Jeremiah 48:32

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.

O vine {H1612} of Sibmah {H7643}, I will weep {H1058} for thee with the weeping {H1065} of Jazer {H3270}: thy plants {H5189} are gone over {H5674} the sea {H3220}, they reach {H5060} even to the sea {H3220} of Jazer {H3270}: the spoiler {H7703} is fallen {H5307} upon thy summer fruits {H7019} and upon thy vintage {H1210}.

I will weep for you, vineyard of Sivmah, more than I wept for Ya'zer. Your branches spread to the sea, reaching as far as the sea of Ya'zer. On your summer fruits and on your vintage the destroyer has fallen.

I will weep for you, O vine of Sibmah, more than I weep for Jazer. Your tendrils have extended to the sea; they reach even to Jazer. The destroyer has descended on your summer fruit and grape harvest.

With more than the weeping of Jazer will I weep for thee, O vine of Sibmah: thy branches passed over the sea, they reached even to the sea of Jazer: upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage the destroyer is fallen.

Jeremiah 48:32 is a poignant lament within the prophet Jeremiah's extended prophecy against Moab, specifically focusing on the cities of Sibmah and Jazer, known for their abundant vineyards.

Context

This verse is part of a larger oracle of judgment against Moab, detailed in Jeremiah chapter 48. Moab, a nation east of the Dead Sea, was frequently an adversary of Israel and renowned for its pride and self-sufficiency (Jeremiah 48:7, Jeremiah 48:11). The prophet foretells their impending destruction by the Babylonians, acting as God's instrument of judgment. Here, the focus shifts to a deep sorrow over the loss of Moab's famed agricultural prosperity, particularly its vineyards, which were a source of national pride and wealth. The "vine of Sibmah" symbolizes the nation's former glory and fruitfulness, now facing utter ruin due to the impending Babylonian invasion.

Key Themes

  • Profound Lamentation: The verse highlights the depth of sorrow, with the prophet (or God through the prophet) expressing intense grief over Moab's downfall, comparable to the weeping over Jazer, another city famed for its produce. This illustrates divine justice tempered with compassion, even for an enemy nation facing judgment.
  • Loss of Prosperity and Fruitfulness: Sibmah and Jazer were celebrated for their rich vineyards and bountiful harvests. The imagery of "summer fruits and vintage" being destroyed signifies the complete devastation of Moab's economic foundation and national identity. Their once-flourishing "plants" are now scattered or destroyed, indicating widespread ruin and an end to their agricultural abundance.
  • Divine Judgment: While expressed as lament, the destruction is a direct consequence of Moab's pride and rebellion against God (Jeremiah 48:29). The "spoiler" (referring to the Babylonian invaders) is God's agent in executing this judgment, stripping Moab of its glory and abundance and bringing about the loss of its fruitful harvest.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "O vine of Sibmah" uses a common biblical metaphor where a nation or people are likened to a vine or vineyard, symbolizing their prosperity, covenant relationship with God (for Israel), or their moral condition. Here, it emphasizes Sibmah's reputation for fertility and its impending barrenness. The "weeping of Jazer" indicates a comparison to an equally great or even greater sorrow, underscoring the severity of the coming desolation. The mention of "thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer" can be interpreted metaphorically as the widespread fame of their produce, or literally as the extensive reach of their vineyards, implying that no part of their prosperity will escape the "spoiler" or destroyer, leading to a complete collapse of their economic foundation.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 48:32 serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of earthly prosperity and the consequences of national pride and rebellion against God. Even as judgment is pronounced, there is a profound sense of lament, showing God's sorrow over the destruction He permits. For believers today, this verse encourages:

  • Humility: To avoid the pride that led to Moab's downfall, recognizing that all blessings and fruitfulness come from God.
  • Empathy: To grieve over the suffering and destruction, even of those who oppose God, reflecting His own compassionate heart for humanity.
  • Spiritual Fruitfulness: To prioritize spiritual "fruit" that endures, rather than relying solely on worldly gains that can be "spoiled" (see Galatians 5:22-23 for the fruit of the Spirit).

The passage underscores that true security and lasting joy are found not in material abundance or national strength, but in a right relationship with the sovereign God.

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.

  • Isaiah 16:8

    For the fields of Heshbon languish, [and] the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come [even] unto Jazer, they wandered [through] the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea.

  • Isaiah 16:9

    Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen.

  • Numbers 21:32

    And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that [were] there.

  • Joshua 13:19

    And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,

  • Jeremiah 40:10

    As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

  • 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.

  • Numbers 32:35

    And Atroth, Shophan, and Jaazer, and Jogbehah,

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