Isaiah 16:7 · Bible study
Isaiah 16:7 Commentary: The Raisin Cakes of Kir Hareseth
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Moab wail over raisin cakes? A study of their pride, judgment, and the meaning of this unusual detail in Isaiah 16:7.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Moab’s universal wailing over the loss of raisin cakes from Kir Hareseth symbolizes total judgment on pride and the collapse of culture and worship.
- Key words: yayelil (wail), ashishah (raisin cake, also used in pagan feasts), hagah (groan, mutter), akh (surely), nakhaim (stricken).
- Main debate: Does ashishah mean “raisin cakes” (so Cambridge, Keil) or “foundations” (Calvin, Gill)? Jeremiah 48:31 substitutes “men.”
- Theological theme: Pride invites divine judgment, yet even in judgment God laments (v. 11). The loss of blessings can expose misplaced trust.
- Best use: A sobering passage on the consequences of pride and the proper object of our mourning, best paired with the hope of the Davidic throne in v. 5.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Therefore Moab will wail for Moab. Everyone will wail. You will mourn for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth, utterly stricken.
KJV King James Version 1769
Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kir–hareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Therefore shall Moab wail for Moab, every one shall wail: for the raisin-cakes of Kir-hareseth shall ye mourn, utterly stricken.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Therefore howl doth Moab for Moab, all of it doth howl, For the grape-cakes of Kir-Hareseth it meditateth, Surely they are smitten.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab; every one of them shall howl. For the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn, verily afflicted.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Therefore shall Moab howl to Moab, every one shall howl: to them that rejoice upon the brick walls, tell ye their stripes.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Por tanto aullará Moab, todo él aullará: gemiréis por los fundamentos de Kir-hareseth, en gran manera heridos.
Por isso Moabe gritará de lamento por Moabe; todos eles gritarão de lamento; gemereis pelos fundamentos de Quir-Haresete, pois estão quebrados.
C’ est pourquoi Moab gémit sur Moab, tout gémit;
Darum wird ein Moabiter über den andern heulen; allesamt werden sie Heulen. Über die Grundfesten der Stadt Kir- Hareseth werden sie seufzen, ganz zerschlagen.
Daarom zal Moab over Moab huilen, altemaal zullen zij huilen; over de fondamenten van Kir-Hareseth zult gijlieden zuchten, gewisselijk, zij zijn gebroken.
Perciò gema Moab per Moab, tutti gemano! Rimpiangete, costernati, le schiacciate d’uva di Kir-Hareseth!
Przetoż narzekać będzie Moabczyk przed Moabczykiem, wszyscy kwilić będą; nad gruntami miasta Kirchareset wzdychać będą, mówiąc: Jużci są skażone.
Поэтому возрыдает Моав о Моаве, - все будут рыдать; стенайте о твердынях Кирхарешета: они совершенно разрушены.
因此，摩押人 必為摩押 哀號；人人都 要哀號。你們摩押人要為吉珥‧哈列設 的葡萄餅 哀歎，極其 憂傷。
For this cause everyone in Moab will give cries of grief for Moab: crushed to the earth, they will be weeping for the men of Kir-hareseth.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 16:7
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse announces universal mourning throughout Moab as punishment for the pride described in verse 6. The phrase “Moab will wail for Moab” points to a shared lament, one Moabite crying out to another in mutual grief, or the whole nation wailing in unison. Matthew Henry notes that “one part of the nation shall mourn for another.” The dispute centers on what is mourned: the “raisin cakes” (or “foundations”) of Kir Hareseth. The word ashishah occurs elsewhere in scripture only in Hosea 3:1, where it clearly means “cake of raisins” used in sacrificial feasts. Cambridge Bible insists it never means “foundations,” while Calvin, Gill, and others read it as “foundations” based on context. The parallel in Jeremiah 48:31 replaced it with “men,” suggesting the strong citizens were lamented. Barnes notes the Septuagint read “inhabitants.” All agree the lament is deep and universal, the entire nation, led by its capital city, is stricken. The verb hagah (to groan, mutter) intensifies the picture of sorrow, and the particle akh (“surely”) makes the blow emphatic.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Raisin cakes (literal): Lexical evidence: <em>ashishah</em> means raisin cake in Hos 3:1; used in sacrificial feasts.
- Foundations (symbolic): Context of siege: Kir Hareseth’s foundations being torn up (2 Kings 3:25); implies total destruction.
- Men (Jeremiah’s parallel): Jer 48:31 replaces ‘ashishei’ with ‘anshei’ (men); supported by Septuagint and Targum.
What is clear: Moab will universally wail in mourning as a direct consequence of divine judgment on their pride—whether over raisin cakes, foundations, or men, the point is total loss.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Raisin cakes vs. foundations | The word <em>ashishah</em> is a rare term; all agree the mourning is over something precious tied to Kir Hareseth. | Modern scholars (Cambridge, Keil) follow the lexical evidence reading “raisin cakes”; older exegetes (Calvin, Gill) read “foundations” based on context. Jeremiah’s parallel suggests “men.” |
| Moab wails for Moab | The phrase indicates a universal, corporate lament across the nation. | Is it one Moabite wailing to another (Barnes, Calvin), or the nation collectively wailing over itself (Gill, Matthew Henry)? |
| Cause of the judgment | Moab’s pride (v. 6) is the root cause of the destruction. | Christians from all traditions affirm this, though some emphasize the historical failure to shelter refugees (vv. 3, 4) as the concrete manifestation. |
| Kinds of mourning | The mourning is genuine and deep, involving groaning and crying out. | Is the lament purely sorrowful, or does it carry a tone of regret for sin not repented? |
Historical & Cultural Context
Isaiah 16 stands within a series of oracles against nations surrounding Judah. Moab, descended from Lot, had a long history of conflict with Israel. In the immediate context (vv. 3, 5), the prophet appeals to Moab to shelter fugitives from judgment, yet the promise of a Davidic throne hints that refuge will ultimately be found in Zion, not in Moab. Verse 6 indicts Moab’s pride, their arrogance, wrath, and empty boasts. The judgment that follows is total: universal wailing.
Kir Hareseth (also Kir Heres, Kir Moab) was the chief fortress of Moab, mentioned in 2 Kings 3:25 as the last city to fall during the Israelite campaign. The name may mean “wall of potsherds” or “brick citadel,” implying sun-dried brick construction. A siege that reached even this stronghold meant total devastation. The mourning here focuses on its “raisin cakes”, a trade good and a delicacy used in pagan religious feasts (Hosea 3:1). These grape products were central to Moab’s economy and worship. When the vines are destroyed (v. 8, 10), the joy of the vintage ceases. The prophet’s own heart “sounds like a harp” for Moab (v. 11), showing genuine lament even in judgment. The loss of the raisin cakes symbolizes not only economic ruin but the collapse of the religious system that sustained Moab’s pride.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries note that the Masoretic Text reads ashishei (עֲשִׁישֵׁי) for “raisin cakes.” Jeremiah 48:31 substitutes anshei (אַנְשֵׁי, “men”) in a parallel passage, a variant supported by the Septuagint (“inhabitants”) and Targum (“men”). Some Hebrew manuscripts and early versions (Syriac, Vulgate) follow the same reading. The change likely reflects a scribal attempt to make sense of a rare word. No significant variants affect the verse’s main meaning: Moab’s universal lament.
Reception History
Isaiah 16:7 has been read across Christian traditions as a vivid example of divine judgment on pride and a warning against misplaced trust. Early church fathers (Jerome) connected the “raisin cakes” to pagan idolatry, seeing the loss as God’s exposure of false worship. In the medieval period, the verse was used in penitential literature to illustrate how God strips away comforts that become idols. Reformation commentators (Calvin, Luther) emphasized the moral lesson: pride leads to destruction. Modern evangelical and charismatic readings often highlight God’s sorrow in judgment (v. 11) as a balance to the severity. The verse has been sung in hymns that lament the loss of earthly securities and call for refuge in Christ. Its ambiguity over “raisin cakes” vs. “foundations” has fueled careful textual study, reminding readers that every word of Scripture can open a window into God’s character and our own hearts.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Pride precedes the fall. Moab’s arrogance (v. 6) provokes God’s judgment, leading to universal wailing. Pride turns prosperity into mourning.
- Loss of blessings becomes a cause for grief. The raisin cakes, symbols of abundance, culture, and even worship, are mourned because they are gone. Judgment touches every part of life.
- God’s compassion in judgment. The prophet’s heart sounds like a harp for Moab (v. 11). God is not detached; He laments the suffering that pride brings.
Five-point outline
- The universal wail: “Moab will wail for Moab”, collective grief when sin’s consequences arrive.
- The object of mourning: Raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth. What do we treasure most? That is what we mourn when it is taken.
- The connection to pride: The oracle is rooted in Moab’s haughtiness (v. 6). Judgment targets the source of self-reliance.
- The collapse of systems: Economic (vines), defensive (fortress), and religious (feast cakes) all fail.
- The hope beyond judgment: The Davidic throne established in lovingkindness (v. 5) promises a refuge that outlasts Moab.
Illustration hooks
- A town’s main industry lost. Imagine a community whose livelihood is built on a single crop or product, when that product is destroyed, they mourn not only money but identity.
- Cherished family recipes. Raisin cakes were a shared cultural treasure. A family heirloom recipe lost in a house fire evokes a similar grief.
- Pride before a public failure. A company or leader whose overconfidence leads to collapse, the resulting regret is both personal and communal.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God punish Moab so severely for pride? Isn’t pride common to all nations?
- What do the “raisin cakes” represent for us today? Are there things we mourn when they are taken, but that we cling to wrongly?
- Does God still grieve over the judgment He pronounces? (v. 11 shows He does.)
Leading a Discussion
This verse drops us into the middle of a hard oracle. Moab’s sin, pride, is met with a judgment that touches everything they value, even their raisin cakes. As you discuss, notice the layers of meaning: a literal loss, a cultural symbol, and a religious critique. Let the mystery of the “raisin cakes” open a conversation about what we truly treasure and how we respond when it is taken away.
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 16:6, 7. What connection do you see between Moab’s pride and the specific content of their mourning?
- Why do you think the prophet mentions “raisin cakes”, a seemingly small detail, as the object of lament? What might they represent?
- How does the universal wailing (“Moab will wail for Moab”) change your sense of the judgment? Is there any hint of shared grief?
- Compare verse 7 with verse 11, where the prophet’s heart sounds “like a harp for Moab.” How does God’s own sorrow inform your understanding of judgment?
- What are the “raisin cakes” in your own life or community, things that could become objects of false security or pride?
- Moab’s pride is described as “very proud” (v. 6). How can we distinguish healthy confidence from the kind of pride that invites discipline?
- Where do you see hope in this passage? Note the promise of a throne established in lovingkindness (v. 5). How does that change the larger story?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 3:25 | They beat down the cities; and on every good piece of land each man cast his stone, and filled it. They also stopped all the springs of water and cut down all the good trees, until in Kir Hareseth all they left was its stones; however the men armed with slings went around it and attacked it. |
| I Chronicles 16:3 | He gave to everyone of Israel, both man and woman, to everyone a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. |
| Isaiah 8:19 | When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? |
| Isaiah 15:1 | The burden of Moab. For in a night, Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. For in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to nothing. |
| Isaiah 15:5 | 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. |
| Isaiah 16:11 | Therefore my heart sounds like a harp for Moab, and my inward parts for Kir Heres. |
| Jeremiah 48:20 | Moab is disappointed; for it is broken down. Wail and cry! Tell it by the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke identifies a textual error in the Hebrew: the word translated as foundations or flagons should instead be men, as shown by the parallel in Jeremiah. He also corrects the city name to Kirhares, not Kirhareseth.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes reads "Moab howl for Moab" as a scene of universal, mutual lamentation across the nation. His distinctive emphasis falls on the word "foundations" in Kir-hareseth: the city's very basis, what it rested on, would be overthrown, and that destruction is what triggers the mourning.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees the phrase "Moab howl to Moab" as describing a shared, mournful chorus where the people lament their calamities together, because God must humble the proud who trample His church. He also emphasizes that naming the foundations of Kir-hareseth, not just the city, points to its total overthrow with nothing left standing.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary corrects a common mistranslation: the word rendered as "foundations" should be "raisin-cakes," a delicacy used at religious feasts rather than an item of trade. It also notes that the phrase "surely they are stricken" is better read as "utterly stricken."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Therefore shall Moab howle vnto Moab: euery one shall howle: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourne, yet they shalbe striken.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws attention to a wordplay in the original: the term translated "foundations" can also mean "flagons" or wine bottles. He notes that the mourning over Kirhareseth could therefore refer to broken wine jars and the loss of wine, not just the city's ruins.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB clarifies that "foundations" here refers to ruins, the only trace left when houses are demolished. He notes that Jeremiah, in a parallel passage, uses the same word to mean the moral foundations of a city: its inhabitants. He also identifies Kirhareseth as a citadel of brick and rephrases the final clause to read "ye shall mourn utterly stricken."
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch draws attention to a deliberate double meaning: the phrase "lords of the nations" could mean either that foreign rulers destroyed Moab's vines or that the wine of Sibmah overwhelmed those rulers. They argue the prophet intends the wine itself intoxicated even kings. The mention of vines crossing the sea likely refers to a large artificial pool near Jazer, not the Dead Sea.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that the prophet seems to check himself, realizing that giving counsel to proud Moab is futile. He does his duty anyway, but despairs of any good result. Moab would not be healed because they refused to listen.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that the Moabites lament to one another, each howling to another. He highlights Kirhareseth as an ancient, prominent city that had been preserved when other cities were destroyed, making its fall especially grievous. He defines "stricken" as broken, overthrown, or destroyed.