Isaiah 15:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moabites flee to shrines and cities, mourning their loss through tears and ritual self-affliction.
The Context of Isaiah 15:2
Moab's leadership and people respond with grief and traditional mourning practices.
What Does Isaiah 15:2 Mean?
The Moabite people respond to the catastrophe by going to sacred high places—Bajith and Dibon—where they typically worshipped, now weeping in despair. They also lament over the cities of Nebo and Medeba. The specific acts of baldness and beard-cutting were ancient Near Eastern expressions of grief and distress, visible signs of mourning and anguish.
These physical demonstrations of grief show the depth of the people's sorrow. Rather than hopeful prayer, they come only to weep. The contrast between the worship purpose of high places and their transformation into sites of lamentation underscores the complete reversal of the Moabites' circumstances and their broken state.
Isaiah 15:2 in the Original Language
Badness (קָרְחָה, qorḥah) — shaving the head, a sign of mourning and devastation in ancient Near Eastern culture.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 15:2
What does Isaiah 15:2 mean?
Moabites flee to shrines and cities, mourning their loss through tears and ritual self-affliction.
What is the context of Isaiah 15:2?
Moab's leadership and people respond with grief and traditional mourning practices.