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Tuesday, December 30th, 2025
the Tuesday after Christmas
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Isaiah 16:2

This verse is not available in the MSG!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Arnon;   Birds;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Moabites;   Rivers;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Moab;   Propitiation;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ford;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Uzziah;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Arnon;   Ford;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Arnon;   Bird;   Ford;   Moab, Moabites;   Nest;   Sela;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Arnon ;   Fords;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ammon ammonites children of ammon;   Arnon;   Handicraft;   Moab;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Arnon;   Ford;   Nest;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Arnon;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bamoth-Baal;   Birds;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Like a bird fleeing,forced from the nest,the daughters of Moabwill be at the fords of the Arnon.
Hebrew Names Version
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Mo'av be at the fords of the Arnon.
King James Version
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
English Standard Version
Like fleeing birds, like a scattered nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
New American Standard Bible
Then, like fluttering birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of Moab will be at the crossing places of the Arnon.
New Century Version
The women of Moab try to cross the river Arnon like little birds that have fallen from their nest.
Amplified Bible
For like wandering birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the [river] Arnon.
World English Bible
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For it shall be as a birde that flieth, and a nest forsaken: the daughters of Moab shall be at the foordes of Arnon.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then, like fleeing birds or scattered nestlings,The daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon.
Berean Standard Bible
Like fluttering birds pushed out of the nest, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon:
Contemporary English Version
The women of Moab crossing the Arnon River are like a flock of birds scattered from their nests.
Complete Jewish Bible
The daughters of Mo'av at the fords of the Arnon are like fluttering birds pushed from the nest.
Darby Translation
And it shall be [that] as a wandering bird, [as] a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.
Easy-to-Read Version
The women of Moab try to cross the river Arnon. They run around looking for help, like little birds that have fallen from their nest.
George Lamsa Translation
And he shall be like a bird that changes its nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be deserted at the fords of Arnon.
Good News Translation
They wait on the banks of the Arnon River and move aimlessly back and forth, like birds driven from their nest.
Lexham English Bible
And this shall be: like a bird fleeing from a thrust away nest shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of Arnon.
Literal Translation
For it is as a fleeing bird cast out of the nest; the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(For as for the doughters of Moab, they were as it had bene a trymblinge byrde, yt is put out of hir nest, by the fery of Arnon) which messaunger sayde:
American Standard Version
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.
Bible in Basic English
For the daughters of Moab will be like wandering birds, like a place from which the young birds have gone in flight, at the ways across the Arnon.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of Arnon.
King James Version (1611)
For it shalbe that as a wandering bird cast out of the nest: so the daughters of Moab shalbe at the fordes of Arnon.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
For as for the daughters of Moab they shalbe as a trembling birde that is put out of her neste: for they shall cary them vnto Arnon.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For thou shalt be as a young bird taken away from a bird that has flown: even thou shalt be so, daughter of Moab: and then do thou, O Arnon,
English Revised Version
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of Arnon.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And it schal be as a foule fleynge, and briddis fleynge awei fro the nest, so schulen be the douytris of Moab in the passyng ouer of Arnon.
Update Bible Version
For it shall be that, as wandering birds, as a scattered nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be at the fords of the Arnon.
Webster's Bible Translation
For it shall be, [that], as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, [so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.
New English Translation
At the fords of the Arnon the Moabite women are like a bird that flies about when forced from its nest.
New King James Version
For it shall be as a wandering bird thrown out of the nest; So shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
New Living Translation
The women of Moab are left like homeless birds at the shallow crossings of the Arnon River.
New Life Bible
Then, like birds driven from their nest, the people of Moab will be where the Arnon River can be crossed.
New Revised Standard
Like fluttering birds, like scattered nestlings, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Yet shall it be that - Like wandering birds from a nest cast forth, Shall be the daughters of Moab, at the fords of Amen.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And it shall come to pass, that as a bird fleeing away, and as young ones flying out of the nest, so shall the daughters of Moab be in the passage of Arnon.
Revised Standard Version
Like fluttering birds, like scattered nestlings, so are the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
Young's Literal Translation
And it hath come to pass, As a wandering bird, a nest cast out, Are daughters of Moab, [at] fords of Arnon.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then, like fleeing birds or scattered nestlings, The daughters of Moab will be at the fords of the Arnon.

Contextual Overview

1 "Dispatch a gift of lambs," says Moab, "to the leaders in Jerusalem— Lambs from Sela sent across the desert to buy the goodwill of Jerusalem. The towns and people of Moab are at a loss, New-hatched birds knocked from the nest, fluttering helplessly At the banks of the Arnon River, unable to cross: ‘Tell us what to do, help us out! Protect us, hide us! Give the refugees from Moab sanctuary with you. Be a safe place for those on the run from the killing fields.'" "When this is all over," Judah answers, "the tyrant toppled, The killing at an end, all signs of these cruelties long gone, A new government of love will be established in the venerable David tradition. A Ruler you can depend upon will head this government, A Ruler passionate for justice, a Ruler quick to set things right." We've heard—everyone's heard!—of Moab's pride, world-famous for pride— Arrogant, self-important, insufferable, full of hot air. So now let Moab lament for a change, with antiphonal mock-laments from the neighbors! What a shame! How terrible! No more fine fruitcakes and Kir-hareseth candies! All those lush Heshbon fields dried up, the rich Sibmah vineyards withered! Foreign thugs have crushed and torn out the famous grapevines That once reached all the way to Jazer, right to the edge of the desert, Ripped out the crops in every direction as far as the eye can see. I'll join the weeping. I'll weep right along with Jazer, weep for the Sibmah vineyards. And yes, Heshbon and Elealeh, I'll mingle my tears with your tears! The joyful shouting at harvest is gone. Instead of song and celebration, dead silence. No more boisterous laughter in the orchards, no more hearty work songs in the vineyards. Instead of the bustle and sound of good work in the fields, silence—deathly and deadening silence. My heartstrings throb like harp strings for Moab, my soul in sympathy for sad Kir-heres. When Moab trudges to the shrine to pray, he wastes both time and energy. Going to the sanctuary and praying for relief is useless. Nothing ever happens. This is God 's earlier Message on Moab. God 's updated Message is, "In three years, no longer than the term of an enlisted soldier, Moab's impressive presence will be gone, that splendid hot-air balloon will be punctured, and instead of a vigorous population, just a few shuffling bums cadging handouts." 5A New Government in the David Tradition "Dispatch a gift of lambs," says Moab, "to the leaders in Jerusalem— Lambs from Sela sent across the desert to buy the goodwill of Jerusalem. The towns and people of Moab are at a loss, New-hatched birds knocked from the nest, fluttering helplessly At the banks of the Arnon River, unable to cross: ‘Tell us what to do, help us out! Protect us, hide us! Give the refugees from Moab sanctuary with you. Be a safe place for those on the run from the killing fields.'" "When this is all over," Judah answers, "the tyrant toppled, The killing at an end, all signs of these cruelties long gone, A new government of love will be established in the venerable David tradition. A Ruler you can depend upon will head this government, A Ruler passionate for justice, a Ruler quick to set things right."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as: Isaiah 13:14, Proverbs 27:8

cast out of the nest: or, a nest forsaken

the fords: Numbers 21:13-15, Deuteronomy 2:36, Deuteronomy 3:8, Deuteronomy 3:12, Joshua 13:16, Judges 11:18

Reciprocal: Numbers 22:36 - the border Joshua 12:1 - from the Psalms 109:10 - General Jeremiah 48:9 - wings Jeremiah 48:12 - wanderers Jeremiah 48:20 - Arnon Micah 1:11 - Pass

Cross-References

Genesis 3:12
The Man said, "The Woman you gave me as a companion, she gave me fruit from the tree, and, yes, I ate it." God said to the Woman, "What is this that you've done?"
Genesis 3:17
He told the Man: "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree That I commanded you not to eat from, ‘Don't eat from this tree,' The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you'll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you'll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you'll end up dirt."
Genesis 16:1
Sarai, Abram's wife, hadn't yet produced a child. She had an Egyptian maid named Hagar. Sarai said to Abram, " God has not seen fit to let me have a child. Sleep with my maid. Maybe I can get a family from her." Abram agreed to do what Sarai said.
Genesis 16:6
"You decide," said Abram. "Your maid is your business." Sarai was abusive to Hagar and Hagar ran away.
Genesis 16:9
The angel of God said, "Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse." He continued, "I'm going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you'll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you. He'll be a bucking bronco of a man, a real fighter, fighting and being fought, Always stirring up trouble, always at odds with his family."
Genesis 18:10
One of them said, "I'm coming back about this time next year. When I arrive, your wife Sarah will have a son." Sarah was listening at the tent opening, just behind the man.
Genesis 25:21
Isaac prayed hard to God for his wife because she was barren. God answered his prayer and Rebekah became pregnant. But the children tumbled and kicked inside her so much that she said, "If this is the way it's going to be, why go on living?" She went to God to find out what was going on. God told her, Two nations are in your womb, two peoples butting heads while still in your body. One people will overpower the other, and the older will serve the younger.
Genesis 30:6
Rachel said, "God took my side and vindicated me. He listened to me and gave me a son." She named him Dan (Vindication). Rachel's maid Bilhah became pregnant again and gave Jacob a second son. Rachel said, "I've been in an all-out fight with my sister—and I've won." So she named him Naphtali (Fight).
Genesis 30:22
And then God remembered Rachel. God listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and had a son. She said, "God has taken away my humiliation." She named him Joseph (Add), praying, "May God add yet another son to me."
Ruth 4:11
All the people in the town square that day, backing up the elders, said, "Yes, we are witnesses. May God make this woman who is coming into your household like Rachel and Leah, the two women who built the family of Israel. May God make you a pillar in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem! With the children God gives you from this young woman, may your family rival the family of Perez, the son Tamar bore to Judah."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For it shall be,.... Or, "otherwise it shall be" z; if ye do not pay this tribute:

[that] as a wandering bird cast out of the nest: or, "as a wandering bird, the nest sent out": that is, as a bird that has forsaken its nest, and wanders about, and its young ones are turned out of the nest, scarcely fledged, and unable to shift for themselves, but flutter about here and there, trembling and frightened, see Proverbs 26:2:

[so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon: turned out of their houses, wandering up and down, not knowing where to go; unable to help themselves, and in the utmost fright and consternation, fleeing to the very borders of their land, as the fords of Arnon were, see Numbers 21:13.

z והיה "alioqui", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For it shall be - It shall happen in the time of the calamity that shall come upon Moab.

As a wandering bird - (See Isaiah 10:14.) The same idea is presented in Proverbs 27:8 :

As a bird that wanders from her nest,

So is a man that wandereth from his place.

The idea here is that of a bird driven away from her nest, where the nest is destroyed, and the young fly about without any home or place of rest. So would Moab be when the inhabitants were driven from their dwellings. The reason why this is introduced seems to be, to enforce what the prophet had said in the previous verse - the duty of paying the usual tribute to the Jews, and seeking their protection. The time is coming, says the prophet, when the Moabites shall be driven from their homes, and when they will need that protection which they can obtain by paying the usual tribute to the Jews.

The daughters of Moab - The females shall be driven from their homes, and shall wander about, and endeavor to flee from the invasion which has come upon the land. By the apprehension, therefore, that their wives and daughters would be exposed to this danger, the prophet calls upon the Moabites to secure the protection of the king of Judah.

At the fords of Arnon - Arnon was the northern boundary of the land of Moab. They would endeavor to cross that river, and thus flee from the land, and escape the desolations that were coming upon it. The river Arnon, now called Mujeb, flows in a deep, frightfully wild, and rocky vale of the same name Numbers 21:15; Deuteronomy 2:24; Deuteronomy 3:9, in a narrow bed, and forms at this time the boundary between the provinces of Belka and Karrak (Seetzen). Bridges were not common in the times here referred to; and, indeed, permanent bridges among the ancients were things almost unknown. Hence, they selected the places where the streams were most shallow and gentle, as the usual places of crossing.


 
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