Isaiah 15:6
Isaiah 15:6 in Multiple Translations
The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more.
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.
The waters of Nimrim will become dry: for the grass is burned up, the young grass is coming to an end, every green thing is dead.
The waters of Nimrim have all dried up. The grass is withered, all the vegetation has disappeared—nothing green is left.
For the waters of Nimrim shall be dried vp: therefore the grasse is withered, the herbes consumed, and there was no greene herbe.
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 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 herb is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
For the waters of Nemrim shall be desolate, for the grass is withered away, the spring is faded, all the greenness is perished.
The water in Nimrim Valley will have dried up. The grass there will be withered; the green plants will all be gone, and there will be nothing left that is green.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 15:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 15:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּֽי
מֵ֥י
נִמְרִ֖ים
מְשַׁמּ֣וֹת
יִֽהְי֑וּ
כִּֽי
יָבֵ֤שׁ
חָצִיר֙
כָּ֣לָה
דֶ֔שֶׁא
יֶ֖רֶק
לֹ֥א
הָיָֽה
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
מֵ֥י
mayim
H4325
Water (Gate)
N-mp
נִמְרִ֖ים
Nimrîym
H5249
Nimrim
N-proper
מְשַׁמּ֣וֹת
mᵉshammâh
H4923
devastation
N-fp
יִֽהְי֑וּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
יָבֵ֤שׁ
yâbêsh
H3001
to wither
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
חָצִיר֙
châtsîyr
H2682
grass
N-ms
כָּ֣לָה
kâlâh
H3615
to end
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
דֶ֔שֶׁא
desheʼ
H1877
grass
N-ms
יֶ֖רֶק
yereq
H3418
green
N-ms
לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Part
הָיָֽה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 15:6
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
מֵ֥י
mayim
H4325
"Water (Gate)"
N-mp
This word means water, referring to a liquid or a source of refreshment. It appears in the Bible as a literal and figurative term, including references to wasting or urine. The word is used in various contexts, such as in Genesis and Leviticus.
Definition: This name means water, refreshment
Usage: Occurs in 525 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)). See also: Genesis 1:2; Leviticus 14:9; Joshua 18:15.
נִמְרִ֖ים
Nimrîym
H5249
"Nimrim"
N-proper
Nimrim refers to a place east of the Jordan, likely named for its pure or limpid stream. It is mentioned in the Bible as part of the territory of Moab. The name means clear water.
Definition: § Nimrim = "limpid" or "pure" a stream or brook in the territory of Moab
Usage: Occurs in 2 OT verses. KJV: Nimrim. Compare H1039 (בֵּית נִמְרָה). See also: Isaiah 15:6; Jeremiah 48:34.
מְשַׁמּ֣וֹת
mᵉshammâh
H4923
"devastation"
N-fp
Meshamma refers to a state of devastation or horror, evoking a sense of astonishment and desolation, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) devastation, horror 1a) devastation, waste 1b) horror
Usage: Occurs in 7 OT verses. KJV: astonishment, desolate. See also: Isaiah 15:6; Ezekiel 6:14; Jeremiah 48:34.
יִֽהְי֑וּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
יָבֵ֤שׁ
yâbêsh
H3001
"to wither"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to wither or dry up, like a plant without water. It can also mean to be ashamed or disappointed. The Bible uses it to describe things that have lost their freshness or vitality.
Definition: 1) to make dry, wither, be dry, become dry, be dried up, be withered 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be dry, be dried up, be without moisture 1a2) to be dried up 1b) (Piel) to make dry, dry up 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to dry up, make dry 1c1a) to dry up (water) 1c1b) to make dry, wither 1c1c) to exhibit dryness
Usage: Occurs in 62 OT verses. KJV: be ashamed, clean, be confounded, (make) dry (up), (do) shame(-fully), [idiom] utterly, wither (away). See also: Genesis 8:7; Jeremiah 6:15; Psalms 22:16.
חָצִיר֙
châtsîyr
H2682
"grass"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word can mean grass or a type of plant, like a leek. It appears in Numbers 5:18, describing a ritual involving holy water and a grain offering.
Definition: 1a) grass 1b) of the quickly perishing (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: grass, hay, herb, leek. See also: Numbers 11:5; Psalms 147:8; Psalms 37:2.
כָּ֣לָה
kâlâh
H3615
"to end"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to finish or end something, like completing a task or using up a resource, as seen in Genesis 2:2 where God finished creating the heavens and earth.
Definition: : finish 1) to accomplish, cease, consume, determine, end, fail, finish, be complete, be accomplished, be ended, be at an end, be finished, be spent 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be complete, be at an end 1a2) to be completed, be finished 1a3) to be accomplished, be fulfilled 1a4) to be determined, be plotted (bad sense) 1a5) to be spent, be used up 1a6) to waste away, be exhausted, fail 1a7) to come to an end, vanish, perish, be destroyed 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to complete, bring to an end, finish 1b2) to complete (a period of time) 1b3) to finish (doing a thing) 1b4) to make an end, end 1b5) to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass 1b6) to accomplish, determine (in thought) 1b7) to put an end to, cause to cease 1b8) to cause to fail, exhaust, use up, spend 1b9) to destroy, exterminate 1c) (Pual) to be finished, be ended, be completed
Usage: Occurs in 199 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when... were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, [idiom] fully, [idiom] have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste. See also: Genesis 2:1; 2 Chronicles 29:17; Psalms 18:38.
דֶ֔שֶׁא
desheʼ
H1877
"grass"
N-ms
Grass or new growth is what this word refers to, often used to describe the beauty of nature and God's creation. It can also mean tender shoots or green herbs.
Definition: grass, new grass, green herb, vegetation, young Aramaic equivalent: de.te (דֶּ֫תֶא "grass" H1883)
Usage: Occurs in 15 OT verses. KJV: (tender) grass, green, (tender) herb. See also: Genesis 1:11; Psalms 23:2; Psalms 37:2.
יֶ֖רֶק
yereq
H3418
"green"
N-ms
This Hebrew word describes the green color of plants and vegetation, like grass and young crops. It symbolizes new life and growth, as seen in Genesis and Psalms.
Definition: green, greenness, green plants, greenery
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: grass, green (thing). See also: Genesis 1:30; Numbers 22:4; Psalms 37:2.
לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
הָיָֽה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
Study Notes — Isaiah 15:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 15:6 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 15:6
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 15:6
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 15:6
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 15:6
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
- Sermons on Isaiah 15:6
Context — The Burden against Moab
4Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far as Jahaz. Therefore the soldiers of Moab cry out; their souls tremble within.
5My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.
6The waters of Nimrim are dried up, and the grass is withered; the vegetation is gone, and the greenery is no more.
7So they carry their wealth and belongings over the Brook of the Willows. 8For their outcry echoes to the border of Moab. Their wailing reaches Eglaim; it is heard in Beer-elim.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joel 1:10–12 | The field is ruined; the land mourns. For the grain is destroyed, the new wine is dried up, and the oil fails. Be dismayed, O farmers, wail, O vinedressers, over the wheat and barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. The grapevine is dried up, and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, palm, and apple— all the trees of the orchard—are withered. Surely the joy of mankind has dried up. |
| 2 | Isaiah 19:5–7 | The waters of the Nile will dry up, and the riverbed will be parched and empty. The canals will stink; the streams of Egypt will trickle and dry up; the reeds and rushes will wither. The bulrushes by the Nile, by the mouth of the river, and all the fields sown along the Nile, will wither, blow away, and be no more. |
| 3 | Numbers 32:36 | Beth-nimrah, and Beth-haran as fortified cities, and they built folds for their flocks. |
| 4 | Numbers 32:3 | “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon, |
| 5 | Habakkuk 3:17–18 | Though the fig tree does not bud and no fruit is on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though the sheep are cut off from the fold and no cattle are in the stalls, yet I will exult in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! |
| 6 | Isaiah 16:9–10 | So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest. Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards. No one tramples the grapes in the winepresses; I have put an end to the cheering. |
| 7 | Joshua 13:27 | and in the valley, Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, with the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon (the territory on the east side of the Jordan up to the edge of the Sea of Chinnereth ). |
| 8 | Revelation 8:7 | Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 48:34 | There is a cry from Heshbon to Elealeh; they raise their voices to Jahaz, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah; for even the waters of Nimrim have dried up. |
Isaiah 15:6 Summary
In Isaiah 15:6, we see a picture of a place that was once full of life and water, but is now dry and barren. This is a symbol of what happens when God's judgment comes upon a people or a nation, as we also see in Jeremiah 25:15-38. The drying up of the waters and the withering of the grass remind us that our earthly comforts and securities are temporary and can be taken away in an instant (1 Peter 1:24), and that we should always be looking to God as our true source of life and hope (John 4:14). By looking at this verse, we can learn to trust in God's eternal promises and to seek spiritual nourishment that will never fade away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of the waters of Nimrim in Isaiah 15:6?
The waters of Nimrim were likely a vital source of water and life for the surrounding area, and their drying up symbolizes the devastating judgment that has come upon Moab, as prophesied in Isaiah 15:1-9, and reminiscent of God's power to dry up waters as seen in Exodus 14:21-22.
Why is the withering of grass and vegetation mentioned in this verse?
The withering of grass and vegetation in Isaiah 15:6 serves as a visual representation of the desolation and destruction that has befallen Moab, much like the desolation described in Jeremiah 12:11, emphasizing the severity of God's judgment.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
Isaiah 15:6 is part of a larger lament over the destruction of Moab, as seen in Isaiah 15:1-9, and it highlights the thoroughness of God's judgment, which affects not just the people, but also the land itself, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:23.
What can we learn from the image of a once-thriving area now being desolate?
The image of a desolate area in Isaiah 15:6 teaches us about the fleeting nature of earthly prosperity and the importance of seeking eternal life and spiritual nourishment, as encouraged in Isaiah 55:1-2 and Matthew 6:33.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when I see desolation or destruction in my own life or in the world around me - do I turn to God for comfort and strength?
- In what ways can I apply the lesson of the fleeting nature of earthly prosperity to my own life and priorities?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be relying too heavily on earthly sources of comfort or security, rather than on God's eternal promises?
- How can I use the example of Moab's destruction to warn others about the dangers of rebelling against God and to point them to the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 15:6
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate,.... Or dried up, through a great drought that should come upon the land at this time; or being defiled with the blood of the slain, as Jarchi: it may
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 15:6
For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
The waters; either, 1. Properly, they shall be dried up; or, 2. Figuratively, the waterish grounds, as waters seem to be taken, . These being very fruitful, are commonly most inhabited and cultivated; but now they also, and much more the dry and barren grounds, shall be desolate, and without inhabitant. There is no green thing, by the just and special judgment of God. Thus God and man conspire together to destroy them.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
Isaiah 15:6 For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.Ver. 6. For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate.] What these waters of Nimrim were it doth not appear. Jerome saith that Nimrim is a town near the Dead Sea, where the waters are salt, and the country about it barren; so should the land of Moab now be forlorn and fruitless.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
(6) The waters of Nimrim . . .—These also appear in Jeremiah 48:34. They were probably a reservoir from which the fields were irrigated so as to be conspicuous for their verdure Eusebius (Onomast.) places it north of Zoar. The name appears to survive in the Wady en Nemeirah on the south-eastern shore of the Dead Sea (De Saulcy, Voyage, i. 284; Tristram, Land of Israel, 340). Beth-Nimrah appears as the name of a town in Numbers 32:36). The desolation predicted was probably thought of as caused by the stoppage of the wells, one of the common acts of an invading army (2 Kings 3:25).
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 15:6
6. (Jeremiah 48:34) the waters of Nimrim are generally supposed to be connected with Beth-nimrah (Numbers 32:36), now Tell-nimrin, on the Wadi Shaib, flowing into the Jordan about 8 miles from its mouth. A place in the south of Moab would perhaps suit the context better, and explorers have found a Wadi Numeirah running into the Dead Sea a little south of Kerak. Eusebius also (Onomast.) says that the place was known in his day under the name Βηνναμαρείμ (= the Heb. mκ Nimrξm, “waters of N.”), and lay to the N. of Zoar. On the stopping of the waters by an enemy, see 2 Kings 3:25. hay … grass] Better: grass … tender grass (R.V.).
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 15:6
For the waters of Nimrim - It is supposed by some that the prophet here states the cause why the Moabites would flee to the cities of the south, to wit, that the “waters” of the northern cities would
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 15:6
6. Nimrim — For “Nimrim” see Numbers 31:35-36, and Joshua 12:27, whose indications are that this was a well-watered valley. Tristram, with some hesitation, locates it at the southeast end of the Dead Sea.
Sermons on Isaiah 15:6
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Seven Levels of Judgment - Part 5 by Dan Biser | This sermon delves into the biblical theme of God's response to the wickedness of men through various calamities and weather phenomena. It explores how the children of Israel faced |
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The Solemn Assembly by E.A. Johnston | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of a solemn assembly, which is a time of weeping, fasting, and humbling ourselves before God. It is a time of brokenness over |
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Living That Grieves the Spirit by A.W. Tozer | James urges believers to experience deep sorrow and wretchedness over their sins, emphasizing the need for genuine repentance and inner penitence rather than external ascetic pract |
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New Years' Address, January 1853 by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot delivers a powerful sermon reflecting on the state of the church amidst worldly progress and material prosperity, questioning the lack of vital godliness and grace des |
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Stand Still and See the Salvation of the Lord by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of standing still and trusting in the salvation of the Lord, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. He encourages the |
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The Vine and the Branches by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that only God can enable us to live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in all respects. He dismisses the idea of relying on formulas or |
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Death of a Promise - Part 1 by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the principle of the death of a promise. He explains that when God intends to fulfill a promise or bring about a special blessing, He first p |