TRV
Translation
Young's Literal Translation
Destroyed hath been Moab, Caused a cry to be heard have her little ones.
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Commentary on Jeremiah 48 verses 1–13
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.
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.
We may observe in these verses,
I. The author of Moab's destruction; it is the Lord of hosts, that has armies, all armies, at his command, and the God of Israel (Jer 48:1), who will herein plead the cause of his Israel against a people that have always been vexatious to them, and will punish them now for the injuries done to Israel of old, though Israel was forbidden to meddle with them (Deu 2:9), therefore the destruction of Moab is called the work of the Lord (Jer 48:10), for it is he that pleads for Israel; and his work will exactly agree with his word, Jer 48:8.
II. The instruments of it: Spoilers shall come (Jer 48:8), shall come with a sword, a sword that shall pursue them, Jer 48:2. "I will send unto him wanderers, such as come from afar, as if they were vagrants, or had missed their way, but they shall cause him to wander; they seem as wanderers themselves, but they shall make the Moabites to be really wanderers, some to flee and others to be carried into captivity." These destroyers stir up themselves to do execution; they have devised evil against Heshbon, one of the principal cities of Moab, and they aim at no less than the ruin of the kingdom: Come, and let us cut it off from being a nation (Jer 48:2); nothing less will serve the turn of the invaders; they come, not to plunder it, but to ruin it. The prophet, in God's name, engages them to make thorough work of it (Jer 48:10): Cursed be he that does the work of the Lord deceitfully, this bloody work, this destroying work; though it goes against the grain with men of compassion, yet it is the work of the Lord, and must not be done by the halves. The Chaldeans have it in charge, by a secret instinct (says Mr. Gataker), to destroy the Moabites, and therefore they must not spare, must not, out of foolish pity, keep back their sword from blood; they would thereby bring a sword, and a curse with it, upon themselves, as Saul did by sparing the Amalekites and Ahab by letting Benhadad go. Thy life shall go for his life. To this work is applied that general rule given to all that are employed in any service for God, Cursed by he that does the work of the Lord deceitfully or negligently, that pretends to do it, but does it not to purpose, makes a show of serving God's glory, but is really serving his own ends and carries on the work of the Lord no further than will suit his own purposes, or that is slothful in business for God and takes neither care nor pains to do it as it should be done, Mal 1:14. Let not such deceive themselves, for God will not thus be mocked.
III. The woeful instances and effects of this destruction. The cities shall be laid in ruins; they shall be spoiled (Jer 48:1) and cut down (Jer 48:2); they shall be desolate (Jer 48:9), without any to dwell therein; there shall be no houses to dwell in, or no people to dwell in them, or no safety and ease to those that would dwell in them. Every city shall be spoiled and no city shall escape. The strongest city shall not be able to secure itself against the enemies' power, nor shall the finest city be able to recommend itself to the enemies' pity and favour. The country also shall be wasted, the valley shall perish, and the plain be destroyed, Jer 48:8. The corn and the flocks, which used to cover the plains and make the valleys rejoice, shall all be destroyed, eaten up, trodden down, or carried off. The most sacred persons shall not escape: The priests and princes shall go together into captivity. Nay, Chemosh, the god they worship, who, they hope, will protect them, shall share with them in the ruin; his temples shall be laid in ashes and his image carried away with the rest of the spoil. Now the consequence of all this will be, 1. Great shame and confusion: Kirjathaim is confounded, and Misgah is so. They shall be ashamed of the mighty boasts they have sometimes made of their cities: There shall be no more vaunting in Moab concerning Heshbon (so it might be read, Jer 48:2); they shall no more boast of the strength of that city when the evil which is designed against it is brought upon it. Nor shall they any more boast of their gods (Jer 48:13); they shall be ashamed of Chemosh (ashamed of all the prayers they have made to and all the confidence they put in that dunghill deity), as Israel was ashamed of Beth-el, of the golden calf they had at Beth-el, which they confided in as their protector, but were deceived in, for it was not able to save them from the Assyrians; nor shall Chemosh be able to save the Moabites from the Chaldeans. Note, Those that will not be convinced and made ashamed of the folly of their idolatry by the word of God shall be convinced and made ashamed of it by the judgments of God, when they shall find by woeful experience the utter inability of the gods they have served to do them any service. 2. There will be great sorrow; there is a voice of crying heard (Jer 48:3) and the cry is nothing but spoiling and great destruction. Alas! alas! Moab is destroyed, Jer 48:4. The great ones having quitted the cities to shift for their own safety, even the little ones have caused a cry to be heard, the meaner sort of people, or the little children, the innocent harmless ones, whose cries at such a time are the most piteous. Go up to the hills, go down to the valleys, and you meet with continual weeping (weeping with weeping); all are in tears; you meet none with dry eyes. Even the enemies have heard the cry, from whom it would have been policy to conceal it, for they will be animated and encouraged by it; but it is so great that it cannot be hid, 3. There will be great hurry; they will cry to one another, "Away, away! flee; save your lives (Jer 48:6); shift for your own safety with all imaginable speed, though you escape as bare and naked as the heath, or grig, or dry shrub, in the wilderness; think not of carrying away any thing you have, for it may cost you your life to attempt it, Mat 24:16-18. Take shelter, though it be in a barren wilderness, that you may have your lives for a prey. The danger will come suddenly and swiftly; and therefore give wings unto Moab (Jer 48:9); that would be the greatest kindness you could do them; that is what they will call for, O that we had wings like a dove! for unless they have wings, and can fly, there will be no escaping."
IV. The sins for which God will now reckon with Moab, and which justify God in these severe proceedings against them. 1. It is because they have been secure, and have trusted in their wealth and strength, in their works and in their treasures, Jer 48:7. They had taken a great deal of pains to fortify their cities and make large works about them, and to fill their exchequer and private coffers, so that they thought themselves in as good a posture for war as any people could be and that none durst invade them, and therefore set danger at defiance. They trusted in the abundance of their riches and strengthened themselves in their wickedness, Psa 52:7. Now, for this reason, that they may have a sensible conviction of the vanity and folly of their carnal confidences, God will send an enemy that will master their works and rifle their treasures. Note, We forfeit the comfort of that creature which we repose that confidence in which should be reposed in God only. The reed will break that is leaned upon. 2. It is because they have not made a right improvement of the days of the peace and prosperity, Jer 48:11. (1.) They had been long undisturbed: Moab has been at ease from his youth. It was an ancient kingdom before Israel was, and had enjoyed great tranquillity, though a small country and surrounded with potent neighbours. God's Israel were afflicted from their youth (Psa 129:1, Psa 129:2), but Moab at ease from his youth. He has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, has not known any troublesome weakening changes, but is as wine kept on the lees, and not racked or drawn off, by which it retains its strength and body. He has not been unsettled, nor any way made uneasy; he has not gone into captivity, as Israel have often done, and yet Moab is a wicked idolatrous nation, and one of the confederates against God's hidden ones, Psa 83:3, Psa 83:6. Note, There are many that persist in unrepented iniquity and yet enjoy uninterrupted prosperity. (2.) They had been as long corrupt and unreformed: He has settled on his lees; he has been secure and sensual in his prosperity, has rested in it, and fetched all the strength and life of the soul from it, as the wine from the lees. His taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed; he is still the same, as bad as ever he was. Note, While bad people are as happy as they used to be in the world it is no marvel if they are bad as they used to be. They have no changes of their peace and prosperity, therefore fear not God, their hearts and lives are unchanged, Psa 55:19.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 1–13. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Jeremiah 48:4 delivers a stark and comprehensive prophetic declaration of divine judgment against Moab, announcing its utter destruction. The verse vividly portrays the widespread nature of this devastation, emphasizing that the calamity would engulf even the most vulnerable members of society, the "little ones," whose anguished cries would resound throughout the land. It serves as a concise yet powerful summation of the profound suffering and lamentation that would accompany Moab's downfall, underscoring the severity of God's righteous reckoning against a proud and idolatrous nation.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jeremiah 48:4 employs several potent literary devices to convey the gravity and pathos of Moab's impending doom. The phrase "Moab is destroyed" uses Direct Statement to deliver an unequivocal pronouncement of judgment, leaving no room for ambiguity about the nation's certain fate. This is immediately followed by powerful Imagery and Pathos in "her little ones have caused a cry to be heard." The vivid image of vulnerable children crying out in distress evokes a deep sense of sorrow, pity, and horror, highlighting the tragic and indiscriminate nature of the destruction. This specific detail functions as a form of Synecdoche, where the suffering of the most defenseless (the "little ones") powerfully represents the collective anguish and complete ruin of the entire nation. The prophetic declaration itself also serves as Foreshadowing, painting a grim and certain picture of the future that awaits Moab, a future marked by widespread lamentation and utter desolation.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 48:4 powerfully illustrates God's unwavering sovereignty and righteous judgment over all nations, not solely Israel. It reveals that national pride, idolatry, and consistent opposition to God's purposes inevitably lead to divine reckoning. The devastation of Moab, including the suffering of its "little ones," underscores the comprehensive and often tragic consequences of corporate sin and rebellion. This prophecy serves as a profound theological warning that God will not tolerate unrepentant defiance, demonstrating His justice in bringing down those who exalt themselves against Him. Yet, within the broader prophetic tradition, such judgments also serve a redemptive purpose, clearing the way for God's ultimate plan of salvation and reminding humanity of their desperate need for divine grace and humility.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 48:4, though a historical prophecy against an ancient nation, carries timeless and profound lessons for individuals and societies today. It serves as a sobering reminder that God is ultimately sovereign over all earthly powers and that pride, self-sufficiency, and idolatry—whether manifested in the worship of wealth, political power, or secular ideologies—are ultimately futile and lead to spiritual and societal destruction. The heart-wrenching "cry" of the "little ones" serves as a poignant reminder of the innocent suffering that often accompanies corporate sin and divine judgment, urging us to cultivate deep compassion and to advocate tirelessly for justice and protection for the vulnerable. This verse calls us to a rigorous examination of our own lives and allegiances: Are we placing our ultimate trust in perishable things, or in the eternal, righteous God? Do we lament the suffering in the world, or are we indifferent to the cries of the oppressed? It encourages profound humility, sincere repentance, and a deep reliance on God's grace, recognizing that true security, lasting peace, and genuine prosperity are found not in human strength or worldly achievements, but in faithful submission to divine wisdom and love.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was Moab's primary sin that led to this judgment?
Answer: Moab's primary sins, as highlighted throughout Jeremiah 48 and other prophetic books, included excessive pride and arrogance (e.g., Jeremiah 48:29), rampant idolatry (particularly the worship of their national god Chemosh, as seen in Numbers 21:29), and a consistent history of hostility and gloating over Israel's misfortunes (e.g., Jeremiah 48:27). Their self-reliance, defiance against Yahweh, and their opposition to His people ultimately brought about their comprehensive downfall.
Does "her little ones have caused a cry to be heard" imply that children were specifically targeted?
Answer: While the verse doesn't explicitly state that children were targeted in the sense of being the primary focus of the attack, it powerfully emphasizes that the destruction would be so comprehensive and devastating that even the most vulnerable members of society—the children—would be caught in its inescapable grip. Their anguished cries signify the widespread anguish and the utter lack of refuge or escape for anyone, highlighting the totality of the national calamity. It is a poignant and tragic image of the profound human cost of war and divine judgment.
How does this prophecy relate to God's character of love and mercy?
Answer: While prophecies of judgment like Jeremiah 48:4 might initially appear to contradict God's character of love and mercy, they are, in fact, a profound expression of His justice, holiness, and unwavering commitment to righteousness. God's love is not sentimental or permissive; it is a holy love that demands justice for sin and rebellion to uphold His moral order. His judgment is necessary to clear the way for His ultimate redemptive purposes. Even in judgment, there is an implicit call to repentance for other nations, demonstrating that God is just and consistent in His dealings with all humanity. Furthermore, the severity of the judgment underscores the gravity of sin, which ultimately paves the way for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the boundless depth of God's mercy offered through Christ.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 48:4, with its stark declaration of Moab's destruction and the heart-wrenching cries of its "little ones," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in a direct parallel of judgment, but in the profound theological themes it foreshadows and transcends through the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The judgment against Moab underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His righteous wrath against sin, pride, and idolatry. This divine justice is perfectly revealed and fully satisfied in Christ, who, as the Lamb of God, bore the ultimate judgment for humanity's sin on the cross, crying out in agony (Matthew 27:46) so that those who believe might escape eternal condemnation (Romans 8:1). While Moab's "little ones" cried out in despair from physical destruction, Christ's suffering offers a path to spiritual life and eternal hope, transforming cries of anguish into songs of salvation and redemption (Revelation 5:9-10). Furthermore, Old Testament judgments often led to physical ruin and the downfall of earthly kingdoms; in the New Covenant established through Christ's shed blood, the focus shifts to a spiritual kingdom and a salvation that transcends earthly borders, inviting all nations to find refuge, peace, and eternal life in Him (Acts 17:30-31). Thus, the judgment on Moab, while severe, ultimately points to the greater judgment satisfied by Christ, and the far greater mercy and redemption offered to all who turn to Him, the true King over all creation (Philippians 2:9-11).