Isaiah 15:8For the cry has gone around the borders of Moab; its wailing to Eglaim, and its wailing to Beer Elim.
The setting
Throughout Moab (modern Jordan), ~740 BC. Wailing echoes from city to city as news spreads of approaching armies...
The emotion here: overwhelmed by the scope of suffering
The original word
zaʿaqah (זְעָקָה) — piercing cry of distress, the sound of a people in agony
Why it matters
Eglaim means 'two calves' and Beer Elim means 'well of the mighty ones' - both frontier towns
Read with care
What most readers miss in Isaiah 15:8
The cry 'goes around' - it's not just one city but a wave of grief spreading across borders
Common misconceptionMany read this as God being cruel, but Isaiah is actually lamenting WITH Moab - even prophets grieve over necessary judgment.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Isaiah 15:8
Bible Genome reading
Isaiah 15:8 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Isaiah 15:8 comes from the book of Isaiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Isaiah. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include universal mourning, judgment, despair. Notable phrases: cry has gone around; wailing. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Isaiah 15:8 mean to you, today?
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