Jeremiah 15:8 kjv
Their widows are increased to me above the sand of the seas: I have brought upon them against the mother of the young men a spoiler at noonday: I have caused him to fall upon it suddenly, and terrors upon the city.
Jeremiah 15:8 nkjv
Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, Against the mother of the young men, A plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly.
Jeremiah 15:8 niv
I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. At midday I will bring a destroyer against the mothers of their young men; suddenly I will bring down on them anguish and terror.
Jeremiah 15:8 esv
I have made their widows more in number than the sand of the seas; I have brought against the mothers of young men a destroyer at noonday; I have made anguish and terror fall upon them suddenly.
Jeremiah 15:8 nlt
There will be more widows
than the grains of sand on the seashore.
At noontime I will bring a destroyer
against the mothers of young men.
I will cause anguish and terror
to come upon them suddenly.
Jeremiah 15 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 15:9 | "...Her widow is multiplied many times over; She brought back at noon a slayer of young men; She has cast into her midst ruin and confusion." | Direct continuation of judgment |
| Isaiah 13:19 | "And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah." | Judgment on proud nations |
| Jeremiah 48:1 | "Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken." | Specific prophecy against Moab |
| Jeremiah 48:45 | "In the shadow of Heshbon the fugitives stand without strength, for fire has gone out from Heshbon and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and it has devoured the forehead of Moab and the crown of the clamorous height." | Moab's suffering and defeat |
| Zephaniah 2:8 | "I have heard the reproach of Moab and the abusive cries of the Ammonites, with which they have reproached my people and made themselves great against their border." | Moab's reproach against Israel |
| Psalm 52:5 | "But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent; he will root you out of the land of the living. Selah." | Divine judgment against the wicked |
| Romans 1:30 | "...malicious gossips, enemies of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents," | God's judgment on nations/sinners |
| 2 Peter 2:6 | "and if by turning the ways of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, he condemned them, bringing upon them an uttermost destruction, setting a warning to those who would be ungodly," | Divine destruction as a warning |
| Jeremiah 51:42 | "The sea has come up over Babylon; she is covered with its many waves." | Imagery of overwhelming destruction |
| Ezekiel 25:12 | "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred grave guilt by avenging itself on them," | Divine retribution for sin |
| Amos 1:13 | "Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they may enlarge their border." | Judgment on surrounding nations |
| Nahum 1:6 | "Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure his burning anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken pieces by him." | God's wrath and power |
| Psalm 11:6 | "On the wicked he will rain coals and fire and brimstone, and a scorching wind will be the heritage of their cup." | Judgment from God |
| Revelation 18:7 | "To the same degree that she glorified herself and played the sensual wanton, to the same degree give her torment and mourning, for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and I shall never see mourning.’" | Judgment on a proud, decadent city |
| Leviticus 26:33 | "And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you. Your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be ruins." | Consequences of disobedience |
| Jeremiah 9:11 | "And I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without inhabitant." | Judah's desolation |
| Isaiah 34:5 | "For my sword has been forged in heaven; behold, it will come down upon Edom, and upon the people whom I have devoted to destruction." | God's sword of judgment |
| Jeremiah 49:3 | "Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is ruined! Cry out, O inhabitants of Rabbah, gird yourselves with sackcloth and lament, and toss yourselves in the wreckage! For the enemy shall go into captivity, and from their houses, and from their cities." | Judgment on Ammon and Moab |
| Ezekiel 32:11 | "For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘By the life of Pharaoh I swear, you shall be brought down into the pit, brought down into the hands of your sons..." | Judgment on mighty rulers |
| Isaiah 1:7 | "Your country is desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners." | Land devastated by enemies |
| Ezekiel 36:35 | "They will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the ruined and desolate and overthrown cities are now fortified and inhabited.’" | Contrast of desolation and renewal |
Jeremiah 15 verses
Jeremiah 15 8 Meaning
The prophet Jeremiah declares that even powerful nations will be devastated, becoming desolate like a land left by its inhabitants, specifically referencing the destruction of Moab. This highlights God's judgment extending to foreign nations who oppose His people and His will.
Jeremiah 15 8 Context
In Jeremiah 15, the prophet is experiencing deep distress due to the persistent sinfulness of Judah and the ongoing exile. He laments God's judgment, questioning the divine justice. This verse, however, shifts focus to God's broader perspective on nations. It comes after God has responded to Jeremiah's plea, reaffirming His faithfulness to His people by promising to defend and save them from their enemies (Jeremiah 15:19-21). Thus, verse 8 stands as an assurance that God's protective actions extend to His people by judging those who oppress them, particularly the Moabites, who had a history of enmity towards Israel. Historically, Moab was a neighboring kingdom to Israel, often in conflict with them. This prophecy against Moab is part of a larger series of judgments against the surrounding nations found in Jeremiah chapters 46-51, demonstrating God's sovereignty over all peoples.
Jeremiah 15 8 Word analysis
Yəhōvâ (יהוה): "Yahweh" - The personal, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel.
hikkēh (הִכֶּה): "strike" or "smite" - A common verb for divine judgment or a powerful military blow.
hōrem (חֹרֶם): "devoted to destruction" or "utterly destroyed" - This term signifies a complete and total destruction, often associated with divine judgment where no spoils or survivors are permitted. This implies a judgment so severe that it is irrevocable.
šôdēd (שׁוֹדֵד): "destroyer" or "devastator" - Refers to the one who brings ruin and devastation, in this case, a "slayer of young men," indicating the brutal nature of the judgment.
Lāh (לָהּ): "her" - Refers to Moab, personified as a woman.
ləḥem (לֶחֶם): "bread" - Used metaphorically here, as in "bread to his mouth," indicating that something is readily available and consumed. It signifies how easily Moab will be devoured.
kəḵem (כְּכֶם): "as you" or "like you" - This direct comparison points back to God's people (Israel), indicating that the destruction brought upon Moab will be similar in intensity to the judgment Israel is facing or will face, though the purpose and context of the judgment differ.
bāṯ (בַּת): "daughter" - Another instance of personification for cities or nations. "Daughter of Moab" would mean a city or a people associated with Moab.
yĕḵamēnnâ (יְיַחֲמֶנָּה): "her young men," or "her chosen men," or "her men of war" - Indicates those who are the strength and pride of the nation.
ṯammîn (תָּמִים): "whole," "complete," "perfect" - Referring to a generation or the entirety of a populace.
Her widow is multiplied many times over: This phrase is the direct consequence of the "slayer of young men." With the male population decimated, a vast number of women are left widowed, underscoring the total devastation of the nation.
She brought back at noon a slayer of young men: This imagery suggests that the invasion and destruction happen suddenly and in broad daylight, catching them completely off guard, with no escape. The "slayer of young men" is brought back (metaphorically or actually, meaning brought upon them) as if they had invited him or he was always present, highlighting their inescapable fate.
She has cast into her midst ruin and confusion: This clause further elaborates on the totality of the devastation – the internal destruction and disorientation within the nation itself, caused by the overwhelming onslaught.
Jeremiah 15 8 Bonus section
The prophecy against Moab in Jeremiah 15:8 is part of a larger prophetic corpus against the nations that sought to harm or disrespect God’s people. This comprehensive divine judgment, extending to foreign lands, serves a dual purpose: it punishes those nations for their specific sins and simultaneously offers a form of deliverance and vindication for Israel. The complete devastation promised to Moab mirrors the severe judgments described for other nations like Babylon, Assyria, and Egypt within Jeremiah and other prophetic books. The imagery of a land becoming "desolate" and its people utterly destroyed reflects the concept of cherem, a holy war vow where no living thing is spared, representing an ultimate curse or judgment from God.
Jeremiah 15 8 Commentary
Jeremiah 15:8 declares a judgment upon Moab that is remarkably swift and comprehensive. The phrase "her widow is multiplied many times over" vividly illustrates the catastrophic loss of male life due to warfare, leaving behind a devastated female population. The "slayer of young men" coming "at noon" signifies an overt, undeniable, and sudden destruction, a stark contrast to the secret machinations of a thief. The verse emphasizes that this destruction is not external alone but inflicts "ruin and confusion" internally. The comparison to Israel ("as you were.") underscores that God’s justice operates universally; powerful nations are not exempt from divine reckoning, especially when they act wickedly. Moab, often an oppressor of Israel, becomes an object of God's severe judgment, demonstrating His ultimate sovereignty and power to deliver His people by destroying their enemies. This verse reinforces the theme that disobedience and aggression against God's covenant people incur severe, divinely ordained consequences.