Isaiah 16:11
New International Version
My heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir Hareseth.

New Living Translation
My heart’s cry for Moab is like a lament on a harp. I am filled with anguish for Kir-hareseth.

English Standard Version
Therefore my inner parts moan like a lyre for Moab, and my inmost self for Kir-hareseth.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.

King James Bible
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

New King James Version
Therefore my heart shall resound like a harp for Moab, And my inner being for Kir Heres.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore my inner being sounds like a harp for Moab. And my heart for Kir-hareseth.

NASB 1995
Therefore my heart intones like a harp for Moab And my inward feelings for Kir-hareseth.

NASB 1977
Therefore my heart intones like a harp for Moab, And my inward feelings for Kir-hareseth.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore my inner being moans like a harp for Moab And my inward feelings for Kir-hareseth.

Amplified Bible
Therefore my heart sounds like a harp [in mournful compassion] for Moab, And my inner being mourns for Kir-hareseth.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore I moan like the sound of a lyre for Moab, as does my innermost being for Kir-heres.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore I moan like the sound of a lyre for Moab, as does my innermost being for Kir-heres.

American Standard Version
Wherefore my heart soundeth like a harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-heres.

Contemporary English Version
Deep in my heart I hurt for Moab and Kir-Heres.

English Revised Version
Wherefore my bowels sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir-heres.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That is why my heart mourns for Moab like a harp. My soul mourns for Kir Hareseth.

Good News Translation
I groan with sadness for Moab, with grief for Kir Heres.

International Standard Version
Therefore my insides moan like a lyre for Moab, and my innermost being for Kir-hareseth.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.

NET Bible
So my heart constantly sighs for Moab, like the strumming of a harp, my inner being sighs for Kir Hareseth.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore my heart sounds like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kir Heres.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kir-haresh.

World English Bible
Therefore my heart sounds like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kir Heres.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore my bowels sound as a harp for Moab, "" And my inward parts for Kir-Haresh.

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore my bowels for Moab as a harp do sound, And mine inward parts for Kir-Haresh.

Smith's Literal Translation
For this my bowels shall sound as a harp for Moab, and my inner parts for the wall of Haresh.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for the brick wall.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Over this, my heart will resonate like a harp for Moab, and my inner most being for the brick wall.

New American Bible
Therefore for Moab my heart moans like a lyre, my inmost being for Kir-hareseth.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore my heart throbs like a harp for Moab, and my very soul for Kir-heres.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore my heart shall lament like a harp for Moab, and my soul for the fortified walls which will be destroyed.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, my belly shall speak over Moab like a harp, and my heart for the wall that is destroyed
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore my heart moaneth like a harp for Moab, And mine inward parts for Kir-heres.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore my belly shall sound as a harp for Moab, and thou hast repaired my inward parts as a wall.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prophecy of Moab's Devastation
10Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards. No one tramples the grapes in the winepresses; I have put an end to the cheering. 11Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres. 12When Moab appears on the high place, when he wearies himself and enters his sanctuary to pray, it will do him no good.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 48:36
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.

Isaiah 15:5
My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.

Ezekiel 27:31
They will shave their heads for you and wrap themselves in sackcloth. They will weep over you with anguish of soul and bitter mourning.

Lamentations 1:20
See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death.

Jeremiah 4:19
My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.

Isaiah 21:3
Therefore my body is filled with anguish. Pain grips me, like the pains of a woman in labor. I am bewildered to hear, I am dismayed to see.

Hosea 11:8
How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!

Zephaniah 2:8-9
“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders. / Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.”

Jeremiah 48:31-32
Therefore I will wail for Moab; I will cry out for all of Moab; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres. / 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.

Isaiah 63:15
Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.

Romans 9:2
I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

2 Corinthians 2:4
For through many tears I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart, not to grieve you but to let you know how much I love you.

Philippians 1:8
God is my witness how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Luke 19:41
As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it

John 11:33-35
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept.


Treasury of Scripture

Why my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kirharesh.

my

Isaiah 15:5
My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.

Isaiah 63:15
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

Jeremiah 4:19
My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

Kir-haresh

Isaiah 16:7
Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.

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Bowels Cause Cords Feelings Full Hareseth Harp Heart Heres Inmost Inward Kir Kir-Hareseth Kirheres Kir-Heres Kir-He'res Lyre Moab Moaneth Moans Parts Sorrow Soul Sound Soundeth Sounding Sounds Wherefore
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Bowels Cause Cords Feelings Full Hareseth Harp Heart Heres Inmost Inward Kir Kir-Hareseth Kirheres Kir-Heres Kir-He'res Lyre Moab Moaneth Moans Parts Sorrow Soul Sound Soundeth Sounding Sounds Wherefore
Isaiah 16
1. Moab is exhorted to yield obedience to the throne of David
6. Moab is threatened for her pride
9. The prophet bewails her
12. The judgment of Moab














Therefore
This word connects the current verse to the preceding context, indicating a consequence or result. In the context of Isaiah 16, the prophet Isaiah is expressing the deep sorrow and lamentation that follows the judgment pronounced upon Moab. The use of "therefore" signifies that the lament is a direct response to the divine judgment and the ensuing suffering of Moab, highlighting the cause-and-effect relationship between sin and its consequences.

my heart
The Hebrew word for "heart" is "לֵב" (lev), which often represents the center of emotions, thoughts, and will in biblical literature. In this verse, Isaiah's heart is portrayed as deeply affected, showing the prophet's empathy and compassion for Moab despite their enmity with Israel. This reflects the biblical principle of loving one's enemies and mourning over their downfall, as seen in Jesus' teachings in the New Testament.

laments
The Hebrew root for "laments" is "הָמָה" (hamah), which conveys a sense of deep emotional turmoil, akin to a groaning or moaning. This word choice emphasizes the intensity of Isaiah's sorrow for Moab. It is not a superficial sadness but a profound grief that resonates with the heart of God, who takes no pleasure in the suffering of any nation but desires repentance and restoration.

like a harp
The harp, or "כִּנּוֹר" (kinnor) in Hebrew, is an ancient stringed instrument known for its soothing and mournful tones. By comparing his lament to the sound of a harp, Isaiah illustrates the depth and beauty of his sorrow. The harp's music often accompanied lamentations and expressions of grief in biblical times, symbolizing the harmony between human emotion and divine expression.

for Moab
Moab was a neighboring nation of Israel, often in conflict with God's people. Despite their historical enmity, Isaiah's lament for Moab demonstrates a godly compassion that transcends national boundaries. This reflects the biblical theme of God's concern for all nations and His desire for their redemption, as seen in the broader narrative of Scripture where God calls all peoples to Himself.

and my inmost being
The phrase "inmost being" translates the Hebrew "קֶרֶב" (qerev), which refers to the inner parts or the seat of emotions and affections. This expression underscores the depth of Isaiah's emotional response, indicating that his grief is not just intellectual but deeply felt. It aligns with the biblical understanding that true compassion involves the whole person, engaging both heart and soul.

for Kir-hareseth
Kir-hareseth, also known as Kir of Moab, was a significant city in Moab. Its mention here highlights the specific focus of Isaiah's lament, as Kir-hareseth was a center of Moabite culture and strength. The historical context reveals that this city was often a target in military campaigns, symbolizing the vulnerability and eventual downfall of Moab. Isaiah's lament for Kir-hareseth serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human power and the ultimate sovereignty of God over all nations.

(11) My bowels shall sound like an harp . . .--The context leaves it uncertain whether the speaker is the prophet as in Isaiah 16:9, or Jehovah as in Isaiah 16:10. The former seems, perhaps, the most natural. On the other hand, the very phrase is used of the compassion of Jehovah in Isaiah 63:15. The "bowels," as in modern language the "heart," were looked on as the seat of the emotions, and as such they vibrate, like the chords of the harp or lyre (kinn-r) used at funerals, with the thrills of pity.

Verse 11. - My bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab; i.e. they shall vibrate with thrills of grief (Kay).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

my heart
מֵעַ֣י (mê·‘ay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4578: The intestines, the abdomen, sympathy, a vest, the stomach, the uterus, the heart

laments
יֶֽהֱמ֑וּ (ye·hĕ·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1993: To make a, loud sound, commotion, tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor

for Moab
לְמוֹאָ֔ב (lə·mō·w·’āḇ)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled

like a harp,
כַּכִּנּ֖וֹר (kak·kin·nō·wr)
Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3658: A harp

my inmost being
וְקִרְבִּ֖י (wə·qir·bî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7130: The nearest part, the center

for Kir-hareseth.
חָֽרֶשׂ׃ (ḥā·reś)
Preposition | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7025: Kir-hareseth -- 'wall of earthenware', a fortified city in Moab


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 16:11 Therefore my heart sounds like a harp (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 16:10
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