Isaiah 15:6 Meaning: What the Withered Grass Means
For the waters of Nimrim will be desolate; for the grass has withered away, the tender grass fails, there is no green thing.
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the grass is withered away, the tender grass faileth, there is no green thing.
For, the waters of Nimrim are desolations, For, withered hath been the hay, Finished hath been the tender grass, A green thing there hath not been.
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the herbage is withered away, the grass hath failed, there is no green thing.
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 15:6 describes the waters of Nimrim dried up and grass withered, showing God's complete judgment on Moab.
Context
Isaiah 15 opens a prophetic oracle against Moab, a nation east of the Dead Sea. The chapter describes widespread mourning: shaved heads, sackcloth, weeping on rooftops. Verse 6 zeros in on a specific location: Nimrim, a place known for its clear springs and fertile pastures. The prophet says its waters will become desolate, its grass withered, with not a green thing left. This is not a natural drought alone. Commentators like Albert Barnes note that in ancient warfare, enemies often stopped up wells and destroyed fields (2 Kings 3:25). But the deeper cause is divine judgment. The land that once flourished is stripped bare, and everyone who depended on it is left empty.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this collapse. The word for desolate (meshammah) means more than simply dry. It evokes horror and devastation, the kind of place that makes you shudder. This is not a temporary setback; it is ruin. The verb withered (yabesh) pictures something drained of every drop of moisture. In Scripture, this word often describes life that has been completely withdrawn under judgment. And green thing (yerek) is the final note: grass, tender grass, then greenery itself all gone. The progression leaves no hope of regrowth. Together these words say that every source of life has been removed, and only God can restore what He has taken away.
How Christians Read This Verse
Protestant commentators like Barnes and Calvin see the drying of Nimrim as a literal result of enemy invasion, recalling how armies stopped up wells to cripple a land (2 Kings 3:25). Calvin also notes the prophetic use of exaggeration to drive home the horror. The Anglican Cambridge Bible considers the location and the practice of stopping waters. Across traditions, the consensus is that this verse depicts the utter reversal of Moab's prosperity under God's judgment. None treat it as merely poetic: it describes real devastation with a clear cause in God’s response to sin.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers assume this verse is only about a natural drought or a prediction of future climate change. In fact, it is part of a judgment oracle. The desolation is directly linked to God’s response to Moab’s pride and idolatry. The curse is not random; it follows a pattern of sin and consequence seen throughout Scripture.
Living This Out
This verse asks us to notice what we count on for life and security. The waters of Nimrim were good gifts, but they could not save Moab. This week, when you feel something you rely on starting to run dry a job, a relationship, your health let that be a reminder to turn to the One who never runs dry. You do not need to fear judgment if you are in Christ, but you can learn to hold all earthly gifts loosely, trusting God alone as the source of every green thing.
Main takeaway: God’s judgment strips away everything we trust besides Him, showing that He alone is the source of life.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The waters dried up and the grass died because the people turned away from God. That is sad, but God is always with us. He is like a river that never runs dry.
For ages 9, 12
This verse shows what happens when a nation or a person forgets God. Everything good can be taken away. But God offers us something better than green grass: He gives us eternal life through Jesus. So we can learn to trust Him even when things around us fail.
Questions People Ask
Where is Nimrim mentioned in the Bible?
Nimrim is mentioned in connection with Moab. In Numbers 32:3 and 36, it appears as Nimrah and Beth Nimrah, a place with good water. Jeremiah 48:34 also references the waters of Nimrim in a similar judgment context.
Is the drying of water literal or symbolic?
It is likely both. Historically, enemies would stop up wells (2 Kings 3:25). But the language is used symbolically throughout Scripture to represent God's judgment. The total absence of green shows complete reversal of blessing.
What is the purpose of this judgment?
The judgment on Moab serves as a warning to all nations that God opposes pride and idolatry. It also demonstrates God's sovereignty over nature and history. Ultimately, it points to the need for repentance and trust in God alone.
Does this verse have any comfort for Christians?
While the verse is a stern warning, the broader passage includes glimpses of hope (Isaiah 16). For Christians, it reminds us that earthly things are temporary. We are invited to rely on the living God, who provides living water that never fails.
For pastors & researchers
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