Jeremiah 48:37

37 For why (on) each head shall be baldness, and each beard shall be shaved; in all hands shall be binding together (and all hands shall be cut and gouged), and an hair-shirt shall be on each back.

Jeremiah 48:37 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:37

For every head [shall be] bald, and every beard clipped
Men, in times of mourning, used to pluck off the hairs of their head till they made them bald, and shaved their beards; which, as Kimchi says, were the glory of their faces; see ( Isaiah 15:2 ) ; upon all the hands shall be cuttings:
it was usual with the Heathens to make incisions in the several parts of their bodies, particularly in their hands and arms, with their nails, or with knives, in token of mourning; which are forbidden the Israelites, ( Deuteronomy 14:1 ) ; and upon the loins sackcloth;
this is a well known custom for mourners, to put off their clothes, and put on sackcloth; all these things are mentioned, to show how great was the mourning of Moab for the calamities of it.

Jeremiah 48:37 In-Context

35 And I shall take away from Moab, saith the Lord, him that offereth in high places, and him that maketh sacrifice to the gods thereof. (And I shall take away from Moab, saith the Lord, those who offer at the hill shrines, and who make sacrifices to their gods.)

36 Therefore mine heart shall sound as a pipe of brass to Moab, and mine heart shall give (the) sound of pipes to the men of the earthen wall; for it did more than it might, therefore they perished. (And so my heart shall sound like a brass pipe for Moab, and like funeral pipes for the people of Kirheres; for all their riches have perished.)

37 For why (on) each head shall be baldness, and each beard shall be shaved; in all hands shall be binding together (and all hands shall be cut and gouged), and an hair-shirt shall be on each back.

38 And all wailing shall be on all the roofs of Moab, and in the streets thereof, for I have all-broken Moab as an unprofitable vessel, saith the Lord. (And only wailing shall be on all of Moab's rooftops, and in its streets, for I have broken Moab in pieces, like a useless vessel, saith the Lord.)

39 How is it overcome, and they yelled? how hath Moab cast down the noll, and is shamed? And Moab shall be into scorn, and into ensample to all men in his compass. (And they shall yell, How it is overcome! how Moab hath cast down its head, and is shamed! And Moab shall be mocked, and made an example to all the people around it.)