Jeremiah 48:21-31

21 "Judgment has come upon 1the tableland, upon Holon, and 2Jahzah, and Mephaath,
22 and 3Dibon, and 4Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
23 and 5Kiriathaim, and Beth-gamul, and 6Beth-meon,
24 and 7Kerioth, and 8Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near.
25 9The horn of Moab is cut off, and 10his arm is broken, declares the LORD.
26 11"Make him drunk, 12because he magnified himself against the LORD, so that Moab shall 13wallow in his vomit, 14and he too shall be held in derision.
27 15Was not Israel a derision to you? 16Was he found among thieves, that whenever you spoke of him 17you wagged your head?
28 18"Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, O inhabitants of Moab! Be 19like the dove that nests in the sides of the mouth of a gorge.
29 20We have heard of the pride of Moab-- he is very proud-- of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.
30 I know his insolence, declares the LORD; 21his boasts are false, his deeds are false.
31 22Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; for the men of 23Kir-hareseth I mourn.

Jeremiah 48:21-31 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 23

  • 1. ver. 8; Numbers 21:23
  • 2. Joshua 13:18
  • 3. [See ver. 18 above]
  • 4. Numbers 33:46; Isaiah 15:2
  • 5. See ver. 1
  • 6. [Joshua 13:17; 1 Chronicles 5:8]
  • 7. Amos 2:2
  • 8. Jeremiah 49:13, 22; Isaiah 63:1
  • 9. [Psalms 75:10]
  • 10. [Ezekiel 30:21]
  • 11. Jeremiah 25:27; Jeremiah 51:39; Isaiah 19:14
  • 12. ver. 42
  • 13. Jeremiah 25:27; Jeremiah 51:39; Isaiah 19:14
  • 14. ver. 39
  • 15. Zephaniah 2:8; [Ezekiel 25:8]
  • 16. [Jeremiah 2:26]
  • 17. Psalms 64:8; Lamentations 2:15; Matthew 27:39
  • 18. ver. 9
  • 19. Psalms 55:6, 7; Song of Songs 2:14
  • 20. Isaiah 16:6
  • 21. [Jeremiah 50:36]
  • 22. Isaiah 15:5; Isaiah 16:7, 11
  • 23. [2 Kings 3:25]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.