Jeremiah 48:13

And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.

And Moab {H4124} shall be ashamed {H954} of Chemosh {H3645}, as the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478} was ashamed {H954} of Bethel {H1008} their confidence {H4009}.

Mo'av will be disappointed by K'mosh then, just as the house of Isra'el was disappointed by Beit-El, a god in whom they had put their trust.

Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel.

And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence.

Commentary

Jeremiah 48:13 delivers a powerful prophetic word concerning the impending judgment on Moab, drawing a stark parallel with the historical failures of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. This verse underscores the ultimate futility of placing confidence in false gods and human constructs.

Context

Chapter 48 of Jeremiah is dedicated entirely to the prophecy against Moab, a nation located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. Moab was known for its pride and its devotion to its national god, Chemosh. The prophecy outlines the devastation and humiliation that will befall Moab, emphasizing that their trusted deity will be unable to deliver them from divine judgment. This destruction is a consequence of Moab's arrogance and idolatry.

Key Themes

  • Futility of Idolatry: The core message is that reliance on false gods like Chemosh provides no true security or deliverance. Such trust ultimately leads to shame and disillusionment when judgment falls.
  • Divine Judgment: God's sovereignty extends over all nations, and His judgment falls upon those who reject Him and embrace idolatry. The destruction of Moab serves as a testament to God's righteous wrath against sin.
  • Misplaced Confidence: Both Moab's trust in Chemosh and Israel's confidence in their idolatrous practices at Bethel illustrate the danger of placing faith in anything other than the one true God.
  • Historical Parallel: The verse uses Israel's past failure at Bethel as a cautionary tale for Moab, showing a consistent divine principle: misplaced trust leads to shame.

Linguistic & Historical Insights

The verse highlights two critical entities of misplaced trust:

  • Chemosh: This was the national deity of Moab, often associated with war and, tragically, human sacrifice, as seen in 2 Kings 3:27. The prophecy declares that Moab will be "ashamed of Chemosh," meaning their god will prove powerless to protect them, exposing the emptiness of their worship. This parallels the impotence of idols described in Psalm 115, which "have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not."
  • Bethel: Meaning "house of God" (Hebrew: Beth-El), Bethel was a significant site in Israel's history, where Jacob famously encountered God (Genesis 28:19). However, after the division of the kingdom, Jeroboam I, king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, established a rival worship center there with golden calves at Bethel (and Dan) to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem. This act of idolatry turned a sacred place into a symbol of spiritual rebellion, ultimately leading to Israel's downfall and "shame."

Practical Application

Jeremiah 48:13 offers a timeless warning for all generations. While modern societies may not worship physical idols like Chemosh or golden calves, the principle of misplaced confidence remains relevant. People often place their trust in:

  • Wealth and Material Possessions: Believing that financial security can solve all problems.
  • Human Power and Influence: Relying on political systems, leaders, or personal strength.
  • Philosophies and Ideologies: Substituting spiritual truth with human reasoning or self-help doctrines.

When these objects of trust fail—as they inevitably will, being finite and imperfect—they lead to profound disappointment, fear, and shame. The verse calls believers to examine their own hearts and ensure that their ultimate confidence rests solely in the Lord God, who alone is unchanging, all-powerful, and faithful. True security and lasting hope are found only in Him, not in anything created or temporal.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Hosea 8:5

    Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast [thee] off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long [will it be] ere they attain to innocency?

  • Hosea 8:6

    For from Israel [was] it also: the workman made it; therefore it [is] not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

  • Judges 11:24

    Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.

  • Jeremiah 48:39

    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.

  • Isaiah 45:16

    They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together [that are] makers of idols.

  • Jeremiah 48:7

    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.

  • 1 Kings 18:40

    And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
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