Jeremiah 48:6 kjv
Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.
Jeremiah 48:6 nkjv
"Flee, save your lives! And be like the juniper in the wilderness.
Jeremiah 48:6 niv
Flee! Run for your lives; become like a bush in the desert.
Jeremiah 48:6 esv
Flee! Save yourselves! You will be like a juniper in the desert!
Jeremiah 48:6 nlt
Flee for your lives!
Hide in the wilderness!
Jeremiah 48 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 9:10 | "And I will make Jerusalem mounds of ruins, haunts of jackals, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without inhabitant." | Cities laid waste, desolation |
| Jeremiah 49:3 | "Come, let us go up against her in battle!" | Imminent destruction |
| Isaiah 15:5 | "My heart cries out for Moab; her fugitives flee to Zoar, to Eglath-shelishiyah. For by the ascent of Luhith they weep as they go up; indeed, in the descent by Horonaim they cry out destruction." | Similar depiction of Moab's flight |
| Amos 2:2 | "I will send fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the strongholds of Kerioth, and Moab shall die amid the uproar, with shouting, with the sound of the trumpet;" | Judgment on Moab by fire |
| Revelation 18:17-19 | Describes the lament over the fall of Babylon, similar in its scope of destruction. | Economic and political collapse |
| Psalm 78:44 | "He turned their rivers into blood and their streams, so that they could not drink." | God's judgment through natural means |
| Exodus 7:20 | "Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded. Moses lifted up the staff and struck the water that was in the Nile, in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, and all the water in the Nile turned into blood." | Waters turned to blood as judgment |
| Deuteronomy 28:67 | "In the morning you say, 'If only it were evening!' and in the evening you say, 'If only it were morning!' because of the terror of your heart with which you will be terror-stricken, and because of the sight that your eyes will see." | Constant terror of the besieged |
| Lamentations 1:1-2 | "How lonely sits the city that was full of people! How like a widow has she become, she that was great among the nations!" | Lamentation over a fallen city |
| Isaiah 3:1-7 | Prophecy of Jerusalem's fall and the consequences for its people. | Judgment on pride and disobedience |
| Jeremiah 46:1-12 | Prophecy against Egypt, detailing defeat and flight. | Nations facing God's wrath |
| Jeremiah 47:1-7 | Prophecy against the Philistines, predicting their destruction. | Judgment on pagan nations |
| Ezekiel 25:1-7 | Prophecy against Ammon, with themes of devastation. | Judgment on neighboring nations |
| Nahum 1:1-15 | Prophecy against Nineveh, describing its utter ruin. | God's wrath against oppressors |
| Habakkuk 2:6-20 | Woes against those who unjustly enrich themselves. | Consequences of unjust actions |
| Zephaniah 2:1-15 | Judgment upon Moab, Judah, and other nations. | Day of the Lord, universal judgment |
| Proverbs 24:16 | "For the righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity." | Wicked's inability to escape disaster |
| 2 Kings 10:23 | "And at every sacrifice to Baal, Jehu went in with Jehonadab the son of Rechab and his family, to desecrate it for the Baal worshippers, so that there was no longer anyone in the house of Baal, only worshippers of Baal." | Idolatry's ultimate downfall |
| Jeremiah 50:36 | "A sword is upon the liars, and they will act foolishly; a sword is upon her warriors, and they will be dismayed." | The sword of judgment |
| Ezekiel 30:1-19 | Prophecy concerning Egypt's fall. | Divine judgment upon Egypt |
Jeremiah 48 verses
Jeremiah 48 6 Meaning
Jeremiah 48:6 describes a flight from the destruction of Heshbon, depicting utter devastation and fear for the Moabites. It signifies a complete loss of their defenses and a desperate, unheeded escape.
Jeremiah 48 6 Context
Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy directed against Moab, a nation that historically held a hostile relationship with Israel. The chapter is filled with judgment and lament over Moab's impending destruction, stemming from its pride, arrogance, and mistreatment of God's people, particularly after the fall of Jerusalem. Verse 6 speaks of a specific instance of this judgment, where Heshbon, a prominent Moabite city, experiences a desperate and futile flight as invaders arrive. The overarching theme is the universal sovereignty of God and His righteous judgment upon nations that defy Him and oppress His people. This prophecy aligns with Jeremiah's broader message of impending doom for disobedient nations as God's wrath is poured out on those who oppose His will.
Jeremiah 48 6 Word Analysis
"Flee" (Hebrew: נוּסוּ, nusu): Imperative, plural form of the verb "to flee" or "to escape." It denotes a desperate and urgent need to run away from danger.
"Save" (Hebrew: מלטּוּ, maltu): Imperative, plural form of the verb "to save," "to deliver," or "to escape." It carries the sense of securing one's safety.
"Your lives" (Hebrew: נַפְשְׁכֶם, nafshechem): Plural possessive of "nephesh," which can mean "soul," "life," "person," or "self." Here, it emphasizes the entire being, the very essence of life.
"In the wilderness" (Hebrew: בַּמִּדְבָּר, bammidbar): "In" (בְּ, be) prefixed to "ha-midbar," meaning "the wilderness" or "the desert." This evokes a place of exposure, lack of refuge, and vulnerability.
"In the wilderness of Heshbon" (Hebrew: בְּמִדְבַּר חֶשְׁבּוֹן, bemidbar Cheshbon): Specifies the location of their flight, indicating that even the surrounding desolate areas offer no true sanctuary.
"For lo" (Hebrew: כִּי, ki): A conjunctive particle, often translated as "for," "because," or "behold." Here it introduces the reason or consequence of the command to flee.
"I bring" (Hebrew: אֲנִי, ani - I, with implicit verb): The first-person singular pronoun indicating God speaking. The implicit verb suggests the divine action of bringing or initiating.
"The downfall" (Hebrew: הֶרֶס, heres): "Destruction," "ruin," or "demolition." It signifies the complete overthrow and demolition of their city and way of life.
"Of Heshbon" (Hebrew: חֶשְׁבּוֹן, Cheshbon): The name of a prominent city in Moab, known for its past power and significant location.
Group analysis: The imperative verbs "flee" and "save" emphasize the urgency and helplessness of the Moabites. The juxtaposition of "wilderness" and "Heshbon" highlights the absence of any true refuge. God's direct declaration, "I bring the downfall of Heshbon," clearly attributes the impending destruction to His sovereign action as judgment.
Jeremiah 48 6 Bonus Section
The prophecy against Moab in chapter 48 is particularly sharp due to Moab's continuous defiance and oppression of Israel throughout their history. Their pride is a central theme, leading to their downfall. Heshbon was a significant city for the Amorites and then the Moabites, symbolizing their strength and presence in the land. The imagery of fleeing into the wilderness speaks to a loss of all known defenses and accustomed comfort, leaving them vulnerable. This prophecy echoes a consistent pattern in the Old Testament where disobedience and pride incur God's judgment, and God often uses other nations or natural disasters to enact this judgment. The call to flee for their lives without success illustrates the overwhelming nature of God's impending judgment.
Jeremiah 48 6 Commentary
This verse portrays the futility of Moab's escape from the inevitable divine judgment. Heshbon, a city that once boasted of its strength and had occupied territories of Israel, is now reduced to a desperate flight into the surrounding wilderness. The warning to "flee and save your lives" is ironic, as there is no real escape. God Himself declares that He is bringing this destruction upon Heshbon. This reflects the principle that against God's judgment, no earthly defenses or hurried flight can prevail. The reference to the wilderness underscores the complete stripping away of resources and security, leaving them exposed to the enemy and God's wrath.