Jeremiah 48 23

Jeremiah 48:23 kjv

And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon,

Jeremiah 48:23 nkjv

On Kirjathaim and Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,

Jeremiah 48:23 niv

to Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul and Beth Meon,

Jeremiah 48:23 esv

and Kiriathaim, and Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon,

Jeremiah 48:23 nlt

on Kiriathaim and Beth-gamul and Beth-meon,

Jeremiah 48 verses

Jeremiah 48 23 meaning

Jeremiah 48:23 names three significant Moabite cities – Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim – destined for divine judgment. This verse is part of an extended lament and prophecy against Moab, highlighting God's comprehensive sovereignty and judgment over the nation due to its pride, idolatry, and hostility toward Israel. The naming of specific, well-known cities emphasizes the total scope and inevitability of Moab's destruction, signifying that no stronghold or populated area will escape the coming devastation.

Jeremiah 48 23 Context

Jeremiah chapter 48 is an extensive prophecy of lament and judgment against Moab, one of Israel's ancient neighbors and rivals, located east of the Dead Sea. The entire chapter uses the imagery of a dirge (funeral song) to describe the total collapse and destruction of Moab at the hands of an invading army, likely the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar (as part of a broader judgment against nations preceding or concurrent with Judah's fall). The prophecy enumerates numerous Moabite towns, predicting their downfall one by one. This meticulous listing emphasizes the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the impending doom. Moab's primary sins were pride (Jer 48:29-30), contempt for Yahweh's people, and reliance on their idol, Chemosh (Jer 48:7, 46). Jeremiah’s prophecies against surrounding nations served to underscore Yahweh’s absolute sovereignty over all peoples, and as a stark warning to Judah regarding the consequences of disobedience, even as it sometimes offered a measure of comfort by showing that God also dealt with their oppressors.

Jeremiah 48 23 Word analysis

• And on (וְעַל - Wəʿal):

  • Meaning: "And upon" or "and concerning."
  • Significance: The repeated "and upon" links these specific cities directly to the preceding pronouncements of judgment, emphasizing their inclusion in the decreed destruction. It's a connective particle showing the continuation of the list, indicating thoroughness.

• Dibon (דִּיבֹן - Dîḇōn):

  • Meaning: Dibon. A prominent and fortified Moabite city, often mentioned in biblical and extra-biblical texts (e.g., Mesha Stele).
  • Significance: Historically a key administrative and military center for Moab. It was also once allotted to the tribe of Reuben (Num 32:3, 34). Its fall signals a major blow to Moab's infrastructure and identity. Its connection to the Mesha Stele highlights its importance to Moabite national pride and religious identity with Chemosh, Moab's national deity. The prophecy targets this symbolic heartland.

• and on (וְעַל - Wəʿal):

  • (See above). Repetition strengthens the effect.

• Nebo (נְבוֹ - Nəḇō):

  • Meaning: Nebo. A city in Moab. Also the name of a mountain (Mount Nebo) and a Babylonian deity (Nabu).
  • Significance: The city of Nebo was likely religiously significant, potentially associated with the deity Nabu/Nebo (god of wisdom, writing, and fate in Mesopotamia, and perhaps a localized Moabite cult). Its mention next to Mount Nebo (Deut 34:1), where Moses viewed the Promised Land and died, could add a layer of irony or emphasize that even places of historical and religious prominence cannot escape God's judgment. It too was once allotted to Reuben (Num 32:38). Its destruction highlights the futility of relying on either physical strongholds or false gods.

• and on (וְעַל - Wəʿal):

  • (See above). The consistent repetition marks a complete, comprehensive enumeration of targets.

• Beth-diblathaim (בֵּית דִּבְלָתָיִם - Bêṯ Diḇlāṯayim):

  • Meaning: Beth-diblathaim, meaning "House of the two fig cakes" or possibly "House of Diblathaim."
  • Significance: Its exact location is less certain than Dibon or Nebo but it's mentioned in similar prophetic contexts (Isa 15:2). Its inclusion signifies that the judgment is not just for the most famous or important cities, but will extend to all inhabited places within Moabite territory. The specific naming ensures a sense of detail and inevitability for the original audience familiar with these locales.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And on Dibon, and on Nebo, and on Beth-diblathaim": This anaphoric structure (repetition of "and on") serves as a poetic device that creates a rhythmic listing, mimicking the slow, mournful cadence of a funeral dirge. It dramatically reinforces the wide sweep of destruction across Moab. The progression through these significant locations illustrates the relentless and comprehensive nature of God’s judgment, showing that no part of Moab's land, from its key centers to its less famous towns, will be untouched. This listing technique is common in prophetic oracles against nations, establishing the territorial scope of the divine curse.

Jeremiah 48 23 Bonus section

The specific listing of Moabite cities in this prophecy, much like similar lists found in Isaiah 15-16, functioned as a powerful rhetorical device. For an ancient audience, the mention of familiar geographical landmarks painted a vivid and concrete picture of the destruction, making the prophecy more impactful and believable. This detailed enumeration also underscores the meticulousness of divine judgment—it is not random or haphazard, but a targeted response to national sin. Furthermore, the use of a lament genre (a form typically used for mourning the dead) for a nation that is still "living" (before its destruction) served to already mark Moab as doomed and mourned, emphasizing the finality and totality of the prophecy's outcome before it even fully transpired.

Jeremiah 48 23 Commentary

Jeremiah 48:23 is a specific lament within a broader prophetic oracle of destruction against Moab. By explicitly naming Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, the prophet provides tangible reference points for the impending devastation, assuring the audience of the judgment's scope and certainty. These cities, particularly Dibon and Nebo, represented Moab's historical, political, and possibly religious identity, reinforcing the comprehensive dismantling of the nation. The inclusion of these diverse locations demonstrates that God's judgment spares no area; it targets every aspect of a nation defiant in pride and idolatry. It underscores the profound theological truth that divine sovereignty extends over all nations and that unchecked sin inevitably leads to severe consequences, revealing God's justice in holding even gentile nations accountable to His universal moral law.