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 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 48:1 | Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: “Woe to Nebo, for it is plundered! Kiriathaim is put to shame and taken; | Moab's judgment |
| Jeremiah 48:7 | For because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken. And Chemosh shall go forth into exile, his priests and his princes together. | Trust in gods/idolatry |
| Isaiah 15:2 | To Dibon they go up in mourning. On Nebo and on Medeba all Moab cries out; every head is shaved, every beard clipped. | Moab's lament |
| Isaiah 44:24-25 | Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself, who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish, | Idolatry and false prophets |
| Hosea 10:6 | It shall be carried to Assyria as tribute to a great king. Ephraim shall be put to shame; Israel shall be ashamed of its counselors. | Shame of counselors/idols |
| Psalms 2:12 | Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. | Refuges in God |
| Romans 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's protection |
| 1 John 5:18 | We know that no one born of God sins; but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one does not touch him. | Protection from evil |
| Jeremiah 46:28 | “Fear not, O Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the LORD. “Though I make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, of you I will not make a full end, but I will correct you justly; I will by no means leave you unpunished.” | God's discipline of His people |
| Ezekiel 35:7-8 | I will desolate the hill country of Seir, cut off from it all who come and go. I will fill your mountains with the slain. | Judgment on enemies |
| Amos 5:27 | Therefore I will have you exiled beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is the God of hosts. | Exile |
| Jeremiah 17:5 | Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the LORD. | Trust in man cursed |
| Jeremiah 39:9 | And the Chaldeans carried the people of Jerusalem away as captives to Babylon, and the king's palace they burned with fire. | Captivity/Exile to Babylon |
| Jeremiah 50:25 | The LORD has opened his armory and brought out the weapons of his indignation, for the Lord GOD of hosts has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans. | God's instruments of judgment |
| Isaiah 25:10 | For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trodden down under him as straw is thrashed into the dung heap. | Moab trodden down |
| Micah 6:9 | The LORD’s voice cries to the city— and it is wisdom to fear your name: “Hear, you tribe and the assembly of the city!” | Wisdom in fearing God |
| Lamentations 1:8 | Jerusalem sinned a great sin; therefore she has become a reproach. All who honored her despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns backward. | Jerusalem's sin and disgrace |
| Joel 3:2 | I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of my people and my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and by whom they have divided my land. | Judgment of nations |
| Nahum 3:4 | Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot, the mistress of sorceries, who sells nations with her whoredoms and families with her sorceries, | Harlotry and sorcery |
| Matthew 24:21 | For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. | Great Tribulation |
Jeremiah 48 verses
Jeremiah 48 9 Meaning
Give "Molech" wings, that it may fly and escape; its streams are dry and its springs are seized. The exiles of Zion shall inherit the land of the strangers, possessing its cities of ruins.
Jeremiah 48 9 Context
This verse is part of a larger prophecy against Moab, a nation often in conflict with Israel. Jeremiah chapters 48 specifically details the coming judgment upon Moab due to its pride, idolatry, and past oppressions against the people of God. Moab, like other surrounding nations, was to be judged for its transgressions. The prophet Isaiah also foretold the devastation of Moab (Isaiah 15-16). This chapter describes the desolation of Moabite cities and the futility of their gods in saving them. The verse concludes by shifting focus to the restoration and inheritance of the land by the exiles of Zion, implying a future hope for Israel amidst the judgment of the nations.
Jeremiah 48 9 Word Analysis
- Give: This is an imperative verb, commanding an action.
- wings: A symbol of flight and escape, here used ironically for a god that cannot protect its worshippers.
- Molech: A Canaanite deity associated with fire and child sacrifice. Its inclusion here signifies Moab's participation in abhorrent practices condemned by God.
- Significance: Molech (Moloch) is directly linked to the abomination of offering children as sacrifices, particularly by the Ammonites and Canaanites. Such practices were vehemently condemned in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5), carrying the penalty of death and resulting in the land's defilement.
- it may fly: A desire for escape, but here rendered futile for an idol.
- fly: Implies a means of escape or evasion.
- escape: To get away from danger or judgment.
- its streams are dry: Indicates a lack of vitality, sustenance, and a resource that has failed.
- Significance: Water sources were vital for life and agriculture in the ancient Near East. The drying up of streams symbolizes utter desolation and the collapse of Moab's strength and provisions.
- its springs are seized: Means that its water sources are captured or cut off, signifying total defeat and loss of resources.
- The exiles of Zion: Refers to the people of Judah (the southern kingdom, with Jerusalem as its capital) who were carried away into Babylonian captivity.
- shall inherit: To take possession of property, a common theme in God's promises and judgments.
- the land of the strangers: Refers to Moab's territory, now to be possessed by exiled Israelites.
- possessing: To own or control.
- its cities: Refers to the cities of Moab.
- of ruins: Indicates a state of destruction and desolation.
Jeremiah 48 9 Bonus Section
The reference to Molech directly connects Moab's impending judgment with its participation in or proximity to practices abhorrent to Yahweh. The emphasis on the drying up of streams and seizure of springs underscores the completeness of the destruction predicted, rendering the land utterly barren and uninhabitable, symbolizing the ultimate failure of national security and prosperity dependent on false gods and military strength rather than the LORD. The act of "inheriting the land of strangers" for the exiles of Zion is a testament to God's sovereign power to re-establish His people and His covenant even after severe chastisement, transforming their exile into a prelude for greater possession. This aspect reflects God's disciplinary, yet redemptive, actions toward His chosen people throughout history.
Jeremiah 48 9 Commentary
The verse pronounces judgment upon Moab and its pagan god Molech. The inability of Molech to fly away or prevent the drying up of its streams illustrates the powerlessness of idols to save their worshippers from divine judgment. The people of Moab are depicted as ultimately relying on a false deity that offers no true protection. In contrast, the verse promises that the exiled people of Judah, referred to as "the exiles of Zion," will inherit the land that is being judged. This foretells a reversal of fortunes, where the oppressed will possess the lands of their oppressors, signifying God's faithfulness to His covenant people even amidst their captivity and the desolation of their enemies. It highlights the ultimate triumph of God's people over the nations that oppose them, echoing promises of restoration and territorial inheritance found throughout Scripture.