Isaiah – Chapter 15

Old Testament • 9 Verses

Chapter Summary

"The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the night, it is…" — so begins Isaiah 15. The chapter unfolds across 9 verses. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the night, it is silent.

2The house is gone up, and Dibon to the high places to mourn over Nabo, and over Medaba, Moab hath howled: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard shall be shaven.

3In their streets they are girded with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets all shall howl and come down weeping.

4Hesebon shall cry, and Eleale, their voice is heard even to Jasa. For this shall the well appointed men of Moab howl, his soul shall howl to itself.

5My heart shall cry to Moab, the bars thereof shall flee unto Segor a heifer of three years old: for by the ascent of Luith they shall go up weeping: and in the way of Oronaim they shall lift up a cry of destruction.

6For the waters of Nemrim shall be desolate, for the grass is withered away, the spring is faded, all the greenness is perished.

7According to the greatness of their work, is their visitation also: they shall lead them to the torrent of the willows.

8For the cry is gone round about the border of Moab: the howling thereof unto Gallim, and unto the well of Elim the cry thereof.

9For the waters of Dibon are filled with blood: for I will bring more upon Dibon: the lion upon them that shall flee of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land.

Important Verses in Isaiah 15

“The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the night, it is silent.”

Isaiah 15:1

“Hesebon shall cry, and Eleale, their voice is heard even to Jasa. For this shall the well appointed men of Moab howl, his soul shall howl to itself.”

Isaiah 15:4

“For the waters of Dibon are filled with blood: for I will bring more upon Dibon: the lion upon them that shall flee of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land. ”

Isaiah 15:9

Historical Context

Isaiah belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for judah in crisis, the exiles in Babylon, and all who await the Messiah. Chapter 15 of 66 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 9 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed…" The final verse reads: "For the waters of Dibon are filled with blood: for I will bring more upon Dibon: the lion upon them that shall flee of…" Read against its original backdrop, Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem during the Assyrian crisis, calling kings to trust God rather than alliances. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples

When It Was Written

Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

In this 9-verse passage, the sacred author describes events, speeches, or revelations central to judgment, comfort, and messianic hope. A pivotal line is verse 1: "The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the night, it is silent."

Catholic exegesis reads Isaiah 15 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). St. Bede the Venerable and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1988).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Isaiah Chapter 15 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Isaiah Chapter 15. At the moral level, discernment and obedience to God challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 2466).

As you continue through Isaiah, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah Chapter 15 about?

Isaiah 15 contains 9 verses. It opens with "The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed…" and closes with "For the waters of Dibon are filled with blood: for I will bring more upon Dibon: the lion upon them that shall flee of…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles and poetry.

What is a key verse in Isaiah 15?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, it is silent: because the wall of Moab is destroyed in the night, it is silent." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Isaiah and when?

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples. Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

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