Jeremiah 48:30

30 and the boast thereof, and that the virtue thereof is not nigh, either like it, neither it enforced to do after that that it might. (and his boasting, and that his virtue, if any, is far from apparent, and that he hath not endeavoured to do what he should do.)

Jeremiah 48:30 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:30

I know his wrath, saith the Lord
Against the Jews, and other nations; what he has threatened to do unto them, and would do if not restrained: but [it shall] not [be] so;
as he has devised in his mind, and threatened in his wrath; all his swelling thoughts and big words shall come to nothing: his lies shall not so effect [it];
it shall not be according to his words; they will prove lies, and of no effect. Kimchi interprets it of the sons of Moab, who shall not be able to do what they thought to do; and Jarchi of his mighty ones; and the Targum of his nobles, paraphrasing it,

``and their nobles are not right, they do not as is becoming;''
perhaps it may be better understood of his diviners and soothsayers, as the word is used in ( Isaiah 44:25 ) ; and be rendered, "his diviners have not done right" F6; they have deceived him with their lying oracles; swelled him with pride; and brought him to ruin, he trusting to them.
FOOTNOTES:

F6 (wve Nk al wydb) "vaniloqui ejus non rectum fecerunt", Cocceius. So R. Sol. Urbin. Ohel Moed, fol. 38. 1.

Jeremiah 48:30 In-Context

28 Ye dwellers of Moab, forsake cities, and dwell in the stone, and be ye as a culver making nest in the highest mouth of an hole. (Ye inhabitants of Moab, leave the cities, and live among the stones, and be ye like a dove making her nest in the highest mouth of a hole in the wall of the cliff.)
29 We have heard the pride of Moab; he is full proud. I know, saith the Lord, the highness thereof, and pride in word, and pride in bearing, and the highness of heart, (We have heard of the pride of Moab; yea, he is very proud. I know his highness, saith the Lord, and his pride in words, and his pride in bearing, and the highness of his heart,)
30 and the boast thereof, and that the virtue thereof is not nigh, either like it, neither it enforced to do after that that it might. (and his boasting, and that his virtue, if any, is far from apparent, and that he hath not endeavoured to do what he should do.)
31 Therefore I shall wail on Moab, and I shall cry to all Moab, to the men of the earthen wall, that wail. (And so I shall wail for Moab, and I shall cry for all of Moab, and I shall wail for the people of Kirheres.)
32 Of the wailing of Jazer I shall weep to thee, thou vine of Sibmah (Thou vine of Sibmah, I shall weep for thee more than my wailing for Jazer); thy scions passed (over) the sea, those came unto the sea of Jazer; a robber fell in on thy ripe corn, and on thy vintage.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.