Jeremiah 48 32

Jeremiah 48:32 kjv

O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.

Jeremiah 48:32 nkjv

O vine of Sibmah! I will weep for you with the weeping of Jazer. Your plants have gone over the sea, They reach to the sea of Jazer. The plunderer has fallen on your summer fruit and your vintage.

Jeremiah 48:32 niv

I weep for you, as Jazer weeps, you vines of Sibmah. Your branches spread as far as the sea; they reached as far as Jazer. The destroyer has fallen on your ripened fruit and grapes.

Jeremiah 48:32 esv

More than for Jazer I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches passed over the sea, reached to the Sea of Jazer; on your summer fruits and your grapes the destroyer has fallen.

Jeremiah 48:32 nlt

"You people of Sibmah, rich in vineyards,
I will weep for you even more than I did for Jazer.
Your spreading vines once reached as far as the Dead Sea,
but the destroyer has stripped you bare!
He has harvested your grapes and summer fruits.

Jeremiah 48 verses

Jeremiah 48 32 meaning

Jeremiah 48:32 describes the prophet's profound sorrow over the impending destruction of Moab. The lament uses powerful agricultural imagery, likening Moab to the once-flourishing "vine of Sibmah," renowned for its extensive and productive vineyards. Jeremiah identifies with the widespread grief that will envelop the region, weeping as Jazer, another fertile Moabite area, would weep. The verse highlights Moab's past prosperity and far-reaching influence, symbolized by its vine branches stretching extensively, now contrasted with its complete ruin and desolation due to divine judgment.

Jeremiah 48 32 Context

Jeremiah chapter 48 delivers a comprehensive prophecy of judgment against Moab, one of Israel's ancient and perpetual adversaries. This entire chapter serves as a lament, vividly detailing the destruction of various Moabite cities and their proud inhabitants. Moab was known for its agricultural wealth, particularly its wine, and its long history of opposing God's people and displaying arrogance. The chapter details the "wail" that will cover Moab, contrasting its former prosperity with its utter desolation. Verse 32 specifically enhances this lament by focusing on the renowned vineyards of Sibmah and Jazer, emphasizing the breadth of Moab's influence and the deep sorrow accompanying the loss of its iconic fertility. The prophecy underlines God's sovereignty over all nations, judging Moab for its pride, idolatry (worshipping Chemosh), and complacency. This judgment is also a reflection of God's justice, holding nations accountable for their actions and attitude toward Him and His people.

Jeremiah 48 32 Word analysis

• מִבְּכִי (mib-bĕ-khiy) - "From the weeping of" or "With the weeping of".
  • Significance: Denotes the source or extent of the weeping. Jeremiah's weeping is compared to, or joins, the deep sorrow already associated with Jazer, emphasizing the profound nature of the grief. It suggests a shared or mirrored lamentation.
• יַעְזֵר (Yaʻzêr) - "Jazer".
  • Significance: A fertile city in Transjordan, specifically mentioned as part of Moabite territory and renowned for its lush pastures and agricultural output, especially vineyards (cf. Num 32:1-3; Isa 16:8-9). Its association with "weeping" highlights the intense mourning that will befall this prosperous region, indicating a comprehensive destruction.
• אֶבְכֶּה־לָּךְ (eḇ-ke-lakh) - "I will weep for you".
  • Significance: The prophet Jeremiah directly expresses sympathetic grief on behalf of Moab. This demonstrates God's heart, even in judgment, is not without sorrow for the destruction of human life and prosperity, even among enemy nations. Jeremiah acts as God's representative in lamentation.
• גֶפֶן (gephen) - "O vine".
  • Significance: A common biblical metaphor for a nation or people, often for prosperity, fertility, and life (e.g., Israel as a vine in Ps 80). Here, it personifies Moab, representing its once flourishing state, economic vitality, and cultural pride tied to its famed produce.
• שִׂבְמָה (Śiḇmāh) - "Sibmah".
  • Significance: A prominent Moabite city, specifically famous for its exceptionally rich vineyards and fine wines (cf. Isa 16:8). Its name itself often brings to mind fertile grape harvests, making it a fitting symbol of Moab's material wealth and produce.
• נְטִשׁוֹתַיִךְ (nə-ṭi-shō-ṯa-yikh) - "Your branches".
  • Significance: Literally "your shoots" or "tendrils". This word emphasizes the extensive growth and outward spread of the vine. It vividly pictures Moab's pervasive influence and success.
• עָבְרוּ (ʻā-ḇə-rū) - "stretched over" or "crossed".
  • Significance: Implies extensive reach and expanse. The verb conveys the action of extending far and wide, underscoring the vine's broad spread.
• יָם (yām) - "the sea".
  • Significance: Likely refers to the Dead Sea, which bordered Moab's territory. This is often interpreted hyperbolically, emphasizing the immense reach of Sibmah's vineyards or the extensive trade routes for its produce. It denotes an exceptionally widespread prosperity.
• וְעַד (wə-ʻaḏ) - "and even to" or "reaching unto".
  • Significance: Connects the expansive reach to another specific geographical point, reiterating the vastness.
• יַעְזֵר (Yaʻzêr) - "Jazer".
  • Significance: Re-emphasizes Jazer as a key location within the prosperous agricultural region, or as the full extent of the vine's metaphorical spread, further highlighting the widespread nature of what is to be lost.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "From the weeping of Jazer I will weep for you": This phrase highlights profound empathetic sorrow. Jeremiah, speaking as God's prophet, shares the intensity of the lament that will grip even a highly prosperous place like Jazer. It indicates that the impending judgment is so devastating that the prophet joins in universal mourning.
• "O vine of Sibmah": A direct address to Moab, personifying the nation as a luxuriant vine. This imagery encapsulates Moab's past glory, economic prosperity, and the pride it took in its renowned agricultural produce, particularly wine.
• "Your branches stretched over the sea, they reached to Jazer": This vividly depicts the expansive growth and success of Moab, implying widespread trade, influence, and rich agricultural lands. The metaphorical branches symbolize Moab's prosperity and how far its reputation and economic reach extended, even bordering the Dead Sea and reaching as far inland as Jazer. This grand picture serves as a stark contrast to the destruction detailed in the rest of the chapter, making the lament even more poignant.

Jeremiah 48 32 Bonus section

The lament in Jeremiah 48:32 finds a direct parallel in Isaiah 16:8-9, indicating a shared prophetic tradition concerning Moab or an intertextual reference where Jeremiah is echoing an earlier prophecy. This repetition reinforces the gravity and certainty of the judgment. The "sea" (yam) referenced is almost certainly the Dead Sea (or Salt Sea), as Sibmah and Jazer were located in territories that bordered its eastern plains. The "stretching over the sea" emphasizes an almost mythical extent of Moabite vineyards, potentially suggesting trade beyond their immediate borders or a poetic exaggeration of their territorial dominance and prosperity. The lament implicitly serves as a polemic against Moab's self-reliance, trust in its fertile land, and the worship of its national god Chemosh, demonstrating that even their greatest source of wealth and pride cannot protect them from YHWH's sovereign judgment. The prophet's weeping for Moab contrasts with Moab's own gloating over Judah's misfortunes (e.g., Zeph 2:8), highlighting God's broader compassion.

Jeremiah 48 32 Commentary

Jeremiah 48:32 presents a poignant lament that encapsulates God's judgment and accompanying sorrow over Moab's impending desolation. The prophet weeps with and for Moab, signifying not merely prophetic foretelling but also deep divine empathy, even for an adversary nation facing justly deserved punishment. The core imagery revolves around "the vine of Sibmah," a celebrated source of wine, representing Moab's fertility, prosperity, and cultural identity. The metaphor extends to its "branches stretching over the sea," depicting a vast, flourishing, and economically significant realm that held widespread influence. The repetition of Jazer, another famed agricultural hub, frames the verse, emphasizing the universal nature of the impending agricultural and societal ruin across Moabite lands. This lament serves as a powerful testament to the severity of God's judgment against pride and defiance, while simultaneously revealing a God who mourns the consequences of such actions, even as He executes justice.