Isaiah 16:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The prophet's body trembles with compassion for Moab, resonating with their suffering like an instrument of sorrow.
The Context of Isaiah 16:11
The prophet's profound emotional solidarity with Moab's suffering despite their rebellion.
What Does Isaiah 16:11 Mean?
The prophet's emotional identification with Moab is expressed in physical terms—bowels and inward parts convulsed with grief. The comparison to a harp suggests that empathy vibrates through the prophet's entire being, struck by the strings of Moab's suffering. This is not detached observation but visceral participation in lamentation.
The trembling of the bowels was understood as the seat of deep emotion and compassion. The prophet becomes a responsive instrument, sounding out Moab's pain. This intense identification underscores that judgment, while just, is never unfeeling or distant from the One who pronounces it.
Isaiah 16:11 in the Original Language
bowels (קְרוֹבָיו) — inward parts, the seat of compassion and deep feeling in Hebrew understanding. Not an expression of revulsion but of profound empathy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 16:11
What does Isaiah 16:11 mean?
The prophet's body trembles with compassion for Moab, resonating with their suffering like an instrument of sorrow.
What is the context of Isaiah 16:11?
The prophet's profound emotional solidarity with Moab's suffering despite their rebellion.