. Isaiah 26:16 LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. Numbers 22:39,41 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjathhuzoth… he shall Isaiah 37:38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead. 1 Kings 11:7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 2 Kings 3:27 Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land. but Isaiah 47:13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. 2 Kings 19:12,16-19 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? … Psalm 115:3-7 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased… Jump to Previous Able Appears Avail Enter Goes Herself High House Makes Moab Prayer Presents Prevail Sanctuary Shrine Wearied Wearies Wearieth Wears WearyJump to Next Able Appears Avail Enter Goes Herself High House Makes Moab Prayer Presents Prevail Sanctuary Shrine Wearied Wearies Wearieth Wears WearyIsaiah 16 1. Moab is exhorted to yield obedience to the throne of David6. Moab is threatened for her pride 9. The prophet bewails her 12. The judgment of Moab When Moab appears on the high place High places were elevated sites often used for worship in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel and its neighbors. Moab, a nation east of Israel, frequently engaged in idolatrous practices at these sites. The high places were typically associated with the worship of deities like Chemosh, the national god of Moab. This phrase indicates Moab's reliance on pagan rituals and false gods, contrasting with the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. The use of high places was condemned in the Hebrew Scriptures (e.g., 1 Kings 14:23), highlighting the spiritual apostasy of Moab. when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray it will do him no good Persons / Places / Events 1. MoabAn ancient kingdom located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. Moab is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a nation that turned away from God and relied on its own strength and false gods. 2. High Place A site of worship, often on elevated ground, where sacrifices and offerings were made, typically to pagan gods. In the context of Moab, it represents idolatrous practices. 3. Sanctuary A sacred place where worship and prayer occur. For Moab, this would be a place dedicated to their gods, not the God of Israel. 4. Isaiah A major prophet in the Old Testament, who conveyed God's messages to the people of Judah and surrounding nations, including Moab. 5. Prayer The act of communicating with a deity. In this context, Moab's prayers are directed to their gods, which are ineffective. Teaching Points The Futility of IdolatryMoab's reliance on false gods highlights the emptiness of idolatry. True help and salvation come only from the Lord. The Importance of True Worship Worship must be directed to the one true God. High places and sanctuaries dedicated to false gods are ineffective. The Consequences of Turning from God Moab's example serves as a warning of the consequences of turning away from God and relying on human efforts or false deities. The Power of Prayer Prayer is powerful when directed to the true God. It is not the act of prayer itself that is effective, but the One to whom we pray. God's Sovereignty Over Nations The prophecy against Moab demonstrates God's control and judgment over all nations, not just Israel. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 16:12?2. How does Isaiah 16:12 illustrate the futility of worship without true repentance? 3. What lessons can we learn from Moab's actions in Isaiah 16:12? 4. How does Isaiah 16:12 connect with Jesus' teachings on worship in John 4:24? 5. In what ways can we ensure our worship is genuine and pleasing to God? 6. How can Isaiah 16:12 guide us in evaluating our personal spiritual practices? 7. What is the significance of Moab's prayer in Isaiah 16:12? 8. Why does God not respond to Moab's prayers in Isaiah 16:12? 9. How does Isaiah 16:12 reflect on the futility of idol worship? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 16? 11. Isaiah 16:6 cites Moab's pride as a cause for judgment; how does this reasoning align or conflict with other biblical or extrabiblical explanations for Moab's downfall? 12. Isaiah 16:7 predicts Moab's downfall; are there any historical records or archaeological findings that confirm this specific collapse? 13. How can Hebrews 8:5 claim the earthly tabernacle is just a copy of a heavenly one if there is no historical or archaeological evidence of such a heavenly sanctuary? 14. In Isaiah 22:1-2, why is Jerusalem called the 'Valley of Vision' if it doesn't match any known geographic valley? What Does Isaiah 16:12 Mean When Moab appears on the high place“High place” points to those prominent hilltop shrines where Moab offered sacrifices to Chemosh. Picture the people climbing with incense and animals, convinced altitude brings them closer to their god. Yet the Lord has already declared, “You shall destroy all their high places” (Numbers 33:52). Centuries later He repeats the warning: “All the nations’ gods are idols” (Psalm 96:5). The scene in Isaiah 16:12 shows Moab still trusting the very locations God condemns, illustrating stubborn allegiance to false worship. When he wearies himself Isaiah sketches a frantic devotee who keeps going until exhaustion sets in. The prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel did the same—“they leaped about the altar… but there was no voice, no one answered” (1 Kings 18:26–29). Isaiah earlier lamented, “You were wearied by your many intrigues” (Isaiah 47:13). Human effort, however intense, cannot secure divine favor when directed toward an idol. The more Moab strains, the more obvious the futility becomes. And enters his sanctuary to pray Now the worshiper moves indoors, into Chemosh’s temple, expecting greater effectiveness. Jeremiah later echoes Isaiah, “Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel” (Jeremiah 48:13). Contrast this with the true sanctuary in Jerusalem, where God promised, “My eyes and My heart will be there for all days” (1 Kings 9:3). By showing Moab in its own “sanctuary,” Isaiah highlights a counterfeit refuge standing in opposition to the Lord’s chosen dwelling. It will do him no good The verse finishes with a blunt verdict: all that climbing, labor, and pleading “will do him no good.” Psalm 115:4–8 reminds us why—idols “have mouths, but cannot speak… those who make them become like them.” When judgment comes, “they will cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not save them at all” (Jeremiah 11:12). The one true God has pronounced sentence; no rival deity can overturn it. Moab’s doom is sealed not by lack of sincerity but by misplaced faith. summary Isaiah 16:12 pictures Moab scaling its hills, exhausting itself in ritual, and begging help from Chemosh—only to discover emptiness. The verse warns that zeal plus error equals futility. True hope rests not in effort or location, but in the Lord alone, who listens and delivers when approached on His terms and in His appointed place. (12) When it is seen . . .--Better thus: When Moab appeareth (sc., as a worshipper), when he wearies himself on the high place (the scene of Chemosh-worship), though he enter into the sanctuary to pray, yet shall he not prevail. The prophet draws a picture of the unavailing litanies which Moab, like the priests of Baal in 1Kings 18:26, shall offer to his gods.Verse 12. - When it is seen that Moab is weary; rather, when Moab shows himself, and has wearied himself. The heathen "thought to be heard for their much speaking" (Matthew 6:7). They endeavored to weary their gods into granting their prayers (1 Kings 18:26), and frequently succeeded in wearying themselves. On the high place. "High places" (bamoth) were common to the Moabites, with the other nations of Syria and Palestine. Mesha, in his inscription, speaks of having rebuilt a city called "Beth-Bamoth" (1:27), which must have been a "city of high places;" and he even calls the stele which he dedicates to Chemosh, whereon his inscription is written, a bamah, or "high place." That he shall come to his sanctuary... but he shall not, etc.; rather, and has come into his sanctuary, that he shall not prevail.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Whenכִֽי־ (ḵî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction Moab מוֹאָ֖ב (mō·w·’āḇ) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled appears נִרְאָ֛ה (nir·’āh) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the high place, הַבָּמָ֑ה (hab·bā·māh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1116: An elevation when כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he wearies himself נִלְאָ֥ה (nil·’āh) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3811: To tire, to be, disgusted and enters וּבָ֧א (ū·ḇā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go his sanctuary מִקְדָּשׁ֛וֹ (miq·dā·šōw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum to pray, לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל (lə·hiṯ·pal·lêl) Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray it will do him no וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no good. יוּכָֽל׃ (yū·ḵāl) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3201: To be able, have power Links Isaiah 16:12 NIVIsaiah 16:12 NLT Isaiah 16:12 ESV Isaiah 16:12 NASB Isaiah 16:12 KJV Isaiah 16:12 BibleApps.com Isaiah 16:12 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 16:12 Chinese Bible Isaiah 16:12 French Bible Isaiah 16:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 16:12 It will happen that when Moab presents (Isa Isi Is) |
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