Jeremiah 48:17-27

17 1Grieve for him, all you who are around him, and all who know his name; say, 2'How the mighty scepter is broken, the glorious staff.'
18 3"Come down from your glory, and sit on the parched ground, O inhabitant of 4Dibon! For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you; he has destroyed your strongholds.
19 5Stand by the way 6and watch, O inhabitant of 7Aroer! Ask him who flees and her who escapes; say, 'What has happened?'
20 Moab is put to shame, for it is broken; 8wail and cry! Tell it beside 9the Arnon, that 10Moab is laid waste.
21 "Judgment has come upon 11the tableland, upon Holon, and 12Jahzah, and Mephaath,
22 and 13Dibon, and 14Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
23 and 15Kiriathaim, and Beth-gamul, and 16Beth-meon,
24 and 17Kerioth, and 18Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near.
25 19The horn of Moab is cut off, and 20his arm is broken, declares the LORD.
26 21"Make him drunk, 22because he magnified himself against the LORD, so that Moab shall 23wallow in his vomit, 24and he too shall be held in derision.
27 25Was not Israel a derision to you? 26Was he found among thieves, that whenever you spoke of him 27you wagged your head?

Jeremiah 48:17-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 48

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of Moab, and of the mourning that should be for it; and not only its destruction in general is predicted, but particular places are mentioned, on which it should fall, Jer 48:1-5; the causes of which were their confidence in their works and riches, their carnal ease and security, and their idolatry, they should now be ashamed of, Jer 48:6-13; and this destruction is represented both as certain and as near, notwithstanding their mighty warriors and choice young men, Jer 48:14-17; and then other cities are particularly named, that should share in the calamity, Jer 48:18-25; and all this because of their insolence to the Lord; their contempt of his people; their pride, arrogance, and haughtiness; their wrath, and their lies, Jer 48:26-30; and this destruction is further exaggerated by the lamentation of the prophet over Moab in general, and over several particular cities; and by the lamentation of the inhabitants of them, because of the spoiling of their vines, their fruits, and their riches, Jer 48:31-39; and this is confirmed by the Lord, as to the swiftness of the enemy that should destroy them; the consternation and fear that should seize them; the flight they should be put to; and the consumption and captivity of them, Jer 48:40-46; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the return of their captivity in the latter day, Jer 48:47.

Cross References 27

  • 1. [Isaiah 15:4, 5; Isaiah 16:7]
  • 2. [Isaiah 9:4; Isaiah 14:5]
  • 3. [Isaiah 47:1]
  • 4. Numbers 21:30; Isaiah 15:2
  • 5. [1 Samuel 4:13, 16; Nahum 2:1]
  • 6. [1 Samuel 4:13, 16; Nahum 2:1]
  • 7. Deuteronomy 2:36; Joshua 13:9
  • 8. [See ver. 17 above]
  • 9. Isaiah 16:2
  • 10. [See ver. 15 above]
  • 11. ver. 8; Numbers 21:23
  • 12. Joshua 13:18
  • 13. [See ver. 18 above]
  • 14. Numbers 33:46; Isaiah 15:2
  • 15. See ver. 1
  • 16. [Joshua 13:17; 1 Chronicles 5:8]
  • 17. Amos 2:2
  • 18. Jeremiah 49:13, 22; Isaiah 63:1
  • 19. [Psalms 75:10]
  • 20. [Ezekiel 30:21]
  • 21. Jeremiah 25:27; Jeremiah 51:39; Isaiah 19:14
  • 22. ver. 42
  • 23. Jeremiah 25:27; Jeremiah 51:39; Isaiah 19:14
  • 24. ver. 39
  • 25. Zephaniah 2:8; [Ezekiel 25:8]
  • 26. [Jeremiah 2:26]
  • 27. Psalms 64:8; Lamentations 2:15; Matthew 27:39
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.