Jeremiah48

The LORD pronounces a comprehensive judgment against Moab, decreeing its utter destruction for its pride and trust in its own works and idol, Chemosh. Cities like Nebo and Kiriathaim are spoiled, and the land is filled with crying and desolation. Moab, which had long been at ease, will now face widespread calamity and be made a derision.
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Judgment Declared Against Moab

1
Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed. ​
2
There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee. ​
3
A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.
4
Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
5
For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.
6
Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness. ​
7
For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together. ​
8
And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.
9
Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
10
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. ​

Moab's Complacency and Ease

11
Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed. ​
12
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.
13
And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence. ​

The Destruction and Shame of Moab

14
How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?
15
Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts. ​
16
The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.
17
All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod! ​
18
Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.
19
O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?
20
Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,
21
And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,
22
And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Bethdiblathaim,
23
And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon,
24
And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
25
The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD. ​
26
Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. ​
27
For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy. ​
28
O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.

The Divine Condemnation of Moab's Pride

29
We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart. ​
30
I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.
31
Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.
32
O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage. ​
33
And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.
34
From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.
35
Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods. ​
36
Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.
37
For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth. ​
38
There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.
39
They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.

Inescapable Doom and Future Hope

40
For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab. ​
41
Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.
42
And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.
43
Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.
44
He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD. ​
45
They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
46
Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.
47
Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab. ​

Study Notes for Jeremiah 48

Verse 1

This chapter is one of Jeremiah’s major 'Oracles Against the Nations' (chapters 46–51). Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, was judged primarily for its pride and historic antagonism toward Israel. Nebo and Kiriathaim were important Moabite cities.

Verse 2

Heshbon, though sometimes ruled by Moab, is here shown as the place where the invading forces (likely Babylon) plot the complete destruction of the nation, aiming to erase Moab’s identity.

Verse 6

The prophet urges the people to flee and hide, comparing them to a desolate shrub (the heath or juniper) seeking shelter in the arid wilderness.

Verse 7

Moab is condemned for trusting in its own economic 'works and treasures' rather than the Lord. Chemosh was the national god of Moab; his capture symbolizes the ultimate failure of Moab’s religious and political defenses.

Verse 10

This is a unique imprecation (curse) directed at the invading army (Babylonians), urging them to carry out God’s devastating judgment fully and without holding back or showing mercy.

Verse 11

The metaphor of 'settled on his lees' refers to wine left undisturbed on its sediment, becoming strong but retaining a stagnant taste. Moab had avoided major invasions or exile, leading to national complacency, arrogance, and an unchanged, stubborn character.

Verse 13

Moab will suffer shame for trusting Chemosh, just as the northern kingdom of Israel was shamed by its false worship centers, particularly the golden calf cult at Bethel.

Verse 15

The title 'the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts' emphasizes that the imminent destruction is not merely a political event but a divine judgment executed by the sovereign God of Israel.

Verse 17

The 'strong staff' and 'beautiful rod' refer metaphorically to Moab’s once-great political and military power, now completely shattered.

Verse 25

The 'horn' and 'arm' are common biblical symbols of national strength, military power, and dignity. Cutting off the horn and breaking the arm signifies total national incapacitation.

Verse 26

Moab is forced to drink the 'cup of the LORD’s wrath' (cf. Jer. 25:15), a metaphor for divine judgment that leads to staggering, confusion, and utter humiliation ('wallow in his vomit').

Verse 27

A primary reason for Moab’s severe judgment was its history of mocking and rejoicing over Israel’s misfortunes and downfall (cf. Ezek. 25:8-11).

Verse 29

Moab’s excessive pride (hubris) is the central theological reason for the severity of its judgment. This pride manifested as self-sufficiency and arrogance against the divine authority.

Verse 32

Sibmah was famous for its rich vineyards and excellent wine. The spoiling of the vintage symbolizes the loss of prosperity, joy, and the foundational aspects of Moabite culture and economy.

Verse 35

The cessation of sacrifices in the high places and incense offerings signifies the destruction of Moab’s religious system and the final victory of the LORD over Chemosh.

Verse 37

Shaving the head and beard, along with self-inflicted cuttings and sackcloth, were standard, visible signs of extreme grief and mourning in the ancient Near East, demonstrating total devastation.

Verse 40

The image of the enemy flying like an eagle refers to the speed, power, and vast reach of the Babylonian invasion, signifying that the attack will be swift and overwhelming (cf. Deut. 28:49).

Verse 44

This proverb describes inescapable judgment: those fleeing one catastrophe (fear) fall into another (the pit), and those escaping the pit are caught in a third trap (the snare). Judgment is comprehensive.

Verse 47

Unlike many enemies of Israel, Moab is promised a future restoration 'in the latter days.' This demonstrates God’s ultimate authority over all nations and his capacity for redemptive mercy, even toward historic adversaries.

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