Jeremiah 48:15-25

15 Moab is destroyed, and they have burnt the cities thereof, and the chosen young men thereof went down into slaying, saith the king, the Lord of hosts is his name. (Moab is destroyed, and they have burned down its cities, and its chosen young men were killed, saith the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts.)

16 The perishing of Moab is nigh, that it come, and the evil thereof runneth full swiftly. (The perishing of Moab is near at hand, and its evil runneth very quickly.)

17 All ye that be in the compass thereof, comfort it; and all ye that know the name thereof, say, How is the strong rod broken, the glorious staff? (All ye who be around it, comfort it; and all ye who know its name, say, How the strong rod is broken, yea, the glorious staff!)

18 Thou dwelling of the daughter of Dibon, go down from glory, sit thou in thirst; for the destroyer of Moab shall ascend to thee, and he shall destroy thy strongholds. (Thou daughter who liveth in Dibon, go down from thy glory, sit thou in thirst; for the destroyer of Moab shall come to thee, and he shall destroy thy strongholds.)

19 Thou dwelling of Aroer, stand in the way, and behold; ask thou him that fleeth, and him that escaped; say thou, What befell? (Thou inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and look; ask thou him who fleeth, and him who escaped; say thou, What happened?)

20 Moab is shamed, for he is overcome; yell ye, and cry; tell ye (out) in Arnon, that Moab is destroyed.

21 And doom is come to the land of the field (And judgement hath come to the land of the field, or to the plateau), (yea,) on Holon, and on Jahazah, and on Mephaath,

22 and on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on the house of Diblathaim (and on Bethdiblathaim),

23 and on Kiriathaim, and on Bethgamul, and on Bethmeon,

24 and on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, and on all the cities of the land of Moab, that be far, and that be nigh. (and on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, and on all the cities in the land of Moab, that be far away, and that be near.)

25 The horn of Moab is cut away, and the arm thereof is all-broken, saith the Lord.

Jeremiah 48:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 48

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of Moab, and of the mourning that should be for it; and not only its destruction in general is predicted, but particular places are mentioned, on which it should fall, Jer 48:1-5; the causes of which were their confidence in their works and riches, their carnal ease and security, and their idolatry, they should now be ashamed of, Jer 48:6-13; and this destruction is represented both as certain and as near, notwithstanding their mighty warriors and choice young men, Jer 48:14-17; and then other cities are particularly named, that should share in the calamity, Jer 48:18-25; and all this because of their insolence to the Lord; their contempt of his people; their pride, arrogance, and haughtiness; their wrath, and their lies, Jer 48:26-30; and this destruction is further exaggerated by the lamentation of the prophet over Moab in general, and over several particular cities; and by the lamentation of the inhabitants of them, because of the spoiling of their vines, their fruits, and their riches, Jer 48:31-39; and this is confirmed by the Lord, as to the swiftness of the enemy that should destroy them; the consternation and fear that should seize them; the flight they should be put to; and the consumption and captivity of them, Jer 48:40-46; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of the return of their captivity in the latter day, Jer 48:47.