Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse's lament isn't just about a city falling; it's a mournful cry over the loss of "raisin cakes." This detail, often overlooked, points to the destruction of something deeply cherished and perhaps even tied to their religious feasts and culture, highlighting that loss isn't just about structures, but about the things that nourish and define a people.
Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes in the middle of a lament over Moab, painting a picture of utter devastation for their cities and their livelihood. Isaiah has just been instructing the people of Moab to send a tribute to the king of Judah, but that hope has been dashed, leading to this dire prophecy of destruction and mourning for their nation, specifically targeting their city of Kir-hareseth and the produce of their land.
The verse opens with a powerful image of a nation in deep sorrow. But who is wailing, and for whom?
Isaiah 16:7 declares, "Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl." This isn't just a few people crying out; it's a national catastrophe. The repetition emphasizes the totality of the grief. "Moab for Moab" suggests that different parts of the nation are mourning for each other – perhaps the people for their leaders, or one region for another that has fallen. The phrase "every one shall howl" underscores that this devastation will touch every single person in Moab. It’s a scene of utter desolation where no one is spared from the pain.
This universal lament signifies a complete collapse. It’s not a localized problem; it’s an existential crisis for the entire people. The prophet uses this graphic language to paint a picture of a nation brought to its knees by judgment.
The verse mentions mourning for "the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth." What’s so important about these cakes, and why does their loss cause such deep sorrow?
The phrase "for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth" is where things get really interesting. While some translations suggest "foundations," the original Hebrew word, especially when compared to Hosea 3:1, strongly points to a delicacy made from raisin cakes or pressed grapes. Kir-hareseth itself was a significant city, perhaps even a capital, for Moab.
Lamenting over raisin cakes might sound strange, but it represents the loss of something deeply valuable and symbolic:
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The people of Moab are described as "utterly stricken." What led them to this point, and what does this brokenness signify?
The verse concludes with the description of Moab being "utterly stricken." This isn't just a physical blow; it’s a deep, soul-crushing devastation. The original Hebrew suggests being severely wounded or afflicted.
This state of being "utterly stricken" is presented as the direct consequence of their actions, particularly their pride and their refusal to seek refuge or rely on God's people when they had the chance (as implied by the preceding context and parallel passages like Jeremiah 48:31). Instead of humility and repentance, Moab chose arrogance and self-reliance.
The lament is not just for the physical destruction but for the brokenness of their national spirit. They had built their hopes on their own strength and their own idols, but those foundations proved to be fragile. Being "utterly stricken" means they are stripped bare, left with nothing but the sorrow of their downfall. It’s a stark reminder that pride precedes destruction, and self-sufficiency ultimately leads to ruin when it rejects God's sovereignty.
Understand the original words
yalal · Hebrew Verb
To express deep sorrow or lamentation, often in response to judgment, loss, or spiritual destruction.
nakah · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
A state of being overwhelmed by calamity or divine judgment, often implying a crushing of the spirit or physical destruction.
ashishah · Hebrew Noun
Dried grapes or compressed fruit cakes, often used for food or in religious offerings. In this context, they represent the agricultural prosperity and luxury that is being lost.
The prophecy against Moab occurs against a backdrop of escalating empires (Assyria, then Babylon) and the eventual destruction of Jerusalem. Moab's impending doom is presented not in isolation, but as part of a larger regional upheaval, highlighting the consequences of pride and misplaced confidence in the face of divine judgment.
c. 840 BC
Moabite Rebellion
After King Ahab of Israel died, Moab rebelled against Israelite rule, as depicted on the Mesha Stele. This likely set a precedent for strained relations and future conflict.
c. 730s BC
Assyrian Campaigns in the Region
The Neo-Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III expanded its influence, campaigning in the Levant and receiving tribute from various kingdoms, including Judah. This created regional instability and shifted power dynamics.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom of Israel
The Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling its population and significantly weakening the region. This event would have heightened anxieties for neighboring kingdoms like Moab and Judah.
c. 715 BC
Moabite Tribute to Assyria
Moab, along with other regional powers, paid tribute to the Assyrian king Sargon II, indicating its subjugation or at least its acknowledgment of Assyrian dominance.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, besieging Jerusalem. While Jerusalem was miraculously spared, many Judean cities were destroyed, and Judah became an Assyrian vassal state.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire conquered Judah, beginning a series of exiles. The first deportation included members of the Judean nobility and skilled workers, potentially impacting Moab's geopolitical calculations.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
The Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Southern Kingdom of Judah and scattering its people. This marked a profound crisis for Judean identity and religious life.
This passage mirrors Isaiah's lament over Moab, specifically mentioning a similar mournful cry and using a parallel term for the city of Kir-hareseth, highlighting the shared theme of judgment and destruction for this nation.
Isaiah 15:1-9This chapter immediately precedes Isaiah 16 and provides a broader lament over Moab, setting the stage for the specific, intense grief described in 16:7 concerning the city of Kir-hareseth.
2 Kings 3:4-27This historical account describes a situation where Moab rebelled against Israel and Judah, and later, during a siege, the Moabites made a desperate, ultimately futile, sacrifice of their own king's son, which resonates with the theme of desperate measures and judgment upon Moab.
Amos 2:1-3Amos also pronounces judgment against Moab for their cruelty, specifically mentioning their action of burning the bones of the king of Edom, which speaks to the deep-seated animosity and violence that often draws God's wrath.
cambridgeIsaiah 16:7: "Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken."
7 . the foundations ] R.V. renders rightly raisin-cakes . These cakes of compressed grapes are mentioned less as an article of commerce than as a delicacy used at religious feasts (cf. Hosea 3:1 , R.V.). The word never means “foundations.” The parallel passage in Jeremiah substitutes the tamer “men.” Kir-hareseth is the same as Kir-heres ( Isaiah…
barnesIsaiah 16:7: "Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab, every one shall howl: for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely they are stricken."
Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab - One part of the nation shall mourn for another; they shall howl, or lament, in alternate responses. Jerome renders it, 'the people (shall howl) to the city; the city to the provinces.' The general idea is, that there would be an universal lamentation throughout the land. This would be the punishment which would…
This verse's lament isn't just about a city falling; it's a mournful cry over the loss of "raisin cakes." This detail, often overlooked, points to the destruction of something deeply cherished and perhaps even tied to their religious feasts and culture, highlighting that loss isn't just about structures, but about the things that nourish and define a people.
This verse comes in the middle of a lament over Moab, painting a picture of utter devastation for their cities and their livelihood. Isaiah has just been instructing the people of Moab to send a tribute to the king of Judah, but that hope has been dashed, leading to this dire prophecy of destruction and mourning for their nation, specifically targeting their city of Kir-hareseth and the produce of their land.
This verse comes in the middle of a lament over Moab, painting a picture of utter devastation for their cities and their livelihood. Isaiah has just been instructing the people of Moab to send a tribute to the king of Judah, but that hope has been dashed, leading to this dire prophecy of destruction and mourning for their nation, specifically targeting their city of Kir-hareseth and the produce of their land.
"Therefore let Moab wail for Moab, let everyone wail. Mourn, utterly stricken, for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth." — This verse's lament isn't just about a city falling; it's a mournful cry over the loss of "raisin cakes." This detail, often overlooked, points to the destruction of something deeply cherished and pe…
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Last reviewed October 2026