Jeremiah 48:28-38

28 "Leave the cities and dwell among the 1crags, O inhabitants of Moab, And be like a 2dove that nests Beyond the mouth of the chasm.
29 "3We have heard of the pride of Moab -he is very proud - Of his haughtiness, his 4pride, his arrogance and his self-exaltation *.
30 "I know his 5fury," declares the LORD, "But it is futile; His idle boasts have accomplished nothing.
31 "Therefore * I will 6wail for Moab, Even for all Moab will I cry out; I will moan for the men of 7Kir-heres.
32 "More than the 8weeping for 9Jazer I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your tendrils stretched across the sea, They reached to the sea of Jazer; Upon your summer fruits and your grape harvest The destroyer has fallen.
33 "So 10gladness and joy are taken away From the fruitful field, even from the land of Moab. And I have made the wine to 11cease from the wine presses; No one will tread them with shouting, The shouting will not be shouts of joy.
34 "12From the outcry at Heshbon even to 13Elealeh, even to Jahaz they have raised their voice, from 14Zoar even to Horonaim and to Eglath-shelishiyah *; for even the waters of Nimrim will become desolate.
35 "I will make an end of Moab," declares the LORD, "the one who offers sacrifice on the 15high place and the one who 16burns incense to his gods.
36 "Therefore * My 17heart wails for Moab like flutes; My heart also wails like flutes for the men of Kir-heres. Therefore * they have 18lost the abundance it produced.
37 "For 19every head is bald and every beard cut short; there are gashes on all the hands and 20sackcloth on the loins.
38 "On all the 21housetops of Moab and in its streets there is lamentation everywhere; for I have broken Moab like an undesirable * 22vessel," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 48:28-38 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 22

  • 1. Judges 6:2; Isaiah 2:19; Jeremiah 49:16; Obadiah 3
  • 2. Psalms 55:6; Song of Songs 2:14
  • 3. Isaiah 16:6; Zephaniah 2:8
  • 4. Job 40:11, 12; Psalms 138:6
  • 5. Isaiah 37:28
  • 6. Isaiah 15:5; Isaiah 16:7, 11
  • 7. 2 Kings 3:25; Isaiah 16:7, 11; Jeremiah 48:36
  • 8. Isaiah 16:8, 9
  • 9. Numbers 21:32
  • 10. Isaiah 16:10; Jeremiah 25:10; Joel 1:12
  • 11. Isaiah 5:10; Haggai 2:16
  • 12. Isaiah 15:4-6
  • 13. Numbers 32:3, 37
  • 14. Genesis 13:10; Genesis 14:2; Isaiah 15:5, 6
  • 15. Isaiah 15:2; Isaiah 16:12
  • 16. Jeremiah 7:9; Jeremiah 11:13
  • 17. Isaiah 15:5; Isaiah 16:11
  • 18. Isaiah 15:7
  • 19. Isaiah 15:2; Jeremiah 16:6; Jeremiah 41:5; Jeremiah 47:5
  • 20. Genesis 37:34; Isaiah 15:3; Isaiah 20:2
  • 21. Isaiah 22:1
  • 22. Jeremiah 19:10, 11; Jeremiah 22:28; Jeremiah 25:34

Footnotes 7

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