Jeremiah 48 7

Jeremiah 48:7 kjv

For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.

Jeremiah 48:7 nkjv

For because you have trusted in your works and your treasures, You also shall be taken. And Chemosh shall go forth into captivity, His priests and his princes together.

Jeremiah 48:7 niv

Since you trust in your deeds and riches, you too will be taken captive, and Chemosh will go into exile, together with his priests and officials.

Jeremiah 48:7 esv

For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken; and Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials.

Jeremiah 48:7 nlt

Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill,
you will be taken captive.
Your god Chemosh, with his priests and officials,
will be hauled off to distant lands!

Jeremiah 48 verses

Jeremiah 48 7 Meaning

This verse prophesies the destruction and subjugation of Moab by the Assyrians, emphasizing their ultimate pride and boastfulness leading to their downfall. God will send a destroyer against Moab.

Jeremiah 48 7 Context

Jeremiah 48 is a prophecy specifically directed against the nation of Moab. The chapter details the judgment that will come upon Moab due to its pride, its mockery of Israel, and its reliance on its fortified cities and strength. Moab, a neighbor to Israel, had a long history of antagonistic interactions, notably in Numbers 22-25 where Balaam was hired to curse Israel. This prophecy is part of a larger series of oracles in Jeremiah concerning the nations, highlighting God's sovereignty over all peoples and His righteous judgment against sin and rebellion. Historically, Moab would eventually fall to the Neo-Assyrian Empire, and later to Babylon, fulfilling these pronouncements.

Jeremiah 48 7 Word analysis

• "And" (וְ, ve): A conjunctive particle, linking this verse to the preceding judgment on Moab. It signifies continuity and consequence.
• "it" (הוא, hu): Refers back to Moab.
• "shall come" (בָּא, ba): Indicates future certainty.
• "to pass" (וְהָיָה, vhhyh): "and it shall be," emphasizes a definite occurrence.
• "that" (כִּי, ki): Introducing a subordinate clause, explaining the condition or time of the action.
• "as soon as" (בַּעֲבוּר, bʿbvwr): Signifies the immediate consequence, "because of" or "when."
• "I have" (אֲנִי, 'anhi): First-person singular, referring to God.
• "rooted you out" (שֹׁרַשְׁתִּי, shorashthi): From שֹׁרֶשׁ (shoresh), meaning root. Denotes a complete eradication or uprooting, like a plant pulled from the soil. God is the active agent.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "it" (הוּא, hu): Refers back to Moab.
• "shall come" (בָּא, ba): Future certainty.
• "to pass" (וְהָיָה, vhhyh): "and it shall be."
• "when" (אַחֲרֵי, 'aḥary): Signifying after or when.
• "you" (אַתָּה, 'athtah): Plural "you," referring to Moab as a nation.
• "are broken" (שָּׁבַרְתִּי, shavarti): From שָׁבַר (shavar), to break, shatter. Implies defeat and devastation. God is the one who will break them.
• "that" (כִּי, ki): Introducing the consequence.
• "your" (שָׂרֵי, sarei): Plural "your," your neighbors.
• "neighbors" (שְׁכֵנַיִךְ, shakhnayikh): Those living nearby, familiar with Moab.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "they" (וְהַיּוֹדְעִים, vhayod'im): "and those who know."
• "that" (אוֹתָךְ, otakh): "you."
• "know you" (יָדְעוּ, yad'u): To be acquainted with, understand.
• "no more" (לֹא, lo): Negation.
• "ye shall say" (תֹּאמְרִי, to'mri): Second person feminine singular verb, suggesting a collective voice speaking, or referring to Moab as a feminine entity. "You shall say."
• "We have sinned" (חָטָאנוּ, ḥatanu): From חָטָא (ḥata), to sin, miss the mark. Confession of sin.
• "against the LORD" (בַּיהוָה, bāYHWH): Directed towards Yahweh.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "your" (מִּי, mi): Contraction of מִּן (min), "from," and י (i), "of."
• "own" (נַחֲלָתְךָ, naḥalathkh): Possessive pronoun, "your inheritance" or "possession."
• "nation" (הָעַמִּים, ha'ammim): The people.
• "shall say" (אֲמָרוּ, 'amru): "they shall say," referring to the people.
• "We have sinned" (חָטָאנוּ, ḥatanu): Repetition of the confession.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "enter" (כָּנְסוּ, knesu): From כָּנַס (kanas), to gather, assemble. Often used in a collective sense.
• "into" (אֶל, 'el): Directional preposition.
• "the kingdom" (מַלְכוּת, malkhuth): Royalty, reign, kingdom.
• "of" (שָּׁמַיִם, shamayim): Heaven. This phrase might carry a sarcastic or ironic meaning, suggesting a state of oblivion or destruction rather than actual entrance into the heavenly realm. Or it can mean oblivion to their own prosperity.
• "Behold" (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection to draw attention.
• "I" (אֲנִי, 'anhi): God.
• "will bring" (מֵבִיא, mevī'): Active participle, "bringing."
• "an enemy" (אֹיֵב, 'oyev): Adversary, foe.
• "from afar" (מֵרָחוֹק, merahoq): From a distant place.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "the enemy" (וְהַמְשַׁחֵט, vhamshacheth): From שָׁחַט (shachath), to slaughter, destroy. Refers to a destroyer.
• "from a far country" (מִּבֶּצַר, mibbetsar): "from a fortified place" or "from the distance."
• "to" (לְ, le): Purpose.
• "vex you" (צוּר, tsur): From צוּר (tsur), to distress, oppress, besiege.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "to" (לְ, le): Purpose.
• "spoil your land" (בֹּזֵת, bozeth): From בּוּז (buz), to plunder, spoil.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "to" (לְ, le): Purpose.
• "make desolate" (לְהַשִׁימוֹת, lehashimoth): To lay waste, make desolate.
• "your" (יוֹשְׁבֶיהָ, yoshebeyha): "its inhabitants," referring to the land.
• "And" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "the land" (הָאָרֶץ, ha'arets): The land.
• "of" (לְ, le): Preposition.
• "your glory" (כְּבוֹדֵךְ, kebhodhekh): "your glory," "honor," or "preciousness." Moab's land was fertile and well-regarded.
• "shall be" (תִּהְיֶה, tihyeh): Future certainty.
• "like" (כְּ, ke): Simile.
• "the wilderness" (מִדְבַּר, midbar): Desert, wilderness.
• "of" (בְּנֵי, benei): "sons of," meaning pertaining to.
• "the children of Zion" (צִיּוֹן, tsiyyon): Zion, Jerusalem. Refers to the desolate state Jerusalem had been in due to sin and judgment.
• "The LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): God.
• "hath wrought" (פָּעַל, pa'al): From פָּעַל (pa'al), to do, work, act.
• "this" (זֹאת, zoth): This thing, referring to the coming judgment.
• "For" (כִּי, ki): Explanatory conjunction, "because."
• "I" (אֲנִי, 'anhi): God.
• "have destroyed" (הֶחֱרַבְתִּי, heḥeravthi): Causative form of חָרַב (ḥarav), to be desolate, laid waste. God is the one who brings desolation.
• "you" (אֹתָךְ, otakh): Moab.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "turned you upside down" (וְהָפַכְתִּי, vhaphakhti): Causative form of הָפַךְ (hapakh), to turn, overturn, subvert. Indicates complete destruction and overthrow.
• "And" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "the men" (אַנְשֵׁי, 'anshei): Men, people.
• "of" (לְבָבֵךְ, levavvekh): "your heart," suggesting those close to Moab or its own heart.
• "your" (אַנְשֵׁי, 'anshei): Possessive.
• "own heart" (בְּעָבַר אֲבָסַךְ, beʿavar 'avassakh): The literal translation here seems to have an error. A more accurate Hebrew understanding might be from context or alternative textual readings. A common interpretation relates to people Moab relied upon or trusted, possibly their own leaders or allies. If interpreted as "people of your innermost being/desire" it can speak to self-reliance.
• "shall hate you" (שְׂנֵא, sone): From שָׂנֵא (sane), to hate.
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "your" (וּמְלַאכְתְּךָ, umlākhtkha): "and your work" or "your possession."
• "own work" (בָּטְחוּ, batḥu): From בָּטַח (bataḥ), to trust, rely on. This phrasing suggests reliance on their own accomplishments or security.
• "Therefore" (עַל, 'al): Introducing consequence.
• "the LORD" (יְהוָה, YHWH): God.
• "shall overthrow you" (הוּכַס, huḵas): Passive Niphal of כסס (kasas), to shave or cut off. This word isn't standard in this form. Likely a scribe error or rare usage, perhaps intended to mean "cast down" or "overturn," aligning with other verses about destruction. It could also imply being "uncovered" or exposed.
• "And" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "they" (וּבָאוּ, uvau): "and they will come."
• "shall come" (עָלַיִךְ, 'alayikh): "upon you."
• "against you" (בְּשַׁלַּיִךְ, bishallayikh): This word "shallaiyikh" is obscure. It may refer to provisions, stores, or wealth. "Against your stores" or "against your wealth."
• "and" (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
• "fear" (פַּחַד, paḥad): Fear, terror.
• "shall be" (יִהְיֶה, yihyeh): Future certainty.
• "upon you" (עָלַיִךְ, 'alayikh): Upon you.
• "as" (כְּ, ke): Simile.
• "the fear" (כְּפַחַד, kefapḥad): The fear.
• "of a tempest" (סוּפָה, suphah): Storm, tempest, whirlwind. Evokes sudden, overwhelming destruction.

Groups of words analysis:

• "rooted you out... broken... neighbors... know you no more": This progression signifies a complete dismantling of Moab's existence. First, it is uprooted, implying loss of foundation. Then, it is broken, signifying utter defeat. Finally, its own neighbors forget it, marking a total societal erasure and loss of identity.
• "We have sinned against the LORD. And your own nation shall say, We have sinned.": This repetition underscores the acknowledgment of guilt and responsibility, both by the people and perhaps their leadership, recognizing that their ruin is a consequence of their actions against God.
• "I will bring an enemy from afar, and the enemy from a far country... to spoil your land": This imagery highlights the overwhelming and unexpected nature of the invasion. The "enemy from afar" and "enemy from a far country" emphasize that no defense or ally will be sufficient. The land itself, the source of Moab's prosperity and identity, will be plundered.
• "the land of your glory, shall be like the wilderness of the children of Zion": This striking simile compares the fate of Moab's prized land to the desolation experienced by Jerusalem (Zion) when it was conquered and devastated. It draws a direct parallel between their destinies, often linking Moab's future ruin to their taunting of Jerusalem during its times of trouble.
• "And the men of your own heart... shall hate you, and your own work.": This suggests a complete societal breakdown where even those closest or trusted (perhaps representing self-reliance or national pride) turn against Moab, rejecting its endeavors.
• "Therefore the LORD shall overthrow you. And they shall come against you, and fear shall be upon you, as the fear of a tempest.": This is the ultimate declaration of divine action. God directly orchestrates the overthrow, and the impending invasion brings overwhelming fear, likened to the chaotic force of a storm.

Jeremiah 48 7 Bonus section

The phrase "enter into the kingdom of heaven" is particularly striking in its Hebrew phrasing ("וּבָאֵת שְׁמֵי מַלְכּוּת", "u'va'eth shmei malkhut" which more literally translates to "and it shall come into the rule of heavens/kings"). This is not a literal ascension to heaven. In the context of judgment on nations, it likely refers to obliteration from existence, to be brought to nothing, or to enter a realm of complete forgetfulness. Some scholars suggest it might ironically allude to being reckoned amongst those who might have boasted in a divine covenant, now being cast out, or simply refers to the supreme ruler of the land who is now heaven (God), leaving their own reign non-existent. It starkly contrasts with the true heavenly kingdom for believers. The "fear of a tempest" powerfully conveys the suddenness, chaos, and all-encompassing nature of the judgment God brings. Moab’s pride was rooted in its geographic isolation and its strong cities, making their downfall particularly devastating.

Jeremiah 48 7 Commentary

This verse describes the utter ruin of Moab as a direct consequence of God's judgment. It's not merely a political defeat, but a comprehensive dismantling of their identity and existence. The repeated confession, "We have sinned against the Lord," indicates a retrospective understanding of their wrongdoing as the cause of their downfall. The prophecy likens their devastated land to the wilderness of Zion, a poignant comparison that speaks to Moab's past scorn towards Jerusalem's suffering. God declares that He Himself will bring the enemy, signifying His absolute sovereignty in national destruction. The breakdown of internal trust and the overwhelming fear of an impending tempest underscore the completeness of the impending catastrophe. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of pride and defiance against God, and His ultimate authority over nations.