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Isaiah 15:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 15:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.
Isaiah 15:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 15

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1The burden of Moab. For in a night Ar of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nought; for in a night Kir of Moab is laid waste, [and] brought to nought.
2They are gone up to Bayith, and to Dibon, to the high places, to weep: Moab waileth over Nebo, and over Medeba; on all their heads is baldness, every beard is cut off.
3In their streets they gird themselves with sackcloth; on their housetops, and in their broad places, every one waileth, weeping abundantly.
4And Heshbon crieth out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembleth within him.
5My heart crieth out for Moab; her nobles [flee] unto Zoar, to Eglath-shelishi-yah: for by the ascent of Luhith with weeping they go up; for in the way of Horonaim they raise up a cry of destruction.
6For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate; for the grass is withered away, the tender grass faileth, there is no green thing.
← Isaiah 15:2Isaiah 15:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In their streets they shall girt themselves with sackcloth, &c.] Instead of their fine clothes, with which they had used to deck themselves, being a very proud people; (see <231606>Isaiah 16:6) this was usual in times of distress on any account, as well as a token of mourning for the dead; (see <290108> Joel 1:8,13). The word for “streets” might be rendered “villages”, as distinct from cities, that were “without” the walls of the cities, though adjacent to them; and the rather, seeing mention is made of streets afterwards: on the tops of their houses; which were made flat, as the houses of the Jews were, on which were battlements, (<052208>Deuteronomy 22:8) hither they went for safety from…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“tops of . . . houses--flat; places of resort for prayer, &c., in the East (Act 10:9). weeping abundantly--"melting away in tears." HORSLEY prefers "descending to weep." Thus there is a "parallelism by alternate construction" [LOWTH], or chiasmus; "howl" refers to "tops of houses." "Descending to weep" to "streets" or squares, whither they descend from the housetops.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“In their streets - Publicly. Everywhere there shall be lamentation and grief. Some shall go into the streets, and some on the tops of the houses. They shall gird themselves with sackcloth - The common token of mourning; and also worn usually in times of humiliation and fasting. It was one of the outward acts by which they expressed deep sorrow (Genesis 37:34; 2Sa 3:31; 1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 19:1; Job 16:15; the note at Isaiah 3:24). On the tops of the houses - The roofs of the houses in the East were, and still are, made flat, and were places of resort for prayer, for promenade, etc. The prophet here says, that all the usual places of resort would be filled with weeping and mourning. In the…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“On the tops - Which were made flat, to which men used to go up, to cry to God in heaven, or to men for help. Isaiah 15:4”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“their streets: Sa2 3:31; Kg2 6:30; Jon 3:6-8; Mat 11:21 on the: Isa 15:2, Isa 22:1; Deu 22:8; Jer 19:13, Jer 48:38, Jer 48:39 weeping abundantly: Heb. descending into weeping; or, coming down with weeping, Isa 15:5 Isaiah 15:4”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification