Jeremiah 48:11

11 From early on Moab has been at ease, like wine left to settle on its sediment. It hasn't been poured into jars; nor has Moab been taken into exile. Therefore, its taste is still pleasant, and its aroma is the same.

Jeremiah 48:11 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:11

Moab hath been at ease from his youth
Lived in great peace and prosperity from the time they became a kingdom; being very little disturbed with wars by their neighbours, or very rarely; so that they were in very prosperous and flourishing circumstances, which occasioned that pride and haughtiness they were notorious for. This is an emblem of unregenerate men; who, though sinners from their birth, and liable to the curse of the law, subject to the stroke of death, and must come to judgment; yet stupid and quite at ease, having no sight of sin, nor feeling of the burden of its guilt, nor grief or trouble for it; no sense of danger, or fear of hell; but in the utmost security: all which arise from ignorance, hardness of heart, profaneness, and infidelity; thoughtlessness about their immortal souls; putting the evil day far from them; and being under the influence of Satan, who keeps his goods in peace: and he hath settled on his lees;
a metaphor taken from wine; which, the longer it remains on the lees, the better body it has, and the richer and stronger it is; and denotes the great tranquillity of the Moabites; the riches they were possessed of, and in which they trusted. The Targum renders it,

``quiet in their substance;''

herein they were an emblem of unconverted sinners, who are settled and hardened in the corruptions of their nature; and not at all disturbed at the evil of sin; the wrath of God; his judgments on men; the last and awful judgment; or at the terrors of hell; and likewise of such who trust in their own righteousness, and depend upon that for salvation: and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel;
like wine that has never been racked off from the vessel or vessels it was first put into: they were never removed from place to place, but always continued in their land; in which they were an emblem of such who have never seen their own emptiness, and their want of the grace of God, and have never been emptied of sin, nor of self-righteousness: neither hath he gone into captivity;
this explains in proper words the metaphor in the preceding clause: the Moabites had never been carried captive out of their own land into others; an emblem of such who have never seen their captive state to sin and Satan; or ever brought to complain of it, or become the captives of Christ; therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed;
his wealth, riches, and prosperity, continued without any change and alteration; and also his sins and vices, idolatry, pride, luxury, and which were the cause of his ruin; and for that reason are here mentioned; an emblem of unregenerate men, whose taste is vitiated by sin, and continues as it was originally; they relish sin, and disrelish everything that is good; and savour the things that be of man, and not the things of God; and so are in a most dangerous condition.

Jeremiah 48:11 In-Context

9 Give wings to Moab, and it would fly away because its towns lie in ruins, with no one left in them.

10 Cursed is the one who is halfhearted in doing the LORD's work. Cursed is the one who restrains the sword from bloodshed.

11 From early on Moab has been at ease, like wine left to settle on its sediment. It hasn't been poured into jars; nor has Moab been taken into exile. Therefore, its taste is still pleasant, and its aroma is the same.

12 But the time is coming, declares the LORD, when I will send to him someone to spill it—to pour out his wine and to smash his jars.

13 And Moab will be put to shame on account of Chemosh, just as the people of Israel were put to shame on account of Bethel, in which they trusted.

Footnotes

• [a] Heb lacks like wine.