Jeremiah 48 · Verse 1

Jeremiah 48:1

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.
Jeremiah 48:1, King James Version

Jeremiah 48:1 in other translations

BSBConcerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.
WEBOf Moab. The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo! For it is laid waste. Kiriathaim is disappointed. It is taken. Misgab is put to shame and broken down.
ASVOf Moab. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Woe unto Nebo! for it is laid waste; Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken; Misgab is put to shame and broken down.
YLTConcerning Moab: ‘Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Woe unto Nebo, for it is spoiled, Put to shame, captured hath been Kiriathaim, Put to shame hath been the high tower, Yea, it hath been broken down.
DARBYConcerning Moab. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled; Kirjathaim is put to shame, it is taken; Misgab is put to shame and dismayed.
BBEOf Moab. The Lord of armies, the God of Israel, has said: Sorrow on Nebo, for it has been made waste; Kiriathaim has been put to shame and is taken: the strong place is put to shame and broken down.
WebsterAgainst Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe to Nebo! for it is laid waste: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.

What does Jeremiah 48:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Jr 48:1-47. Prophecy against Moab.

It had taken part with the Chaldeans against Judea (2Ki 24:2). Fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar five years after the destruction of Jerusalem, when also he attacked Egypt (Jr 43:8-13) and Ammon (Jr 49:1-6). [Josephus, Antiquities, 10:9,7]. Jeremiah in this prophecy uses that of Is 15:1-16:14, amplifying and adapting it to his purpose under inspiration, at the same time confirming its divine authority. Isaiah, however, in his prophecy refers to the devastation of Moab by the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser; Jeremiah refers to that by Nebuchadnezzar. 1. Nebo--a mountain and town of Moab; its meaning is "that which fructifies." Kiriathaim--a city of Moab, consisting of two cities, as the word signifies; originally held by the Emim (Ge 14:5). Misgab--meaning "elevation." It lay on an elevation.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

The following prophecy concerning the Moabites is supposed to have had its accomplishment during the long siege of Tyre in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. The whole of this chapter is poetry of the first order. The distress of the cities of Moab, with which it opens, is finely described. The cries of one ruined city resound to those of another, Jer 48:1-3. The doleful helpless cry of the children is heard, Jer 48:4; the highways, on either hand, resound with the voice of weeping, Jer 48:5; and the few that remain resemble a blasted tree in the wide howling waste, Jer 48:6. Chemosh, the chief god of the Moabites, and the capital figure in the triumph, is represented as carried off in chains, with all his trumpery of priests and officers, Jer 48:7. The desolation of the country shall be so general and sudden that, by a strong figure, it is intimated that there shall be no possibility of escape, except it be in the speediest flight, Jer 48:8, Jer 48:9. And some idea may be formed of the dreadful wickedness of this people from the consideration that the prophet, under the immediate inspiration of the Almighty, pronounces a curse on those who do the work of the Lord negligently, in not proceeding to their utter extermination, Jer 48:10. The subject is then diversified by an elegant and well-supported comparison, importing that the Moabites increased in insolence and pride in proportion to the duration of their prosperity, Jer 48:11; but this prosperity is declared to be nearly at an end; the destroyer is already commissioned against Moab, and his neighbors called to sing the usual lamentation at his funeral, Jer 48:13-18. The prophet then represents some of the women of Aroer and Ammon, (the extreme borders of Moab), standing in the highways, and asking the fugitives of Moab, What intelligence? They inform him of the complete discomfiture of Moab, Jer 48:19-24, and of the total annihilation of its political existence, Jer 48:25. The Divine judgments about to fall upon Moab are farther represented under the expressive metaphor of a cup of intoxicating liquor, by which he should become an object of derision because of his intolerable pride, his magnifying himself against Jehovah, and his great contempt for the children of Israel in the day of their calamity, Jer 48:26, Jer 48:27. The prophet then points out the great distress of Moab by a variety of striking figures, viz., by the failure of the customary rejoicings at the end of harvest, by the mournful sort of music used at funerals, by the signs which were expressive among the ancients of deep mourning, as shaving the head, clipping the beard, cutting the flesh, and wearing sackcloth; and by the methods of catching wild beasts in toils, and by the terror and pitfall, vv. 28-46. In the close of the chapter it is intimated that a remnant shall be preserved from this general calamity whose descendants shall be prosperous in the latter days, Jer 48:47. Verse 1 Against Moab - This was delivered some time after the destruction of Jerusalem. The Moabites were in the neighborhood of the Ammonites, and whatever evils fell on the one would naturally involve the other. See Isa 15:1-9 and Isa 16:1-14 on this same subject. Wo unto Nebo! for it is spoiled - This was a city in the tribe of Reuben, afterwards possessed by the Moabites. It probably had its name from Nebo, one of the principal idols of the Moabites. Kiriathaim - Another city of the Moabites. Misgab is confounded - There is no place of this name known, and therefore several learned men translate המשגב hammisgab, literally, The high tower, or fortress, which may apply to Kiriathaim, or any other high and well-fortified place.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 48:1-13
Prophecies against Moab for pride and security. (Jr 48:1-13) For carnal confidence and contempt of God. (Jr 48:14-47) Verses 1-13 . The Chaldeans are to destroy the Moabites. We should be thankful that we are required to seek the salvation of men's lives, and the salvation of their souls, not to shed their blood; but we shall be the more without excuse if we do this pleasant work deceitfully. The cities shall be laid in ruins, and the country shall be wasted. There will be great sorrow. There will be great hurry. If any could give wings to sinners, still they could not fly out of the reach of Divine indignation. There are many who persist in unrepented iniquity, yet long enjoy outward prosperity. They had been long corrupt and unreformed, secure and sensual in prosperity. They have no changes of their peace and prosperity, therefore their hearts and lives are unchanged, Ps. 55:19.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Jeremiah 48:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לְמוֹאָ֡בle.mo.'Avof MoabH4124
כֹּֽה\־koh-thusH3541
אָמַר֩'a.Marhe saysH559
יְהוָ֨הYah.wehYahwehH3068
צְבָא֜וֹתtze.va.'otof hostsH6635
אֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.Hei[the] God ofH430
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
ה֤וֹיHowoe!H1945
אֶל\־'el-toH413
נְבוֹ֙ne.VoNeboH5015
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
שֻׁדָּ֔דָהshu.Da.dahit will be devastatedH7703
הֹבִ֥ישָׁהho.Vi.shahit will be put to shameH954
נִלְכְּדָ֖הnil.ke.Dahit will be capturedH3920
קִרְיָתָ֑יִםkir.ya.Ta.yimKiriathaimH7156
הֹבִ֥ישָׁהho.Vi.shahit will be put to shameH954
הַמִּשְׂגָּ֖בha.mis.Gavthe strongholdH4869
וָחָֽתָּה\׃va.Cha.tahand it will be shatteredH2865

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 48:1

  • Numbers 32:3

    Ataroth, and Dibon, and Jazer, and Nimrah, and Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Shebam, and Nebo, and Beon,

  • Numbers 32:37-38

    And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim, And Nebo, and Baal–meon, (their names being changed,) and Shibmah: and gave other names unto the cities which they builded.

  • Jeremiah 48:22-23

    And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth–diblathaim, And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth–gamul, and upon Beth–meon,

  • Isaiah 15:1-9

    The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads shall be baldness, and every beard cut off. In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly. And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him. …

  • Jeremiah 25:21

    Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,

  • Ezekiel 25:8-11

    Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen; Therefore, behold, I will open the side of Moab from the cities, from his cities which are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, Beth–jeshimoth, Baal–meon, and Kiriathaim, Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

  • Amos 2:1-2

    Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime: But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

  • Genesis 19:37

    And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

  • Jeremiah 9:26

    Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

  • Jeremiah 27:3

    And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;

  • Zephaniah 2:8-11

    I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. 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. This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts. The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.

  • Isaiah 27:3

    I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 The judgment of Moab,
7 for their pride;
11 for their security;
14 for their carnal confidence;
26 and for their contempt of God and his people.
47 The restoration of Moab.

A.M. cir. 3420. B.C. cir. 584. Moab.
9:26; 25:21; 27:3; Ge 19:37; Nu 24:17; 2Ch 20:10; Isa 15:1-16:14
Isa 25:10; 27:3; Eze 25:8-11; Am 2:1,2; Zep 2:8-11
Nebo.
22,23; Nu 32:3,37,38; 33:47; Isa 15:2
Misgab. or, The high place.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 48:1

    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.

  • Jeremiah 48:2

    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.

Read all of Jeremiah 48

Jeremiah 48:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
ACERCA de Moab. Así ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos, Dios de Israel: ¡Ay de Nebo! que fué destruída, fué avergonzada; Chîriathaim fué tomada; fué confusa Misgab, y desmayó.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Sur Moab. Ainsi dit l’ Éternel des armées, le Dieu d’Israël: Malheur à Nebo! car elle est dévastée. Kiriathaïm est honteuse, elle est prise. Misgab est honteuse et terrifiée.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Über Moab. So spricht Jehova der Heerscharen, der Gott Israels: Wehe über Nebo! denn es ist verwüstet. Zu Schanden geworden, eingenommen ist Kirjathaim; zu Schanden geworden ist die hohe Feste und bestürzt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ad Moab. Hæc dicit Dominus exercituum, Deus Israël: Væ super Nabo, quoniam vastata est, et confusa! capta est Cariathaim, confusa est fortis, et tremuit.