Jeremiah 48:17

17 Mourn for him, all his surroundings, and all those who knew his name. Say, 'How [the] staff of might is broken, [the] staff of glory.'

Jeremiah 48:17 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 48:17

All ye that are about him, bemoan him
The neighbouring nations, such as the Ammonites, and others, are called upon to condole the sad case of Moab; all upon the borders of the country of Moab, either within them or without them: and all ye that know his name;
not only that had heard of his fame and glory, but knew in what grandeur and splendour he lived; these have a form of condolence given them: say, how is the strong staff broken, [and] the beautiful rod!
the mighty men of war, the staff of the nation, in which they trusted, destroyed; their fortified cities demolished; the powerful kingdom, which swayed the sceptre, and ruled in great glory, and was terrible and troublesome to others, now pulled down. The Targum is,

``how is the king broken that did evil, the oppressing ruler!''

Jeremiah 48:17 In-Context

15 Moab is destroyed, and his towns have gone up, and the choice of his young men have gone down to the slaughtering," {declares} the King, Yahweh of hosts [is] his name.

16 "The disaster of Moab [is] near to come, and his disaster {approaches very quickly}.

17 Mourn for him, all his surroundings, and all those who knew his name. Say, 'How [the] staff of might is broken, [the] staff of glory.'

18 Come down from glory and sit on the parched ground, O inhabitant, daughter of Dibon, for the destroyer of Moab has come up against you, he has destroyed your fortifications.

19 Stand by [the] road and watch, O inhabitant of Aroer. Ask [the man who is] fleeing and [the woman who is] escaping, say, 'What has happened?'