Jeremiah 48:40

40 For thus says the LORD: "Behold, one will ¹fly swiftly like an eagle And ²spread out his wings against Moab.

Jeremiah 48:40 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:40

For thus saith the Lord, behold, he shall fly as an eagle,
&c.] The enemy, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, with his army; who is compared to an eagle for his strength, swiftness, and greediness after the prey: and shall spread his wings over Moab;
as an eagle spreads its wings, which are very large, over the little birds it seizes upon as its prey; so the king of Babylon would bring a numerous army against Moab, and spread it over his country. The Targum is,

``behold, as all eagle which flies, so a king shall come up with his army, and encamp against Moab.''

Jeremiah 48:40 In-Context

38 "On all the housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation everywhere; for I have broken Moab like an undesirable vessel," declares the LORD .

39 "How shattered it is! How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back -he is ashamed! So Moab will become a laughingstock and an object of terror to all around him."

40 For thus says the LORD : "Behold, one will fly swiftly like an eagle And spread out his wings against Moab.

41 "Kerioth has been captured And the strongholds have been seized, So the hearts of the mighty men of Moab in that day Will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

42 "Moab will be destroyed from being a people Because he has become arrogant toward the LORD .

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah 49:22; Hosea 8:1; Habakkuk 1:8
• 2. Isaiah 8:8