The Meaning of Isaiah 16:2 Explained

Isaiah 16:2

KJV: 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.

YLT: And it hath come to pass, As a wandering bird, a nest cast out, Are daughters of Moab, at fords of Arnon.

Darby: 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 16:2 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 16

1  Moab is exhorted to yield obedience to the throne of David
6  Moab is threatened for her pride
9  The prophet bewails her
12  The judgment of Moab

What do the individual words in Isaiah 16:2 mean?

For it shall be as a bird wandering the nest thrown out of [So] shall be the daughters of Moab at the fords of the Arnon
וְהָיָ֥ה כְעוֹף־ נוֹדֵ֖ד קֵ֣ן מְשֻׁלָּ֑ח תִּֽהְיֶ֙ינָה֙ בְּנ֣וֹת מוֹאָ֔ב מַעְבָּרֹ֖ת לְאַרְנֽוֹן

וְהָיָ֥ה  For  it  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כְעוֹף־  as  a  bird 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹוף  
Sense: flying creatures, fowl, insects, birds.
נוֹדֵ֖ד  wandering 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָדַד  
Sense: to retreat, flee, depart, move, wander abroad, stray, flutter.
קֵ֣ן  the  nest 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֵן  
Sense: nest.
מְשֻׁלָּ֑ח  thrown  out 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
תִּֽהְיֶ֙ינָה֙  of  [So]  shall  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בְּנ֣וֹת  the  daughters 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
מוֹאָ֔ב  of  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
מַעְבָּרֹ֖ת  at  the  fords 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: מַעֲבָר 
Sense: ford, pass, passing.
לְאַרְנֽוֹן  of  the  Arnon 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַרְנׄון  
Sense: a river and surrounding valley in south Palestine, forms the border between Moab and the Amorites.