Isaiah 16:2
◄  Isaiah 16:2  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The women of Moab are left like homeless birds at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then, like fleeing birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Like a bird fleeing, forced from the nest, the daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Like fluttering birds, like an abandoned nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon River.

NET Bible (©2006)
At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from its nest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Moab's daughters are like fluttering birds, like scattered nestlings, at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of the Arnon.

American King James Version
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

American Standard Version
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass, that as a bird fleeing away, and as young ones flying out of the nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be in the passage of Arnon.

Darby Bible Translation
And it shall be that as a wandering bird, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.

English Revised Version
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of Arnon.

Webster's Bible Translation
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

World English Bible
For it will be that as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so will the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.

Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, As a wandering bird, a nest cast out, Are daughters of Moab, at fords of Arnon.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:1-5 God tells sinners what they may do to prevent ruin; so he does to Moab. Let them send the tribute they formerly engaged to pay to Judah. Take it as good advice. Break off thy sins by righteousness, it may lengthen thy quiet. And this may be applied to the great gospel duty of submission to Christ. Send him the lamb, the best you have, yourselves a living sacrifice. When you come to God, the great Ruler, come in the name of the Lamb, the Lamb of God. Those who will not submit to Christ, shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yield to the fear of God, shall be made to yield to the fear of every thing else. He advises them to be kind to the seed of Israel. Those that expect to find favour when in trouble themselves, must show favour to those in trouble. What is here said concerning the throne of Hezekiah, also belongs, in a much higher sense, to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Though by subjection to Him we may not enjoy worldly riches or honours, but may be exposed to poverty and contempt, we shall have peace of conscience and eternal life.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - For it shall be; rather, and it shall be. The tribute having been paid, Moab will regain some confidence. Her fluttered population will return, and collect at the fords of the Amen, ready to recross it. As a wandering bird cast out of the nest; rather, as a wandering bird (or, wandering birds) - "as a scattered nest" (or, "brood of nestlings"). The daughters of Moab. The population of Moab generally, as "the daughter of Zion" (ver. 1) is the population of Jerusalem generally.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For it shall be,.... Or, "otherwise it shall be" (z); if ye do not pay this tribute:

that as a wandering bird cast out of the nest: or, "as a wandering bird, the nest sent out": that is, as a bird that has forsaken its nest, and wanders about, and its young ones are turned out of the nest, scarcely fledged, and unable to shift for themselves, but flutter about here and there, trembling and frightened, see Proverbs 26:2,

so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon: turned out of their houses, wandering up and down, not knowing where to go; unable to help themselves, and in the utmost fright and consternation, fleeing to the very borders of their land, as the fords of Arnon were, see Numbers 21:13.

(z) "alioqui", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. cast out of … nest—rather, "as a brood cast out" (in apposition with "a wandering bird," or rather, wandering birds), namely, a brood just fledged and expelled from the nest in which they were hatched [Horsley]. Compare Isa 10:14; De 32:11.

daughters of Moab—that is, the inhabitants of Moab. So 2Ki 19:21; Ps 48:11; Jer 46:11; La 4:22 [Maurer].

at the fords—trying to cross the boundary river of Moab, in order to escape out of the land. Ewald and Maurer make "fords" a poetical expression for "the dwellers on Arnon," answering to the parallel clause of the same sense, "daughters of Moab."

Isaiah 16:2 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


A Prophecy of Moab's Devastation
1Send you the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, to the mount of the daughter of Zion. 2For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon. 3Take counsel, execute judgment; make your shadow as the night in the middle of the noonday; hide the outcasts; denude not him that wanders. …

Numbers 21:13 They set out from there and camped alongside the Arnon, which is in the wilderness extending into Amorite territory. The Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
Numbers 21:14 That is why the Book of the Wars of the LORD says: "... Zahab in Suphah and the ravines, the Arnon
Numbers 21:29 Woe to you, Moab! You are destroyed, people of Chemosh! He has given up his sons as fugitives and his daughters as captives to Sihon king of the Amorites.
2 Kings 3:4 Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to pay the king of Israel a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams.
Proverbs 26:2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
Proverbs 27:8 Like a bird that flees its nest is anyone who flees from home.
Jeremiah 48:9 Put salt on Moab, for she will be laid waste; her towns will become desolate, with no one to live in them.
Jeremiah 48:20 Moab is disgraced, for she is shattered. Wail and cry out! Announce by the Arnon that Moab is destroyed.
Jeremiah 48:46 Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh are destroyed; your sons are taken into exile and your daughters into captivity.