The Meaning of Isaiah 16:12 Explained

Isaiah 16:12

KJV: And it shall come to pass, when it is seen that Moab is weary on the high place, that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray; but he shall not prevail.

YLT: And it hath come to pass, when it hath been seen, That weary hath been Moab on the high place, And he hath come unto his sanctuary to pray, And is not able.

Darby: And it shall come to pass, when Moab shall appear, shall weary himself on the high place, and enter into his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail.

ASV: And it shall come to pass, when Moab presenteth himself, when he wearieth himself upon the high place, and shall come to his sanctuary to pray, that he shall not prevail.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it shall come to pass, when it is seen  that Moab  is weary  on the high place,  that he shall come  to his sanctuary  to pray;  but he shall not prevail. 

What does Isaiah 16:12 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 16:12 mean?

And it shall come to pass when it is seen that is weary Moab on the high place that he will come to his sanctuary to pray but not he will prevail
וְהָיָ֧ה כִֽי־ נִרְאָ֛ה כִּֽי־ נִלְאָ֥ה מוֹאָ֖ב עַל־ הַבָּמָ֑ה וּבָ֧א אֶל־ מִקְדָּשׁ֛וֹ לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל וְלֹ֥א יוּכָֽל

וְהָיָ֧ה  And  it  shall  come  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
נִרְאָ֛ה  it  is  seen 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נִלְאָ֥ה  is  weary 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָאָה  
Sense: to be weary, be impatient, be grieved, be offended.
מוֹאָ֖ב  Moab 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מֹואָב 
Sense: a son of Lot by his eldest daughter.
הַבָּמָ֑ה  the  high  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּמָה  
Sense: high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform).
וּבָ֧א  that  he  will  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
מִקְדָּשׁ֛וֹ  his  sanctuary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֖ל  to  pray 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
וְלֹ֥א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יוּכָֽל  he  will  prevail 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.