Jeremiah 48 46

Jeremiah 48:46 kjv

Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.

Jeremiah 48:46 nkjv

Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh perish; For your sons have been taken captive, And your daughters captive.

Jeremiah 48:46 niv

Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh are destroyed; your sons are taken into exile and your daughters into captivity.

Jeremiah 48:46 esv

Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh are undone, for your sons have been taken captive, and your daughters into captivity.

Jeremiah 48:46 nlt

"What sorrow awaits you, O people of Moab!
The people of the god Chemosh are destroyed!
Your sons and your daughters
have been taken away as captives.

Jeremiah 48 46 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jeremiah 48:1Against Moab.Judgment against Moab
Jeremiah 48:4-6Moab's destruction and weeping.Lamentation over destruction
Numbers 21:29Moab crying out regarding its gods.Moab's idols and practices
Isaiah 15:2Moab's lament over its cities.Shared prophetic theme
Judges 11:24Introduction of Chemosh as Moab's god.Chemosh and Israel's history
2 Samuel 8:2Moab brought under David's rule.Historical subjugation of Moab
1 Kings 11:7Solomon allowed worship of Chemosh.Idolatry and foreign influence
2 Kings 23:13Josiah defiled places for Chemosh worship.Religious reforms against idolatry
Jeremiah 52:10Nebuchadnezzar blinding Zedekiah.Desolation and judgment
Psalm 106:28Israel joined themselves to Baal of Peor.Associating with pagan deities
Revelation 18:7Babylon's pride and self-exaltation.Boasting and its downfall
Ezekiel 21:20-23Predictions of devastation for the king of Babylon.Judgment on kingdoms
Isaiah 16:6Moab's pride in its boasts.Moab's arrogance
Amos 2:1-2Judgment on Moab for desecrating Edom's bones.Moab's transgressions
1 Corinthians 10:8Warning against sexual immorality, linking to Baal of Peor incident.Moral implications of idolatry
Joshua 13:21Moab's territory listed, including Nebo.Geographical context
Jeremiah 50:2Babylon's downfall announced.Judgment on a major oppressor
Daniel 11:44-45Kings of the north and south.Geopolitical conflict theme
Isaiah 25:10-12Moab to be trodden down.Prophetic judgments on Moab
Jeremiah 48:39The crying of the inhabitants of Aroer.Specific instances of lament
Jeremiah 48:11Moab as settled on its dregs.Description of Moab's state

Jeremiah 48 verses

Jeremiah 48 46 Meaning

"For the head of Moab is desolate; he is made to lament. The boast of Chemosh has ceased." This verse declares the utter devastation of Moab and the silencing of its primary deity, Chemosh, symbolizing the complete downfall of the nation and its religious confidence.

Jeremiah 48 46 Context

Jeremiah chapter 48 prophesies the judgment of God upon Moab. Moab, a neighboring kingdom to Israel, had a long history of enmity and opposition towards God's people. The chapter details the impending destruction and humiliation that will befall Moab due to its pride, its oppression of Israel, and its idolatrous practices, particularly the worship of Chemosh. Verse 46 serves as a concluding statement, summarizing the utter ruin and silencing of their national deity and the resulting despair. The prophecy is delivered within the broader context of God's judgment on the surrounding nations for their wickedness, often enacted through instruments like the Babylonian Empire.

Jeremiah 48 46 Word Analysis

  • "For": Indicates a reason or explanation for the preceding pronouncements.
  • "the head": Refers to the capital city or the supreme leader. It signifies the highest or most important part. In this context, it likely refers to the primary seat of Moabite power and governance.
  • "of Moab": Designates the subject of the prophecy, the nation of Moab.
  • "is desolate": Signifies extreme emptiness, ruin, and devastation. It paints a picture of complete destruction and abandonment. The Hebrew word can imply an untrodden or uninhabited place.
  • "he": Refers back to the "head of Moab" or perhaps Moab as a corporate entity.
  • "is made to lament": Indicates a state of sorrow, grief, and mourning. It means they are compelled or reduced to lamenting, a direct result of the desolation.
  • "The boast": Refers to pride, arrogance, or confident exaltation. It highlights the false security and reliance Moab had in its national strength or its gods.
  • "of Chemosh": Identifies Chemosh, the principal deity worshipped by the Moabites. Chemosh was seen as their national protector and the source of their confidence and victories.
  • "has ceased": Denotes an end, a stopping, or a disappearance. It signifies that the reason for their boasting, their god Chemosh, can no longer provide protection or sustenance, thus their confident pride is gone.

Words-group analysis

  • "the head of Moab is desolate": This phrase captures the total destruction of the center of Moabite power and governance. It implies that not only cities but also leadership and control have been obliterated.
  • "he is made to lament": This highlights the inevitable consequence of such desolation: profound sorrow and despair, a stark contrast to their previous confidence.
  • "The boast of Chemosh has ceased": This powerfully contrasts Moab's former reliance and pride in their god with their present powerlessness. The failure of their deity to protect them strips away their arrogant confidence.

Jeremiah 48 46 Bonus Section

The association of Moab with Chemosh is significant as Chemosh was a god often associated with conquest and, at times, war and even human sacrifice, practices abhorrent to the Lord. The prophesied destruction of Moab is a demonstration of Yahweh's power and judgment against such pagan worship and the national arrogance that accompanied it. The lament over Moab was a theme echoed by other prophets, such as Isaiah, and even addressed by Jesus in the parable of the tenants (Matthew 21:41), which refers to the inheritance given to others when the original heirs are condemned, pointing to the spiritual fulfillment of judgment and the expansion of God's kingdom beyond the initial recipients. The ultimate "boast" that must cease is any pride in self, kingdom, or idol that exalts itself against God's authority.

Jeremiah 48 46 Commentary

Jeremiah 48:46 is a powerful, concluding statement on the utter destruction of Moab. The "head of Moab" refers to its capital or its most significant leader, which is now rendered desolate, a testament to God's judgment. This desolation forces Moab into a state of lament, their previous pride and boasting replaced by profound sorrow. The crucial element is the silencing of "Chemosh," Moab's national deity. This signifies not only the military defeat of Moab but also the invalidation of their gods. The destruction of their kingdom and the inability of their god to save them demonstrate the sovereignty of the God of Israel over all nations and their idols. It’s a stark warning against idolatry and misplaced confidence in human strength or false deities. The verse emphasizes that all forms of national pride and religious reliance that are not centered on the true God will ultimately crumble.