Jeremiah 48:12

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.

Therefore, behold, the days {H3117} come {H935}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, that I will send {H7971} unto him wanderers {H6808}, that shall cause him to wander {H6808}, and shall empty {H7324} his vessels {H3627}, and break {H5310} their bottles {H5035}.

"So the days are coming," says ADONAI, "when I will send people to tilt him; they will tilt his jars, emptying them and shattering the wine-flasks to pieces.

Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will send to him wanderers, who will pour him out. They will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will send unto him them that pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.

Commentary on Jeremiah 48:12 (KJV)

Jeremiah 48:12 is a powerful declaration of impending divine judgment against Moab, a nation historically related to Israel but often hostile. This verse vividly portrays the instruments and effects of God's wrath, emphasizing a complete disruption of Moab's established order and prosperity.

Context and Historical Background

This verse is part of a lengthy prophecy concerning Moab, spanning the entirety of Jeremiah chapter 48. Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, was known for its wealth, agricultural fertility, and, significantly, its pride and idolatry. Unlike many nations that experienced exile and upheaval, Moab had enjoyed a long period of undisturbed peace, symbolized by its wine settling "on its lees" (Jeremiah 48:11). This complacency, coupled with its contempt for the Lord and His people, provoked God's judgment. The "wanderers" mentioned here are widely understood to be the Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnezzar, whom God often used as instruments of His judgment against defiant nations (Jeremiah 25:9).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations and His willingness to execute judgment on those who oppose Him and live in defiance. It demonstrates that no nation, however secure or proud, is beyond His reach.
  • Consequences of Complacency and Pride: Moab's long period of peace had led to spiritual stagnation and arrogance. This judgment serves as a stark reminder that prolonged prosperity without humility or devotion can lead to a severe reckoning.
  • Forced Displacement and Desolation: The "wanderers" signify invading forces that will cause Moab's inhabitants to be uprooted and displaced, a common form of punishment in the ancient Near East, reflecting the curses of Deuteronomy 28:64.
  • Complete Loss and Destruction: The imagery of "empty his vessels, and break their bottles" symbolizes the utter desolation and plundering of Moab's resources, wealth, and identity. Their very means of sustenance and joy (wine, stored in bottles) would be destroyed or taken away.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "wanderers" is צֹעִים (tso'im), which can refer to those who "go" or "stray," often implying nomadic invaders or those who cause others to wander. The phrase "shall cause him to wander" emphasizes the active role of these invaders in displacing Moab's people. The imagery of "empty his vessels, and break their bottles" is a powerful metaphor for complete plundering and destruction. "Vessels" (כֵּלָיו - kelav) can refer to all kinds of implements or possessions, while "bottles" (נֹאדֹתֵיהֶם - no'dotehem) specifically refers to wineskins, reinforcing the idea of Moab's prosperity being utterly consumed or destroyed.

Practical Application and Reflection

Jeremiah 48:12 offers timeless lessons. For believers, it reinforces the truth of God's justice and His ultimate control over the rise and fall of nations (Daniel 4:17). It warns against the dangers of pride, self-sufficiency, and complacency, reminding us that worldly security is fleeting. Just as Moab's settled state led to its downfall, we are called to remain vigilant and humble, trusting in God rather than in our own resources or stability. The verse encourages a sober reflection on the consequences of ignoring divine warnings and living in defiance of God's ways, urging us to seek righteousness and humility.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Nahum 2:2

    For the LORD hath turned away the excellency of Jacob, as the excellency of Israel: for the emptiers have emptied them out, and marred their vine branches.

  • Isaiah 30:14

    And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water [withal] out of the pit.

  • Jeremiah 48:38

    [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.

  • Ezekiel 25:9

    Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities [which are] on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim,

  • Ezekiel 25:10

    Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.

  • Psalms 2:9

    Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

  • Isaiah 16:2

    For it shall be, [that], as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, [so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

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