Jeremiah 48 28

Jeremiah 48:28 kjv

O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.

Jeremiah 48:28 nkjv

You who dwell in Moab, Leave the cities and dwell in the rock, And be like the dove which makes her nest In the sides of the cave's mouth.

Jeremiah 48:28 niv

Abandon your towns and dwell among the rocks, you who live in Moab. Be like a dove that makes its nest at the mouth of a cave.

Jeremiah 48:28 esv

"Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, O inhabitants of Moab! Be like the dove that nests in the sides of the mouth of a gorge.

Jeremiah 48:28 nlt

"You people of Moab,
flee from your towns and live in the caves.
Hide like doves that nest
in the clefts of the rocks.

Jeremiah 48 verses

Jeremiah 48 28 Meaning

This verse describes the fleeing and calling out of the people of Moab as they face destruction, emphasizing their abandonment and helplessness in their time of crisis.

Jeremiah 48 28 Context

Jeremiah 48 is an oracle of judgment against Moab. The chapter details the sins of Moab, including their pride and their opposition to God's people. Moab had historically been hostile towards Israel, and this prophecy declares that God will bring destruction upon them. The verses leading up to chapter 48:28 describe the devastation and the cries of the Moabites. They have taken refuge in their strongholds and cities, but these offer no protection from God's judgment. The specific mention of Dibon and the surrounding regions indicates the extent of the coming destruction.

Jeremiah 48 28 Word Analysis

• "Leave" (עִזְבוּ - ivzu): This is a verb in the imperative, plural form, meaning "abandon," "forsake," or "leave behind." It commands the inhabitants of Moab to flee.
• "Your": Possessive pronoun, referring to the people of Moab.
• "Cities" (עָרֶיהָ - areiha): Plural of "city" (עִיר - ir). Refers to the fortified settlements of Moab.
• "in" (בְּ - bə): Preposition indicating location or state.
• "habitation" (נוֹת — not / שָׁבוּ - shavu / כִּנּוּ — kinu): The Masoretic text is somewhat ambiguous here. Some interpretations suggest "dwelling places" or "habitation." It implies the places where they reside or the acts of residing. Other interpretations connect it to the idea of settling or dwelling securely.
• "Dibon" (דִּיבֹן — Dibon): A city in Moab. The verse begins with an instruction related to this specific location.
• "Stand" (עָמְדוּ — amdu): Verb in the perfect, plural form, meaning "stand," "remain," or "be established." Here it conveys the idea of holding one's ground or enduring.
• "on" (עַל — al): Preposition indicating position upon.
• "end" (קָצֶה — qatseh): Noun meaning "end," "extremity," or "border." It refers to the far reaches or boundaries.
• "Put" (שׁוּתוּ — shutu / שׂוּמוּ - sumu): Another imperative verb. If shutu, it can mean "wander." If sumu, it can mean "set," "place," or "put." Given the context of fleeing, "wander" or "scatter" is plausible.
• "Make" (עָשׂוּ - asu): Verb, possibly the perfect of "do" or "make," but the phrasing might be poetic, implying the effect of the abandonment.
• "Signs" (אוֹת — ot): Noun meaning "sign," "mark," or "token."
• "of" (עַל — al): Preposition indicating association or consequence.
• "oblation" (קָרְבַּן — korban): Noun, often referring to a sacrifice or offering presented to God. The sense here could be related to mourning rites or rituals of lamentation that are now to be made on the altars.
• "your" (לָ — la): Poetic or emphatic form for "to you" or "your."

Group Analysis:

• "Leave your cities in habitation, O daughter of Dibon": This phrase addresses the inhabitants of Dibon, commanding them to abandon their cities and their way of life. It paints a picture of widespread displacement.
• "Stand you upon the end of the way": This suggests remaining or pausing at the edge of a journey or path, possibly to look back or to survey the destruction, or simply to wait for further commands, though the overall tone is of flight and disaster.
• "Make you marks of an oblation": This phrase is challenging. It could imply creating ritualistic markers of mourning, perhaps to be placed on a communal grave or an abandoned altar, signifying a desperate, last-minute attempt at a religious rite amidst catastrophe. It emphasizes a cessation of normal religious activity and the desperate measures taken.

Jeremiah 48 28 Bonus Section

The "daughter of Dibon" is a poetic personification of the city of Dibon, representing its people. This personification is common in Old Testament prophetic literature, often used to imbue cities or nations with human qualities to express their vulnerability and to highlight the emotional impact of judgment. The reference to Moab's "oblation" might also be a pointed critique, implying that their own religious practices or offerings had become empty rituals or that their land, once dedicated to their gods, would now be marked by their ultimate failure. The utter desolation described evokes the broader theme of divine retribution against nations that practice idolatry and oppress God's people, as seen throughout Jeremiah's prophecies.

Jeremiah 48 28 Commentary

The destruction foretold for Moab is absolute. The imperative to "leave your cities" signifies the collapse of their urban centers and social order. The call to "stand you upon the end of the way" suggests that even their flight leads them to a desolate place, the extremity of their territory or their situation, where they can do nothing but witness the ruin. The peculiar phrase "make you marks of an oblation" likely refers to a ritualistic act of despair and lamentation. In their flight, they are instructed to perform a somber ritual, perhaps like markings on the ground or remnants of offerings, signifying the utter ruin of their sacrifices and religious life. This speaks to the complete overturning of their society and their desperate, ultimately futile, attempt to engage with the divine in their final moments of destruction.