Jeremiah 48:15

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.

Moab {H4124} is spoiled {H7703}, and gone up {H5927} out of her cities {H5892}, and his chosen {H4005} young men {H970} are gone down {H3381} to the slaughter {H2874}, saith {H5002} the King {H4428}, whose name {H8034} is the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}.

They are ravaging Mo'av, attacking its cities; its best young men go down to be slaughtered," says the king, whose name is ADONAI-Tzva'ot.

Moab has been destroyed and its towns have been invaded; the best of its young men have gone down in the slaughter, declares the King, whose name is the LORD of Hosts.

Moab is laid waste, and they are gone up into his cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is Jehovah of hosts.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 48:15

Jeremiah 48 is a powerful prophetic oracle specifically directed against the nation of Moab. This chapter details God's impending judgment on Moab, a people historically related to Israel through Lot (Genesis 19:37) but often hostile to them. Moab was known for its pride, wealth, and reliance on its idols, particularly Chemosh. The prophecy outlines the utter devastation that would befall Moab, leading to the destruction of its cities and the slaughter of its people. Verse 15 highlights the severity and certainty of this judgment, emphasizing the direct involvement and authority of God Himself.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The most prominent theme is the absolute authority of God over nations. The declaration "saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts" underscores that this judgment is not merely a political or military consequence but a divine decree. God, as the supreme King, orchestrates the downfall of even the most formidable nations.
  • Inevitable Consequences of Defiance: Moab's destruction serves as a stark reminder that pride, idolatry, and opposition to God's purposes ultimately lead to severe consequences. Though not explicitly stated in this single verse, the broader context of Jeremiah 48 reveals Moab's arrogance and self-sufficiency as key reasons for their downfall (Jeremiah 48:29).
  • Vulnerability of Earthly Power: The phrase "his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter" highlights the futility of relying on human strength or military might when facing divine judgment. Even the elite warriors of Moab, their pride and strength, are powerless before the LORD of hosts.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "LORD of hosts" is a significant title for God in the Old Testament, translating the Hebrew *Yahweh Sabaoth*. It portrays God as the commander of heavenly armies, the sovereign Lord over all creation, including angelic hosts and the forces of nature. This title emphasizes His immense power, authority, and ability to execute His will, whether in judgment or salvation. When God declares something as the "LORD of hosts," it signifies an unchallengeable, certain, and divinely enforced decree.

The word "spoiled" (Hebrew: *shadad*) means to be plundered, devastated, or laid waste. It conveys a sense of utter destruction and loss, indicating that Moab would be stripped of its wealth and resources.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 48:15 reminds us that God is the ultimate authority over all things, nations, and individuals. His justice is certain, and His word will always come to pass. For us today, this verse offers several lessons:

  • Humility: It's a call to humility, recognizing that no earthly power or personal strength can stand against God's will. Pride, like Moab's, leads to a fall.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Even amidst the chaos and instability of the world, we can find comfort in knowing that the "King, whose name is the LORD of hosts," is in control. He will ultimately bring about His purposes and justice.
  • Warning Against Idolatry: While Moab's idols are not mentioned in this specific verse, the broader context of Jeremiah 48 links their destruction to their reliance on false gods. This serves as a timeless warning against placing our trust in anything or anyone other than the one true God.
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

  • Jeremiah 46:18

    [As] I live, saith the King, whose name [is] the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor [is] among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, [so] shall he come.

  • Jeremiah 50:27

    Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.

  • Jeremiah 51:57

    And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise [men], her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name [is] the LORD of hosts.

  • Isaiah 40:30

    Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

  • Isaiah 40:31

    But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.

  • Malachi 1:14

    But cursed [be] the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I [am] a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name [is] dreadful among the heathen.

  • Jeremiah 48:8

    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.
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