Jeremiah 48:18 kjv
Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.
Jeremiah 48:18 nkjv
"O daughter inhabiting Dibon, Come down from your glory, And sit in thirst; For the plunderer of Moab has come against you, He has destroyed your strongholds.
Jeremiah 48:18 niv
"Come down from your glory and sit on the parched ground, you inhabitants of Daughter Dibon, for the one who destroys Moab will come up against you and ruin your fortified cities.
Jeremiah 48:18 esv
"Come down from your glory, and sit on the parched ground, O inhabitant of Dibon! For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you; he has destroyed your strongholds.
Jeremiah 48:18 nlt
"Come down from your glory
and sit in the dust, you people of Dibon,
for those who destroy Moab will shatter Dibon, too.
They will tear down all your towers.
Jeremiah 48 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 48:1 | Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste! Kirjathaim is put to shame and taken; Mesgad is impotent and struck down. | Judgment on Moab |
| Jer 48:2 | Praise of Moab is gone from all your past dealings with them; no more will your renown be celebrated; cry out, “Alas! He has laid Moab to ruin!” | Moab's pride gone |
| Jer 48:3 | Hark! The cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction! | Calamity in Horonaim |
| Jer 48:4 | Moab is crushed; her little ones have cried out in alarm. | Moab's children suffer |
| Jer 48:5 | For ascent of Luhith, in weeping they go up in flight; at the descent of Horonaim, they cry out in destruction a cry of breaking. | Exodus from Horonaim |
| Jer 48:6 | “Flee, save your lives, and be like a juniper in the wilderness.” | Call to flee |
| Jer 48:7 | “Because of your confidence in your works and your treasures, even you shall be taken. And Chemosh shall go forth into exile, his priests and his princes together.” | Trust in works punished |
| Jer 48:8 | “And the destroyer shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape. The valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD has spoken.” | City and plain destruction |
| Jer 48:9 | “Give wings to Moab, that she may fly! For her cities will become a desolation, with no inhabitants in them.” | Moab's flight |
| Jer 48:10 | “Cursed be he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed be he who keeps back his sword from blood.” | Judgment's execution |
| Jer 48:11 | “Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled down on his dregs; he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, nor has he gone into exile. Therefore he still stands, and his fragrance has not faded.” | Moab's complacency |
| Jer 48:12 | “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I shall send against him those who would press him, and they shall press him, and empty his pitchers, and break his jars in pieces.” | Punishment for complacency |
| Jer 48:13 | And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence. | Shame of idols |
| Jer 48:14 | “How can you say, ‘I am wise, and I am instructed in the law’? Behold, you have made it into a lie.” | False wisdom |
| Jer 48:15 | “O Moab, your city is swept away; your chosen young men have gone down to the slaughter.” | Slaughter of young men |
| Jer 48:16 | “The disaster of Moab is near, their calamity comes swiftly.” | Imminent disaster |
| Jer 48:17 | “Lament for him, all who are around him, and all who know his name; say, ‘How the strong staff is broken, the mighty rod!’” | Mourning for Moab |
| Jer 48:19 | “Stand by the roadside and watch, inhabitants of Abyath. Ask the fugitive and the weary; say to him, ‘What has happened?’ ” | Witnesses to destruction |
| Isa 15:1 | The oracle concerning Moab. Because Ar of Moab is laid waste in a night, Kir of Moab is silenced. | Similar prophecy for Moab |
| Amos 2:1 | Thus says the LORD: “Three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he burned to lime the bones of the king of Edom.” | Moab's cruelty |
| Ezek 25:8 | thus says the Lord GOD: “Because what happened to Edom was vengeance, and they were very wrong, and when I took vengeance on them, they were stricken down; and they knew that I am the LORD when I took my vengeance on Edom.” | Divine vengeance |
| Rev 18:1 | After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. | Heavenly judgment |
| Rev 18:2 | He cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every unclean spirit, a haunt of every unclean bird, a haunt of every detestable and unclean beast.” | Judgment on Babylon (symbolic) |
Jeremiah 48 verses
Jeremiah 48 18 Meaning
The inhabitants of Dibon are commanded to flee and sit in distress because the destroyer of Moab, signifying God's judgment through the Babylonians, is coming against them with destruction and fire. This verse emphasizes the desolation and downfall of Moab.
Jeremiah 48 18 Context
Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy against the nation of Moab. The chapter describes the impending doom and destruction that will befall Moab due to its pride, idolatry, and hostile actions against God's people, particularly Judah. The oracle declares that Moab, like other nations prophesied against, will face severe judgment from the LORD. The chapter contrasts Moab's former boasts and self-sufficiency with the reality of its coming devastation. It specifically mentions cities and geographical features within Moab, detailing their ruin. The prophet's words were given during a time when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, was consolidating his power and carrying out widespread conquests in the region, including against Moab.
Jeremiah 48 18 Word Analysis
- Hoi (הוֹי): An interjection expressing lament, woe, or grief. It signals the commencement of a lamentation or prophecy of doom.
- Dibon (דִּיבֹן): A prominent city in Moab, often mentioned in relation to the nation. Its people are directly addressed.
- “Shiloh” (or in some translations, specific action): In the Masoretic Text, it is yara (יָרַד) meaning "to go down" or "descend." Thus, the inhabitants of Dibon are instructed to go down or descend. Some English translations render this as "Sit in ashes" or "sit in distress," interpreting it as a posture of mourning.
- Nahar (נָהָר) / Tzoreth (צוֹרֶת) / Rachav (רָחָב): These words combined convey the idea of “travel in haste” or “go in dread/distress,” or “flow with terror,” or “a broad (expanse of) dread.” The rendering varies: "pass in sorrow," "haste," "distress," "trembling." It depicts a flight under duress.
- Elohei ha’esh (אֱלֹהֵי הָאֵשׁ): Literally "your god of fire." This could refer to a deity or a feature of their worship. Some scholars suggest it refers to fire used in ritualistic destruction or perhaps a volcanic deity associated with their land. It can also imply that their gods cannot save them from the coming fire.
- Ki hinneh (כִּי הִנֵּה): "For behold" or "Indeed, look." This phrase introduces an announcement or an assertion, drawing attention to what follows.
- Ba' u'la (בָּא וְלֹא־) / Natsal (נָצַל) / Ma'avah (מַעֲבָה): The structure Ba’ (בָּא) means "comes." U’la (וְלֹא) implies "and not." Natsal (נָצַל) means "escape." Ma'avah (מַעֲבָה) signifies "strength" or "power" (though alternative readings exist). The combined meaning is that "the destroyer comes, and he will not escape," signifying the inevitability of judgment and lack of escape for Moab.
- Lemo’adeh (לְמוֹעָדָהּ): “To its appointed time,” or “for its meeting place/appointed end.” It suggests that this destruction is predestined or part of a divinely set plan.
Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis
- “Hoi Dibon bati sorar / Vahoh rahav bamoh”: "Woe to Dibon, she sits in ashes, and a great fear possesses her." This highlights the personal suffering and terror experienced by the people of Dibon as they face the oncoming destruction.
- “Elahem elohei ha’esh / Ki hinneh ba’ u’la natsal ma’avah lemo’adeh”: "Your gods of fire will come upon them; for behold, he comes, and not one shall escape to their appointed time/doom." This clause underscores the failure of their idolatrous worship and the completeness of the judgment to come, as no one, not even with their supposed deities, will escape the divinely ordained doom.
Jeremiah 48 18 Bonus Section
The phrase "elohei ha'esh" (your god of fire) might allude to a specific deity of Moab or the violent methods of war often associated with fire and destruction. The Babylonian conquest was marked by extensive use of fire and a relentless pursuit of vanquished peoples, fitting this description. The inability of their gods to save them points to the theological polemic against idolatry, a recurring theme in prophetic literature. God's judgment, represented by the Babylonian empire, is depicted as irresistible, fulfilling His word against those who have turned away from Him.
Jeremiah 48 18 Commentary
This verse serves as a direct command and a declaration of doom for Dibon, a key city in Moab. It vividly portrays the impending catastrophe: a divine "destroyer" (likely the Babylonian army) is coming, forcing the inhabitants to flee in terror and distress. Their gods, perhaps represented by "elohi ha'esh" (god of fire), are powerless to protect them, emphasizing the futility of idolatry. The phrase "no one will escape to their appointed time" signifies the absolute and inescapable nature of God's judgment. Moab, known for its pride and defiance, is shown to be utterly vulnerable. This oracle reflects God's consistent pattern of judgment against nations that oppose Him and His people. The urgency conveyed by "hasten away in distress" highlights the chaotic and fearful nature of such a downfall.