Jeremiah 48:10 kjv
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
Jeremiah 48:10 nkjv
Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
Jeremiah 48:10 niv
"A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD's work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!
Jeremiah 48:10 esv
"Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
Jeremiah 48:10 nlt
Cursed are those who refuse to do the LORD's work,
who hold back their swords from shedding blood!
Jeremiah 48 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 48:11 | "Moab has been at ease since his youth; he has settled on his dregs..." | Judgment on Moab |
| Ezekiel 25:6 | "For thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Because you have clapped your hands, and stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all the evil inclination of your soul against the land of Israel..." | Moab's gloating over Israel |
| Zephaniah 2:8 | "I have heard the taunts of Moab and the abuse of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and boasted against their border." | Moab's insults against Israel |
| Proverbs 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Consequence of pride |
| Isaiah 14:13 | "You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the regions of the north..." | Lucifer's pride and fall |
| Matthew 24:38 | "For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark..." | Carelessness before judgment |
| Luke 12:19 | "And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’" | Foolish man's security |
| 1 Thessalonians 5:3 | "While they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." | Sudden destruction on the complacent |
| Amos 6:1 | "Woe to those who are complacent in Zion, and to those who are secure on the mount of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes!" | Complacency in Israel |
| Jeremiah 48:41 | "And Kerioth has been taken, and the strongholds have been seized." | Moab's defeat |
| Jeremiah 48:43 | "Terror and pit and snare are upon you, O inhabitant of Moab, declares the LORD." | Judgment on Moab |
| Isaiah 23:7 | "Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of days long elapsed, whose feet carried her to settle afar?" | Tyre's former glory and coming fall |
| Revelation 18:7 | "As much as she glorified herself and lived wantonly, so much give her torment and mourning, for she says in her heart, ‘I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.’" | Babylon's pride and judgment |
| Psalm 36:2 | "For he flatters himself in his own eyes too much to detect or to hate his iniquity." | Self-deception and iniquity |
| Proverbs 10:4 | "A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." | Diligence vs. sloth |
| Proverbs 28:13 | "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." | Confession of sin |
| James 4:6 | "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”" | Opposition to the proud |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”" | Humility over pride |
| Romans 2:4 | "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" | God's kindness leads to repentance |
| Jude 1:4 | "For certain people have crept in unnoticed—long ago marked out for this condemnation—ungodly people, who twist the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." | Distortion of grace |
Jeremiah 48 verses
Jeremiah 48 10 Meaning
This verse condemns the carelessness and spiritual complacency of Moab, emphasizing that they have lived in ease and prosperity without being punished for their sins. This peace has led to a deceptive sense of security, making them vulnerable when judgment eventually arrives. Their pride and false reliance on their wealth and past achievements blinded them to God's impending wrath.
Jeremiah 48 10 Context
Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy of judgment against Moab. For centuries, Moab had been a persistent enemy and rival of Israel, often oppressing them. However, they had experienced periods of peace and prosperity, leading them to a state of complacency and arrogance. They believed their position and security were due to their own strength and idols, ignoring God's sovereignty and their own iniquities. This prophecy addresses Moab directly, foretelling their coming destruction by the Babylonians. The chapter details the specific consequences they will face due to their sins and their pride. The verse in question specifically highlights the internal state of Moab, the consequence of their prolonged peace without chastisement.
Jeremiah 48 10 Word Analysis
- "Cursed (Arur) - This is a strong word indicating divine disapproval and condemnation. It signifies being under a divine curse, set apart for judgment and ruin. The Hebrew word 'arûr implies being estranged from God's favor and subject to his wrath.
- "be - Auxiliary verb.
- "he" - Refers to Moab as a collective entity.
- "who - Relative pronoun introducing the description of Moab.
- "does - Indicates action or a state of being.
- "the - Definite article.
- "work (mel'akáh) - Can refer to labor, duty, or God's work, but here it refers to the deeds and actions of Moab, particularly their sinful actions and the way they have conducted themselves, especially in relation to God and Israel.
- "of - Preposition.
- "the - Definite article.
- "LORD" (YHWH) - The covenant name of God, emphasizing His active involvement and authority.
- "with - Preposition indicating association or means.
- "coldness" (qerach) - This word literally refers to coldness or frost. Figuratively, it signifies spiritual numbness, apathy, laziness, or a lack of zeal and earnestness in their relationship with God and in performing righteous actions. It conveys a sense of stagnant unresponsibleness.
- "and - Conjunction.
- "who - Relative pronoun.
- "keeps (ma'id) - From the root 'amad, meaning to stand still, to stop, to delay, or to be inactive. It suggests a refusal to move forward, a static condition, particularly in relation to executing judgment or fulfilling responsibilities.
- "his - Possessive pronoun.
- "blood (dām) - In this context, it likely refers to the blood shed by Moab, either in warfare or in idolatrous sacrifices, or perhaps their neglect of blood justice for their own people. However, given the context of their complacency, it's often interpreted metaphorically.
- "from - Preposition.
- "the - Definite article.
- "battle" (milḥāmāh) - Refers to warfare, conflict. It signifies their avoidance of confrontation, not necessarily in physical warfare against external enemies at this moment, but crucially, their refusal to engage in spiritual conflict or to confront their own sins.
Group Analysis:
- "does the work of the LORD with coldness": This phrase points to a superficial or perfunctory engagement with anything considered divine or related to God's commands, characterized by apathy and a lack of genuine devotion or effort. It can imply an external performance without an internal commitment.
- "keeps his blood from the battle": This signifies an abstention from necessary conflict or spiritual engagement. Moab has failed to contend against sin, their own idols, or even to fight for their own spiritual well-being. This inaction is a form of negligence and results in their vulnerability. Their prosperity is tied to a refusal to fight the battles God called them to or the spiritual battles necessary for righteousness.
Jeremiah 48 10 Bonus Section
The concept of being "cursed" for failing to do God's work properly or for spiritual inactivity is echoed in passages like the parable of the talents, where the servant who buried his talent rather than investing it was called "wicked and lazy" (Matthew 25:26, 30). Furthermore, the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:15-16) is rebuked for being "neither hot nor cold," a state of tepidness that leads to spiritual expulsion. Moab’s spiritual apathy, described as a form of spiritual laziness and a refusal to engage in the spiritual "battle," rendered them susceptible to destruction, illustrating a consistent biblical principle that active, fervent faithfulness is required for God's people. Their fate serves as a warning against the dangers of a comfortable, unchallenging spiritual life that can lead to a spiritual lethargy, rendering one unprepared for the challenges and judgments of life.
Jeremiah 48 10 Commentary
The curse pronounced upon Moab in this verse is not for their outward aggression, but for their inward spiritual neglect. Their prolonged peace and prosperity, experienced "since his youth" and characterized by settling "on his dregs," had fostered a deep-seated complacency. This comfort led them to cease striving, to become spiritually inert and indifferent to God's will and judgment. They performed religious duties or maintained their societal structures without genuine fervor, engaging in the "work of the LORD" with a chilling indifference ("with coldness"). More critically, they avoided spiritual engagement, metaphorically "keeping his blood from the battle." This means they did not fight for righteousness, did not contend against sin, nor did they uphold justice as God intended. This passive spiritual disengagement left them defenseless and ripe for judgment when it eventually arrived, as they had grown accustomed to ease and had forgotten the need for vigilance and faithfulness in their walk with God. Their unaddressed iniquities and spiritual apathy meant that when God's judgment came, there was no internal resilience or spiritual fortitude to withstand it.