Isaiah 15:5 Meaning: A Prophet's Tears for Moab
My heart cries out for Moab! Her nobles flee to Zoar, to Eglath Shelishiyah; for they go up by the ascent of Luhith with weeping; for on the way to Horonaim, they raise up a cry of destruction.
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.
My heart crieth out for Moab; her nobles flee unto Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah: for by the ascent of Luhith with weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.
My heart is toward Moab, Cry do her fugitives unto Zoar, a heifer of the third year , For--the ascent of Luhith--With weeping he goeth up in it, For, in the way of Horonaim, A cry of destruction they wake up.
My heart crieth out for Moab; their fugitives [have fled] unto Zoar, unto Eglath-Sheli-shijah: for by the ascent of Luhith, with weeping they go up by it; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah's heart cries out for Moab in their destruction. This verse shows the prophet's genuine grief even as he pronounces God's judgment.
Context
The prophecy against Moab begins with a sudden, night-time devastation. Cities fall, warriors tremble, and the whole land is draped in mourning. Sackcloth covers every street. Baldness and cut beards mark the grief. Into this scene of wailing, the prophet speaks in the first person. His own heart joins the cry. The chapter is not a cold announcement of doom. It is a lament poured out over a nation that had long been Israel's enemy. The geography is real, the ascent of Luhith, the road to Horonaim, and the suffering is real. Isaiah sees it, and he feels it.
Key Words
Two Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The first is the phrase libbi, meaning 'my heart.' In Hebrew thought, the heart was the seat of feeling, not just emotion but the deepest part of a person. When Isaiah says 'my heart,' he is not being poetic in a distant way. He is saying that the ruin of Moab has reached into the core of who he is.
The second word is yiz'aq, translated here as 'cries out.' This is not a quiet sob. It is the same word used elsewhere for a desperate call for help, the kind of shout that comes when there is no other hope. A dying soldier cries out. A woman in labor cries out. The prophet uses this raw, urgent word to describe his own response to Moab's fall. It tells us that the grief is not ceremonial. It is real, and it is loud.
The word for 'fugitives' (bericheha) can also mean 'bolts' or 'bars,' as in the bars of a city gate. Some commentators picture the very fortifications fleeing to Zoar. Whether it is people or strongholds, everything that once seemed secure is now in flight.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in different ways. John Calvin, writing from a Reformed perspective, saw the prophet's cry as a rhetorical device. He believed Isaiah 'assumes the character of a mourner' to make the judgment more vivid and to show his horror at God's wrath. Others, like Albert Barnes, insisted the compassion is genuine. Barnes wrote that the phrase 'expressive of deep compassion' proves that a holy man of God can feel real sorrow even when predicting ruin upon sinners. The Jewish commentator Jarchi, quoted by Gill, understood the cry to come from the Moabites themselves. All three readings agree on one thing: the heart is not neutral. Whether the prophet grieves or the people cry out, the scene demands a response that is personal and pained.
A common misunderstanding
Some think that because Moab was an enemy of Israel, Isaiah would be glad to see them destroyed. In fact, the prophet's heart cries out for them. The Hebrew word yiz'aq is a desperate call, not a victory shout. The pain is real. Even judgment can break the heart of the one who announces it.
Living This Out
Think of someone you find hard to pity. Maybe a person who has hurt you, or a group whose choices you disagree with. When you hear of their suffering, what rises in you? The prophet cried out for Moab, a nation that had been hostile, proud, and cruel. He did not cancel his grief because they deserved what was coming. This week, ask God to show you who your 'Moab' is. And ask Him to give you a heart that can hurt for them too, even if you cannot fix what is broken.
Main takeaway: The prophet's cry for Moab shows that even judgment comes with grief, not gladness.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Isaiah was very sad when he saw that God had to punish the people of Moab. It shows that God does not like punishing people. We can ask God to help us feel sad when others are hurt, even if they were not nice to us.
For ages 9, 12
Isaiah had to tell Moab that they would be destroyed. But instead of being happy about it, he cried. He used a strong word in Hebrew that means a desperate shout, not a quiet tear. This teaches us something about God's heart: He does not enjoy judgment. Even when people make terrible choices and face hard consequences, we can still care about them. God wants us to have a heart like His, a heart that hurts for the lost, not a heart that celebrates when they fall.
Questions People Ask
Why does Isaiah cry out for Moab if Moab was an enemy of Israel?
Isaiah's cry shows that God's judgment does not bring Him pleasure, and His prophets share His grief. Even though Moab had been hostile to Israel, Isaiah does not celebrate their ruin. He weeps. The depth of his compassion is a sign of how terrible the destruction is, and it points to God's own heart, who takes no joy in the death of the wicked.
What does 'Eglath Shelishiyah' mean?
The phrase is uncertain. It could be a place name, 'the third Eglath,' or it could mean 'a heifer of three years old.' The Hebrew words can be read either way. Some commentators think it describes Zoar as a young, strong heifer, full of vigor. Others take it as a location. Both readings point to a place of refuge that will not escape the coming destruction.
Where is Zoar, and why is it mentioned here?
Zoar was a city near the southeast corner of the Dead Sea, famous as the place Lot fled to when Sodom was destroyed (Genesis 19:22). It was on Moab's southern border, close to Edom. In this verse, the fleeing nobles of Moab head toward Zoar, hoping to find safety there. But the prophecy suggests that no refuge will hold.
Is Isaiah's cry literal or just a figure of speech?
Commentators disagree. Some, like John Calvin, see it as a rhetorical device, Isaiah takes on the role of a mourner to make the prophecy more powerful. Others, like Albert Barnes, insist it is genuine compassion. The Hebrew word yiz'aq ('cries out') is the same word used for desperate calls for help, suggesting real anguish. Either way, the verse shows that the heart is not indifferent to judgment.
What does this verse teach about God's character?
The prophet's grief reflects God's own sorrow over judgment. Even when God brings destruction, His heart is not cold. The prophet models a response that we are meant to share: grief over the fall of the lost, not satisfaction. This verse prepares us for the fuller revelation of God's love in Christ, who wept over Jerusalem and died for sinners.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study