Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
Give {H5414} wings {H6731} unto Moab {H4124}, that it may flee {H5323} and get away {H3318}: for the cities {H5892} thereof shall be desolate {H8047}, without any to dwell {H3427} therein {H2004}.
Give Mo'av wings, so it can fly and get away. Its cities will become ruins, with no one to live in them.
Put salt on Moab, for she will be laid waste; her cities will become desolate, with no one to dwell in them.
Give wings unto Moab, that she may fly and get her away: and her cities shall become a desolation, without any to dwell therein.
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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. -
Psalms 11:1
¶ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee [as] a bird to your mountain? -
Jeremiah 48:28
O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove [that] maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth. -
Zephaniah 2:9
Therefore [as] I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. -
Revelation 12:14
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. -
Jeremiah 46:19
O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant. -
Psalms 55:6
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then] would I fly away, and be at rest.
Jeremiah 48:9 is a poignant and stark prophetic declaration concerning the impending judgment upon Moab, a nation historically antagonistic towards Israel. The verse employs vivid, almost ironic, imagery to convey the totality of the coming destruction.
Historical and Cultural Context
The Book of Jeremiah contains a series of prophecies against foreign nations, with chapter 48 specifically dedicated to Moab. Moab was a neighboring kingdom located east of the Dead Sea, descended from Lot (Genesis 19:37). Throughout their history, Moabites were often in conflict with Israel, known for their idolatry, particularly the worship of Chemosh, and their national pride. This prophecy comes during a time when the Babylonian Empire was a rising power, serving as God's instrument of judgment against various nations, including Moab. The desolation described here was a consequence of Moab's long-standing rebellion against God and its arrogance.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "Give wings unto Moab" uses the Hebrew word כָּנָף (kanaph), meaning "wing" or "extremity." Here, it dramatically underscores the desperate, yet futile, hope for escape from an overwhelming catastrophe. The word "desolate" comes from שַׁמָּה (shammah), conveying a sense of waste, ruin, and astonishment, emphasizing the shocking completeness of the destruction.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 48:9 serves as a timeless reminder of several profound truths:
This verse, while specific to ancient Moab, carries a universal message about the seriousness of sin and the certainty of God's judgment, offering a somber warning to all who oppose His will.