Jeremiah 48:41

41 the towns shall be taken and the strongholds seized. The hearts of the warriors of Moab, on that day, shall be like the heart of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 48:41 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:41

Kerioth is taken
The name of a city in Moab, as in ( Jeremiah 48:24 ) ; so Jarchi, and others; but Kimchi and Abarbinel observe, that it may be taken for an appellative, and be rendered "the cities"; everyone of the cities of Moab, which were as easily and quickly taken as one city; these may intend the cities in the plain, as the strong holds those in high places: and the strong holds are surprised;
everyone of them; so that there was not a city, or a fortified place, but what came into the enemies' hands: and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart
of a woman in her pangs;
even the hearts of the soldiers, and the most courageous generals, shall sink within them; and they be not only as timorous as women in common, but as low spirited as a woman when she finds her pains are coming upon her, and the time of her delivery is at hand.

Jeremiah 48:41 In-Context

39 How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all his neighbors.

40 For thus says the Lord: Look, he shall swoop down like an eagle, and spread his wings against Moab;

41 the towns shall be taken and the strongholds seized. The hearts of the warriors of Moab, on that day, shall be like the heart of a woman in labor.

42 Moab shall be destroyed as a people, because he magnified himself against the Lord.

43 Terror, pit, and trap are before you, O inhabitants of Moab! says the Lord.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or [Kerioth]