Jeremiah 48 39

Jeremiah 48:39 kjv

They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.

Jeremiah 48:39 nkjv

"They shall wail: 'How she is broken down! How Moab has turned her back with shame!' So Moab shall be a derision And a dismay to all those about her."

Jeremiah 48:39 niv

"How shattered she is! How they wail! How Moab turns her back in shame! Moab has become an object of ridicule, an object of horror to all those around her."

Jeremiah 48:39 esv

How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are around him."

Jeremiah 48:39 nlt

How it is shattered! Hear the wailing! See the shame of Moab! It has become an object of ridicule, an example of ruin to all its neighbors."

Jeremiah 48 verses

Jeremiah 48 39 meaning

Jeremiah 48:39 vividly declares the comprehensive destruction and abject humiliation of Moab. The verse begins with an lament over Moab's devastation ("How shattered it is!"), followed by the widespread sorrow and public lamentation for its downfall ("They wail!"). It then underscores the profound disgrace Moab experiences, marked by a humiliating retreat or defeat ("How Moab has turned his back in shame!"). The ultimate outcome is that Moab will become a spectacle of scorn and derision, an object of mocking laughter for surrounding nations, and a source of terror and dismay, illustrating its complete and utter collapse.

Jeremiah 48 39 Context

Jeremiah chapter 48 delivers a sustained and detailed prophecy against Moab, one of Judah's ancient and perpetual enemies located to the east of the Dead Sea. This extensive oracle, spanning over forty verses, meticulously outlines the impending judgment of God upon Moab. The nation's destruction is depicted as comprehensive, affecting its cities, strongholds, and inhabitants. Moab's primary sin, frequently highlighted in the prophecy (e.g., Jer 48:29), is its immense pride and arrogance, stemming from its wealth, stable history, and reliance on its god, Chemosh. Verse 39, therefore, serves as a poignant summation of Moab's ultimate fate: total collapse leading to public humiliation and dread, a stark reversal of its former pride and self-assurance, brought about by the invasion of the Babylonians as an instrument of God's wrath.

Jeremiah 48 39 Word analysis

• How shattered it is!
  • Hebrew: אֵיךְ שֶׁבָּרָה (ēḵ šebrāh) – "How it is broken/shattered!"
  • Analysis: The opening exclamation "How!" (ēḵ) denotes a lament or outcry, signaling utter dismay and devastation. Šebrāh means a shattering or breaking, indicating a complete and violent destruction, not mere damage, reflecting the collapse of Moab's entire society and infrastructure. This imagery highlights the finality and brutality of the judgment.
• They wail!
  • Hebrew: הֵילִילוּ (hêlîlû) – "Wail ye!" or "They lament/cry out!"
  • Analysis: An imperative used descriptively or as a command, portraying widespread and unrestrained grief. This indicates a public display of sorrow, a universal response to profound loss and calamity throughout Moab, signaling the collective mourning of a defeated and ruined nation.
• How Moab has turned his back in shame!
  • Hebrew: אֵיךְ הָפְנָה מוֹאָב עֹרֶף בּוֹשׁ! (ēḵ hāfənāh Mō’āḇ ‘ōreḵ bōš!) – "How Moab has turned the back with shame!"
  • Analysis: Again, the lament "How!" emphasizes the depth of the humiliation. "Turned his back" (hāfənāh ‘ōreḵ) is an idiom for fleeing, retreating in defeat, or turning away in disgrace, signifying abandonment of a position or surrender. To do so "in shame" (bōš) accentuates the intense disgrace and humiliation accompanying their defeat. It implies public exposure of weakness and a deep loss of national honor and pride, a direct blow to Moab’s arrogance.
• So Moab will become
  • Analysis: This transitional phrase clearly states the direct consequence of the previous descriptions. It connects Moab’s shattered state and shame to its future identity, emphasizing a definitive and irreversible transformation of status.
• a derision
  • Hebrew: לִשְׂחוֹק (liśəḥôq) – "for laughter/derision/mockery"
  • Analysis: Liśəḥôq implies becoming an object of scornful laughter and mockery. For a proud nation like Moab, being derided by its neighbors was an ultimate indignity, far worse than mere defeat. It signifies a public degradation, where its former glory becomes a source of entertainment for others.
• and a horror
  • Hebrew: וּלְמַחֲתָּה (ûləmaḥattāh) – "and for destruction/dismay/terror/panic"
  • Analysis: Maḥattāh refers to a state of being utterly broken, ruined, or an object of terror and dismay. It suggests that Moab’s destruction will be so complete and terrifying that it evokes dread, panic, and revulsion in those who witness it, serving as a dire warning of divine judgment.
• to all who are around him.
  • Analysis: This phrase underscores the widespread knowledge and public nature of Moab's fate. It will not be a private calamity but a spectacle for its surrounding nations, amplifying its humiliation and serving as an example of divine retribution against arrogance and idol worship.

• Words-Group analysis
  • "How shattered it is! They wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame!": This sequence presents a rapid deterioration of Moab's status from a state of internal ruin and public mourning to one of ultimate disgrace and public humiliation, painting a picture of comprehensive collapse. The repeated "How!" accentuates the mournful and shocking nature of the fall.
  • "So Moab will become a derision and a horror": This phrase captures the twofold external outcome of Moab's internal destruction. It will simultaneously be scorned (derision) and feared (horror), marking a complete reversal of its prior respected (or feared due to strength) standing among nations. The divine judgment ensures that its former pride will now be the cause of its ultimate downfall and ignominy.
  • "a derision and a horror to all who are around him": This final emphasis highlights the broad scope and public nature of Moab's shame and ruin. It serves as a regional example and a potent symbol of God's power over all nations, and His consistent opposition to pride and idolatry, with the destruction broadcast to its observing neighbors.

Jeremiah 48 39 Bonus section

The concept of a nation becoming "a derision and a horror" carries significant weight in biblical prophecy, often acting as a benchmark for divine judgment against those who defied God or oppressed His people. This fate is consistently contrasted with the divine promises of honor and protection for those who walk in covenant faithfulness. For Moab, a nation characterized by its pride (Jer 48:29) and historical enmity towards Israel, this ultimate degradation underscores the justice and power of God, fulfilling ancient warnings against arrogance (Prov 16:18). It further serves as a prophetic and theological statement that the worship of false gods, like Chemosh (Jer 48:13), cannot avert divine judgment; instead, it compounds the shame. The widespread impact "to all who are around him" ensures the message of God's sovereign justice is fully displayed, confirming His control over the destiny of all nations.

Jeremiah 48 39 Commentary

Jeremiah 48:39 functions as a profound summary of Moab’s utter downfall. What began as a boastful, proud nation, confident in its strongholds and the god Chemosh, will conclude in the deepest national humiliation. The verse underscores that Moab's judgment is multi-faceted: internal ruin, collective sorrow, public disgrace, and a final state of being a cautionary spectacle for surrounding nations. Its shattered cities and the ignominious flight of its people lead to public mockery, revealing the impotence of its idols and the futility of national pride against the sovereign God of Israel. This vivid depiction serves as a powerful reminder that all human pride and opposition to God ultimately lead to disgrace and ruin.