And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares, "I have made their vintage shouting to cease" not just because enemies have arrived, but because He personally is silencing their celebratory noise. This is the divine judgment ending the very sounds of their prosperity and joy, revealing that even their feasts and harvests are under His sovereign control. It’s a stark reminder that when judgment comes, it silences not only activity but also the sounds of delight that accompanied it.
And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage describes the devastating consequences of judgment upon the land, specifically affecting the agricultural abundance that normally brings celebration. The joyous sounds of harvest and winemaking, including the treading of grapes and the songs of the workers, are silenced. God declares that He has brought this end to their festivities, signifying a complete desolation that strips away their usual prosperity and happiness.
Imagine a joyous harvest festival, full of music and celebration. Now, picture that same scene abruptly silenced. What does this stark contrast reveal about God's involvement in human affairs?
Isaiah 16:10 paints a vivid picture of desolation. The 'plentiful field' and 'vineyards,' symbols of God's provision and human celebration, are stripped of their usual sounds of joy. The singing, the cheers, the rhythmic treading of grapes in the winepress – all are gone.
The Divine Hand: Notice the declaration, 'I have made their vintage shouting to cease.' This isn't a passive observation of natural disaster; it's a direct statement of God's agency. He is the one who stills the joyous sounds. This highlights a crucial biblical theme: God is not distant from the events of history, even those that bring sorrow and ruin. He actively intervenes, bringing judgment when and how He deems fit. This verse reminds us that even in times of hardship, we can look to understand God's hand at work, even when it's difficult.
When the sounds of celebration are silenced, what deeper message is being conveyed? What does the absence of wine-treading signify beyond mere economic loss?
The verse doesn't just describe a lack of noise; it points to the cessation of vital, life-affirming activities.
From Abundance to Absence: The 'plentiful field' and 'vineyards' represent more than just agricultural produce. They symbolize prosperity, security, and the enjoyment of God's blessings. The absence of singing and shouting during the vintage season, a time normally marked by communal celebration and gratitude, signifies a profound loss.
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The Treaders and the Presses: The detail about the 'treaders' not treading wine in the presses is particularly poignant. This was a physical act of bringing forth the fruit of the land, a tangible result of labor and a source of sustenance and celebration. Its cessation means not only no wine but no celebration, no economic activity, and no visible sign of God's favor through abundant harvest. It's a picture of life itself being stilled by divine judgment.
Understand the original words
simchah · Hebrew Noun
A state of communal delight and celebration, typically associated with covenant blessings, peace, and the presence of God.
gath · Hebrew Noun
The act of processing grapes to produce wine, a common symbol of celebration, divine blessing, and productivity in ancient Israelite life.
This prophecy against Moab vividly portrays the desolation that follows judgment. The loss of joy and the cessation of the wine harvest's celebrations aren't just agricultural failures; they represent the complete silencing of life and festivity, a direct consequence of God's hand bringing an end to their prosperity due to their pride and mistreatment of others.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah's initial prophecy against Moab
Isaiah delivers a prophecy denouncing Moab's pride and predicting its eventual downfall, likely in response to Moab's own arrogance and its mistreatment of refugees.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The northern kingdom of Israel (under Pekah) and Syria (under Rezin) attack Judah. Moab likely remained a separate entity, possibly observing or even siding with the aggressors.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its people. This event would have heightened anxiety and possibly led to an influx of refugees into Moab.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, threatening Jerusalem. While Jerusalem is spared, the surrounding regions suffer greatly. Moab's political situation would be influenced by these regional shifts.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and exiles much of the Judean population. This cataclysmic event significantly reshapes the political and social landscape of the entire region, impacting Moab's status and interactions.
This passage echoes Isaiah's lament over Moab, describing a similar silencing of joy and song in the vineyards due to devastation.
Hosea 2:11This verse speaks of God causing the cessation of all celebration and festivals, directly paralleling the loss of singing and shouting described in Isaiah 16:10 as a consequence of divine judgment.
Joel 1:11-12Joel describes a similar agricultural devastation where joy is taken from the fields and vineyards, leading to mourning instead of celebration, highlighting the profound impact of judgment on the land's bounty and the people's spirit.
Leviticus 26:16This passage from Leviticus lists the removal of joy and gladness from the land as a consequence of disobedience, providing the underlying theological reason for the desolation described in Isaiah 16:10.
barnesIsaiah 16:10: "And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease."
And gladness ... - The gladness and joy that was commonly felt in the field producing a rich and luxuriant harvest. Out of the plentiful field - Hebrew, 'From Carmel;' but Carmel means a fruitful field as well as the mountain of that name…
clarkeIsaiah 16:10: "And gladness is taken away, and joy out of the plentiful field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be shouting: the treaders shall tread out no wine in their presses; I have made their vintage shouting to cease."
Neither shall there be shouting "An end is put to the shouting" - The Septuagint read השבת hishbeth, passive, and in the third person; rightly, for God is not the speaker in this place. The rendering of the Septuagint is πεπαυται γαρ κελ…
God declares, "I have made their vintage shouting to cease" not just because enemies have arrived, but because He personally is silencing their celebratory noise. This is the divine judgment ending the very sounds of their prosperity and joy, revealing that even their feasts and harvests are under His sovereign control. It’s a stark reminder that when judgment comes, it silences not only activity but also the sounds of delight that accompanied it.
This passage describes the devastating consequences of judgment upon the land, specifically affecting the agricultural abundance that normally brings celebration. The joyous sounds of harvest and winemaking, including the treading of grapes and the songs of the workers, are silenced. God declares that He has brought this end to their festivities, signifying a complete desolation that strips away their usual prosperity and happiness.
This passage describes the devastating consequences of judgment upon the land, specifically affecting the agricultural abundance that normally brings celebration. The joyous sounds of harvest and winemaking, including the treading of grapes and the songs of the workers, are silenced. God declares that He has brought this end to their festivities, signifying a complete desolation that strips away their usual prosperity and happiness.
"And joy and gladness are taken away from the fruitful field, and in the vineyards no songs are sung, no cheers are raised; no treader treads out wine in the presses; I have put an end to the shouting." — God declares, "I have made their vintage shouting to cease" not just because enemies have arrived, but because He personally is silencing their celebratory noise. This is the divine judgment ending…
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Last reviewed October 2026