Jeremiah 48 9

Jeremiah 48:9 kjv

Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.

Jeremiah 48:9 nkjv

"Give wings to Moab, That she may flee and get away; For her cities shall be desolate, Without any to dwell in them.

Jeremiah 48:9 niv

Put salt on Moab, for she will be laid waste; her towns will become desolate, with no one to live in them.

Jeremiah 48:9 esv

"Give wings to Moab, for she would fly away; her cities shall become a desolation, with no inhabitant in them.

Jeremiah 48:9 nlt

Oh, that Moab had wings
so she could fly away,
for her towns will be left empty,
with no one living in them.

Jeremiah 48 verses

Jeremiah 48 9 meaning

Jeremiah 48:9 conveys a grim, sarcastic command directed towards Moab. It calls for them to be given "wings" or means of swift flight, anticipating their imminent, utter destruction. The verse pronounces that despite any efforts to flee, their cities will become desolate, completely depopulated and uninhabited. This is a prophetic declaration of the Lord's inescapable judgment upon Moab due to their pride, idolatry, and hostility towards Israel. The urgency for escape is juxtaposed with the certainty of total ruin.

Jeremiah 48 9 Context

Jeremiah Chapter 48 contains a detailed, extensive oracle concerning the judgment of Moab. This oracle is one of several prophecies against foreign nations in Jeremiah (chapters 46-51), demonstrating Yahweh's universal sovereignty and judgment. Moab, a people descended from Lot (Gen 19:37), had a long history of animosity toward Israel, from opposing them during the Exodus (Num 22-24) to constant skirmishes. They were known for their pride (Jer 48:29), their wealth, their fertile land, and their reliance on their god Chemosh (Jer 48:7, 13, 46). The chapter details their fall from their highest city (e.g., Kiriathaim, Nebo, Beth-gamul) to their lowest, using vivid imagery of wine being poured out (Jer 48:11) and broken pottery. Verse 9 is a sarcastic or urgent call for Moab to find a means of rapid escape, knowing it is already too late; their entire land will become utterly devoid of human life. The historical context indicates these prophecies were largely fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army, which also conquered Judah, highlighting that even powerful neighboring nations were subject to God's ultimate decree. The passage directly contrasts Moab's trust in its false gods and material prosperity with the reality of Yahweh's supreme power.

Jeremiah 48 9 Word analysis

• "Give wings":

  • The Hebrew is tənu-tsīṣ (תְּנוּ־צִיץ). Tənu is an imperative, "Give!" or "Provide!". Tsīṣ literally means "flower," "blossom," "plumage," "fringe," or "plate/sheet of gold."
  • This phrase is difficult to translate directly. In this context, tsīṣ takes on the meaning of "plumage" or "pinions," implying a means of flight, similar to a bird's swift escape.
  • Significance: It's likely a sarcastic command or a dire warning. If sarcastic, it mocks Moab's hopeless situation, as if telling a condemned person to grow wings and fly away. If a warning, it urges immediate, desperate flight because destruction is so absolute. It signifies a futile hope for escape in the face of certain doom. The Septuagint offers an alternative reading related to giving a "sign" or "warning," showing the ancient struggle with this unique phrasing.

• "to Moab":

  • Hebrew: ləMôʾāḇ (לְמוֹאָב).
  • Significance: Directs the prophecy of doom to this specific nation, known for its antagonism towards Israel and its worship of Chemosh. It underlines that this is a specific divine judgment on a distinct people.

• "that she may flee and escape":

  • Hebrew: tēṣēʾ māṣōʾ (תֵּצֵא מָצֹא). Tēṣēʾ is "she may go out," and māṣōʾ is often translated as "finding" or "escape" (often used as an infinitive of result).
  • Significance: This clause articulates the purpose of "giving wings"—to enable flight to safety. It emphasizes the desperation of the situation. Despite their best efforts, this escape will ultimately fail to prevent the devastation of their land.

• "for her cities shall become a desolation":

  • Hebrew: kî-ʿārehā təhiyênā ləšammāh (כִּי־עָרֶיהָ תִּהְיֶינָה לְשַׁמָּה). Kî ("for/because") introduces the reason for the call to flight. ʿĀrehā is "her cities." Təhiyênā means "they shall become." Ləšammāh means "a desolation," "waste," "ruin."
  • Significance: This reveals the horrific extent of the impending judgment. It is not just a defeat but total devastation of the physical infrastructure and habitation. The "cities" represent the strength, wealth, and identity of a nation. Their becoming a desolation is a complete societal collapse.

• "without inhabitant":

  • Hebrew: mēʾên yôšēḇ (מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב). Mēʾên is "from no," or "without." Yôšēḇ means "dweller" or "inhabitant."
  • Significance: This phrase intensifies "desolation," ensuring no one remains. It describes utter depopulation, indicating total destruction. No recovery is possible, fulfilling a common prophetic motif for severe judgment. This means the complete termination of the people and their culture in that land, fulfilling a curse on those who defy God.

Words-group analysis

• "Give wings to Moab, that she may flee and escape": This entire phrase, while literally suggesting provision of means for flight, carries a profound undertone of futility. It highlights the severity of the coming judgment by either sarcastically offering a futile solution or urging a desperate flight that ultimately proves insufficient to save their homeland. The imagery evokes a bird fleeing from a snare or predator, but for Moab, the trap of divine judgment is inescapable for their land.

• "for her cities shall become a desolation, without inhabitant": This declaration unequivocally states the outcome regardless of any attempt to flee. It contrasts Moab's pride in its fortified cities and agricultural wealth (Jer 48:7, 11) with their inevitable abandonment and destruction. This emphasizes that human structures and defenses are powerless against divine judgment. It signifies the end of Moabite national identity in their historical territory.

Jeremiah 48 9 Bonus section

The seemingly obscure command "Give wings" (תְּנוּ־צִיץ, tənu-tsīṣ) in the Hebrew raises a linguistic curiosity that underlines the prophetic message. While tsīṣ can mean "plumage," which then logically leads to "wings" as a means of flight, some scholars also explore the possibility of a direct or indirect reference to "blossom" or "flower." If this nuance is considered, it might evoke a fleeting, ephemeral quality—like a flower that blossoms and quickly withers—symbolizing Moab's transient power or perhaps even sarcastically suggesting they "sprout" or "blossom" a means of escape. However, the prevailing understanding remains that of physical flight. The interpretive breadth itself attests to the unique and evocative nature of Jeremiah's prophetic language, designed to arrest the listener and drive home the severity of the divine judgment. This stark imagery serves as a powerful polemic, demonstrating the utter inadequacy of Moab's trusted fortifications and their national god, Chemosh, against the omnipotent Yahweh.

Jeremiah 48 9 Commentary

Jeremiah 48:9 serves as a potent summary of God's unyielding judgment against Moab, encapsulated in an almost mocking decree. The command to "give wings" highlights the desperation and the immense, almost supernatural, need for speed in flight to evade a destruction that is certain and complete. It underscores that even with the fastest means of escape, the land and its urban centers are doomed. The phrase paints a vivid picture of widespread panic and the breaking of national cohesion as people flee for their lives, yet their escape does not negate the complete ruin of their homeland. The destruction is absolute, rendering their proud cities barren and empty, a silent testimony to their rebellion and reliance on false gods like Chemosh (Jer 48:7, 13, 46). This verse resonates with the broader biblical principle that human pride and trust in earthly powers or false deities ultimately lead to devastation when confronted by the sovereign power of the Lord.

• Example: Like a person trying to outrun a coming flood by scrambling up a hill, only to find the entire region submerged, the command to Moab to "flee" implies an impending overwhelming disaster.