Numbers 21:28
New International Version
“Fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the citizens of Arnon’s heights.

New Living Translation
A fire flamed forth from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It burned the city of Ar in Moab; it destroyed the rulers of the Arnon heights.

English Standard Version
For fire came out from Heshbon, flame from the city of Sihon. It devoured Ar of Moab, and swallowed the heights of the Arnon.

Berean Standard Bible
For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights.

King James Bible
For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

New King James Version
“For fire went out from Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It consumed Ar of Moab, The lords of the heights of the Arnon.

New American Standard Bible
“For a fire spread from Heshbon, A flame from the town of Sihon; It devoured Ar of Moab, The dominant heights of the Arnon.

NASB 1995
“For a fire went forth from Heshbon, A flame from the town of Sihon; It devoured Ar of Moab, The dominant heights of the Arnon.

NASB 1977
“For a fire went forth from Heshbon, A flame from the town of Sihon; It devoured Ar of Moab, The dominant heights of the Arnon.

Legacy Standard Bible
For a fire went forth from Heshbon, A flame from the town of Sihon; It devoured Ar of Moab, The dominant heights of the Arnon.

Amplified Bible
“For fire has gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It devoured Ar of Moab And the lords of the heights of the Arnon.

Christian Standard Bible
For fire came out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the citizens of Arnon’s heights.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For fire came out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of Arnon’s heights.

American Standard Version
For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.

Contemporary English Version
His armies marched out like fiery flames, burning down the town of Ar and destroying the hills along the Arnon River.

English Revised Version
For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of Arnon.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Fire came out of Heshbon, flames from Sihon's city. They destroyed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon's worship sites.

Good News Translation
Once from this city of Heshbon Sihon's army went forth like a fire; It destroyed the city of Ar in Moab And devoured the hills of the upper Arnon.

International Standard Version
A fire has gone out from Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab and the lords of the high places who lived in Arnon.

Majority Standard Bible
For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights.

NET Bible
For fire went out from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has consumed Ar of Moab and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

New Heart English Bible
for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, swallowed up the high places of the Arnon.

Webster's Bible Translation
For there has a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

World English Bible
for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of the Arnon.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For fire has gone out from Heshbon, "" A flame from the city of Sihon, "" It has consumed Ar of Moab, "" Owners of the high places of Arnon.

Young's Literal Translation
For fire hath gone out from Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon, It hath consumed Ar of Moab, Owners of the high places of Arnon.

Smith's Literal Translation
For a fire shall come forth from Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it consumed Ar of Moab, the lords of the heights of Arnon.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
A fire is gone out of Hesebon, a flame from the city of Sehon, and hath consumed Ar of the Moabites, and the inhabitants of the high places of the Arnon.

Catholic Public Domain Version
A fire has gone forth from Heshbon, a flame from the town of Sihon, and it has devoured Ar of the Moabites, and the inhabitants of the heights of Arnon.

New American Bible
For fire went forth from Heshbon and a blaze from the city of Sihon; It consumed Ar of Moab and swallowed up the high places of the Arnon.

New Revised Standard Version
For fire came out from Heshbon, flame from the city of Sihon. It devoured Ar of Moab, and swallowed up the heights of the Arnon.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For a fire has gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon. It has consumed Ad of Moab, and the worshippers of the high places of Arnon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because fire has proceeded from Kheshbon and a flame from the fortress city of Sihon and consumed Ad of Moab and the Servants of the high place of Arnon.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For a fire is gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon; It hath devoured Ar of Moab, The lords of the high places of Arnon.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For a fire has gone forth from Esebon, a flame from the city of Seon, and has consumed as far as Moab, and devoured the pillars of Arnon.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Defeat of Sihon
27That is why the poets say: “Come to Heshbon, let it be rebuilt; let the city of Sihon be restored. 28For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights. 29Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He gave up his sons as refugees, and his daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 2:9
Then the LORD said to me, “Do not harass the Moabites or provoke them to war, for I will not give you any of their land, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot as their possession.”

Isaiah 15:1
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!

Jeremiah 48:45-46
“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult. / Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished; for your sons have been taken into exile and your daughters have gone into captivity.

Amos 2:2
So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die in tumult, amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn.

Isaiah 16:7
Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.

Jeremiah 48:18
Come down from your glory; sit on parched ground, O daughter dwelling in Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab has come against you; he has destroyed your fortresses.

Isaiah 25:10
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. But Moab will be trampled in his place as straw is trodden into the dung pile.

Ezekiel 25:8-11
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,” / therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land. / I will give it along with the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the East, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. ...

Zephaniah 2:9
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.”

Psalm 83:6-8
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, / of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. / Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah

Isaiah 16:11
Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.

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.

Jeremiah 48:1-2
Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled. / There is no longer praise for Moab; in Heshbon they devise evil against her: ‘Come, let us cut her off from nationhood.’ You too, O people of Madmen, will be silenced; the sword will pursue you.

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.


Treasury of Scripture

For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it has consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

a fire

Judges 9:20
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

Isaiah 10:16
Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.

Jeremiah 48:45,46
They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones…

Ar of Moab

Numbers 21:15
And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.

Deuteronomy 2:9,18
And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession…

Isaiah 15:1,2
The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; …

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Ar Arnon Blaze Citizens City Consumed Destruction Devoured Heights Heshbon High Lords Moab Owners Places Sihon
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Numbers 21
1. Israel destroys the Canaanites at Hormah
4. The people murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents
7. They repenting are healed by a bronze serpent
10. Various journeys of the Israelites
21. Sihon is overcome
33. And Og














For fire went out from Heshbon
The phrase "For fire went out from Heshbon" signifies a destructive force emanating from the city of Heshbon. In the Hebrew context, "fire" often symbolizes judgment or divine wrath. Heshbon was the capital city of King Sihon of the Amorites, and its mention here underscores the city's role as an aggressor. Historically, Heshbon was a significant city, strategically located and often a center of conflict. The "fire" metaphorically represents the military campaigns and conquests initiated by Sihon, which were devastating to neighboring regions.

a flame from the city of Sihon
The "flame from the city of Sihon" continues the imagery of destruction and conquest. Sihon, the Amorite king, was known for his military prowess and expansionist policies. The "flame" suggests a spreading influence, much like a wildfire, indicating the aggressive nature of Sihon's reign. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a warning against unchecked ambition and the consequences of prideful expansion, which ultimately leads to downfall, as seen later in the narrative when Israel defeats Sihon.

it consumed Ar of Moab
"It consumed Ar of Moab" highlights the extent of the destruction caused by Sihon's campaigns. Ar was a city in Moab, a nation often in conflict with Israel. The consumption of Ar signifies the complete devastation and subjugation of Moabite territories by the Amorites. This historical context reflects the constant power struggles in the ancient Near East, where cities and nations were frequently at war. Spiritually, it serves as a reminder of the temporal nature of earthly power and the ultimate sovereignty of God over nations.

the lords of the high places of the Arnon
The "lords of the high places of the Arnon" refers to the Moabite leaders or rulers who worshiped at the high places, which were often sites of pagan worship. The Arnon was a significant river marking the boundary between Moab and the Amorite territory. The mention of "high places" indicates the religious and cultural practices of the Moabites, which were contrary to the worship of Yahweh. This phrase underscores the theme of divine judgment against idolatry and false worship. In a broader theological context, it serves as a call to faithfulness and the rejection of idolatry, emphasizing the need for exclusive devotion to God.

Verse 28. - There is a fire gone out of Heshbon. This must refer to the war-fire which the Amorites kindled from Heshbon when they made it the capital of the new kingdom. Ar Moab and the (northern) heights of Arnon were the furthest points to which their victory extended.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

a fire
אֵשׁ֙ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

went out
יָֽצְאָ֣ה (yā·ṣə·’āh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from Heshbon,
מֵֽחֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן (mê·ḥeš·bō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2809: Heshbon -- a place East of the Jordan

a blaze
לֶהָבָ֖ה (le·hā·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3852: A flash, a sharply polished blade, point of a, weapon

from the city
מִקִּרְיַ֣ת (miq·qir·yaṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7151: A town, city

of Sihon.
סִיחֹ֑ן (sî·ḥōn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5511: Sihon -- a king of the Amorites

It consumed
אָֽכְלָה֙ (’ā·ḵə·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

Ar
עָ֣ר (‘ār)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6144: Ar -- a place in Moab

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

the rulers
בַּעֲלֵ֖י (ba·‘ă·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner

of Arnon’s
אַרְנֹֽן׃ (’ar·nōn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 769: Arnon -- 'a roaring stream', a wadi and stream in Moab

heights.
בָּמ֥וֹת (bā·mō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1116: An elevation


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OT Law: Numbers 21:28 For a fire has gone out (Nu Num.)
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