Isaiah 16 · Verse 12

Isaiah 16:12

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.
Isaiah 16:12, King James Version

Isaiah 16:12 in other translations

BSBWhen Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good.
WEBIt 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.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd 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.
DARBYAnd it shall come to pass, when Moab shall appear, shall weary himself on the high place, and enter into his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail.
BBEAnd when Moab goes up to the high place, and makes prayer in the house of his god, it will have no effect.
WebsterAnd 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.

What does Isaiah 16:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. when it is seen that--rather, "When Moab shall have appeared (before his gods; compare Ex 23:15), when he is weary (that is, when he shall have fatigued himself with observing burdensome rites; 1Ki 18:26, &c.), on the high place (compare Is 15:2), and shall come to his sanctuary (of the idol Chemosh on Mount Nebo) to pray, he shall not prevail"; he shall effect nothing by his prayers [Maurer].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 When it is seen that Moab, etc. "When Moab shall see," etc. - For נראה nirah, a MS. reads ראה raah, and so the Syriac and Chaldee. "Perhaps כי נראה ki nirah is only a various reading of כי נלאה ki nilah." Secker. A very probable conjecture.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 16:6-14

Those who will not be counselled, cannot be helped. More souls are ruined by pride than by any other sin whatever. Also, the very proud are commonly very passionate. With lies many seek to gain the gratification of pride and passion, but they shall not compass proud and angry projects. Moab was famous for fields and vineyards; but they shall be laid waste by the invading army. God can soon turn laughter into…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 16:6-14 →

Isaiah 16:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְהָיָ֧הve.ha.Yahand it will beH1961
כִֽי\־khi-thatH3588
נִרְאָ֛הnir.'Ahit has presented itselfH7200
כִּֽי\־ki-ifH3588
נִלְאָ֥הnil.'Ahit has wearied itselfH3811
מוֹאָ֖בmo.'AvMoabH4124
עַל\־'al-onH5921
הַבָּמָ֑הha.ba.Mahthe high placeH1116
וּבָ֧אu.Va'and it will comeH935
אֶל\־'el-toH413
מִקְדָּשׁ֛וֹmik.da.Shosanctuary itsH4720
לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖לle.hit.pa.Lelto prayH6419
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
יוּכָֽל\׃yu.Khalit will prevailH3201

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 16:12

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 48:35

    Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the Lord, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

  • 1 Kings 18:29

    And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

  • Jeremiah 48:7

    For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.

  • Numbers 23:14

    And he brought him into the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars, and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar.

  • Jeremiah 48:46

    Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.

  • Numbers 22:39

    And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath–huzoth.

  • Numbers 23:28

    And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon.

  • Psalms 115:3-7

    But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: …

  • Isaiah 26:16

    Lord, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.

  • 2 Kings 19:16-19

    Lord, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, Lord, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, Lord, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.

  • Jeremiah 10:5

    They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
15:2; 26:16; Nu 22:39,41; 23:1-3,14,28; 24:17; Pr 1:28; Jer 48:35
he shall.
37:38; 1Ki 11:7; 2Ki 3:27; Jer 48:7,13,46
but.
47:13; 2Ki 19:12,16-19; Ps 115:3-7; Jer 10:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 16:11

    Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir–haresh.

  • Isaiah 16:12

    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.

  • Isaiah 16:13

    This is the word that the Lord hath spoken concerning Moab since that time.

Read all of Isaiah 16

Isaiah 16:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y acaecerá, que cuando Moab pareciere que está cansado sobre los altos, entonces vendrá á su santuario á orar, y no le valdrá.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il arrivera que, quand Moab se présentera, se fatiguera sur le haut lieu, et entrera dans son sanctuaire pour prier, il ne prévaudra pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und es wird geschehen, wenn Moab erscheint, sich abmüht auf der Höhe und in sein Heiligtum eintritt, um zu beten, so wird es nichts ausrichten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et erit: cum apparuerit quod laboravit Moab super excelsis suis, ingredietur ad sancta sua ut obsecret, et non valebit.