Jeremiah 49 3

Jeremiah 49:3 kjv

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.

Jeremiah 49:3 nkjv

"Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is plundered! Cry, you daughters of Rabbah, Gird yourselves with sackcloth! Lament and run to and fro by the walls; For Milcom shall go into captivity With his priests and his princes together.

Jeremiah 49:3 niv

"Wail, Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed! Cry out, you inhabitants of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth and mourn; rush here and there inside the walls, for Molek will go into exile, together with his priests and officials.

Jeremiah 49:3 esv

"Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is laid waste! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah! Put on sackcloth, lament, and run to and fro among the hedges! For Milcom shall go into exile, with his priests and his officials.

Jeremiah 49:3 nlt

"Cry out, O Heshbon,
for the town of Ai is destroyed.
Weep, O people of Rabbah!
Put on your clothes of mourning.
Weep and wail, hiding in the hedges,
for your god Molech, with his priests and officials,
will be hauled off to distant lands.

Jeremiah 49 3 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jeremiah 49:2"Therefore behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I willJudgment on Ammon's arrogance
inflict battle cry upon Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall become a ruin
ous heap, and its villages shall be burned with fire; and Israel shall
possess those who dispossess him," says the Lord.
Ezekiel 25:3"and say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says theOracle against Ammon
Lord God: Because you said, “Aha!” over my sanctuary when it was profaned,
and over the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and over the house
of Judah when they went into exile...
Zephaniah 2:8"I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, withJudgment on surrounding nations
which they have taunted my people and made boasts against the border of the
holy land."
Amos 1:13"Thus says the Lord: For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and forOracle against Ammon
four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open the
pregnant women of Gilead to enlarge their territory.
Isaiah 15:1-9(Full chapter on the destruction of Moab, a neighboring nation, often linkedMoab's judgment
with Ammon in prophetic oracles)
Jeremiah 48:47"Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab in the latter days," declares theMoab's restoration context
Lord. "To that point the judgment on Moab."
Jeremiah 27:3"... and the king of Judah and the kings of the peoples by the hand ofProphecy about Babylonian exile
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, that they may be his servants, and also
all the vessels of the house of the Lord, and the vessels of the king of
Judah, and to bring them to Babylon."
Jeremiah 25:9"behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north," declares the Lord,Judgment by Babylon
"and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring
them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these nations
around, and I will utterly destroy them and make them a horror, a hiss, and
an everlasting desolation."
Isaiah 10:5-15Describes Assyria as God's "rod" of anger against the nations, and futureGod uses nations for judgment
judgment on Assyria.
Ezekiel 21:18-23Details the prophecy against the king of Babylon using an oracle throughKing of Babylon's route
signs and a symbolic prophecy, including a choice of path towards Rabbah.
Lamentations 2:16"All your enemies open their mouths against you; they hiss and gnash theirEnemies gloating over Jerusalem
teeth; they cry, ‘We have devoured her!’ ‘Here we have come! We have made
it the day we hoped for; we have seen it.’"
Psalm 92:11"My eyes shall see my enemies; my ears shall hear of the wicked who riseVindication of the righteous
against me."
Proverbs 3:25"Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of the ruin of the wicked when itTrust in God, not fear
comes."
Psalm 74:23"Do not forget the cry of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies thatPrayer for deliverance
steadily increases."
Psalm 55:15"Let death seize them; let them go down alive into Sheol; for evil is inJudgment on adversaries
their dwellings and in their hearts."
Revelation 18:7-8Describes the fall of Babylon: "So shall Babylon, that great city, beBabylon's future destruction
thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. For her merchants were the
great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery."
Matthew 25:31-46Parable of the Sheep and Goats, illustrating divine judgment and separationFinal judgment
based on actions toward others.
Acts 7:42-43Stephen recounts Israel's idolatry and how God gave them up to worship theIsrael's idolatry
host of heaven, referencing Amos's prophecy.

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 3 Meaning

This verse pronounces judgment upon the Ammonites. It signifies their coming devastation and the loss of their capital city, Rabbah. The land of Ammon will be destroyed, and its people scattered, indicating a complete overthrow.

Jeremiah 49 3 Context

Jeremiah 49 contains a series of oracles against the surrounding nations: Edom, the Philistines, Tyre, Sidon, and finally, Ammon. These prophecies are part of God’s broader judgment against nations that opposed Israel and sometimes even oppressed them. The Ammonites, like others, are condemned for their pride, their rejoicing over Israel's distress, and their actions against God’s people. This chapter follows the extensive prophecy against Babylon, and by extension, against all nations that participated in Judah’s destruction and exile. The oracle against Ammon likely pertains to the period of or before the Babylonian invasion and exile, but its fulfillment extends to later historical conflicts and ultimate divine judgment. The historical context involves the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East, where nations frequently engaged in warfare and manipulation. The Ammonites, in particular, had a contentious relationship with Israel, often being adversaries.

Jeremiah 49 3 Word Analysis

  • “So also…”: Indicates a parallel in judgment. Just as judgment is pronounced on other nations, so too will Ammon face it.
  • “Ammon”: Refers to the descendants of Ammon, son of Lot (Gen 19:38). They were neighbors to Israel east of the Jordan River, with Rabbah as their capital.
  • “Rabbah”: The capital city of the Ammonites, identified today with Amman, the capital of Jordan. Its fall signifies the complete defeat of the Ammonite nation.
  • “a pile of ruins”: Emphasizes utter destruction. The city will be so devastated that it will be unrecognizable, a heap of rubble.
  • “villages”: Denotes the smaller settlements and dependent territories surrounding the capital.
  • “burned with fire”: A common idiom for complete destruction and devastation in ancient warfare, signifying total annihilation of property and homes.
  • “Israel shall possess their possessions”: This highlights divine justice. God’s people, who were dispossessed or threatened by the Ammonites, will ultimately inherit the land and its resources. This also speaks to a future restoration of Israel.
  • “and its villages”: Reiteration emphasizing the extent of the destruction to include all Ammonite settlements.
  • “the Lord of hosts”: A title for God emphasizing His supreme power and authority over all the armies of heaven and earth, indicating His ability to bring about such judgment.

Jeremiah 49 3 Bonus Section

The prophecy against Ammon, along with other surrounding nations in Jeremiah 48 and 49, reinforces the theme of divine retribution for unrighteousness and enmity towards God's chosen people. The Ammonites’ sin often included mocking and oppressing Israel, and their eventual downfall is presented as a fulfillment of justice and a restoration for Israel. The imagery of Rabbah becoming a ruinous heap is stark and conveys the finality of the judgment. This prophetic pattern illustrates that God holds all nations accountable for their actions, especially towards His covenant people, and ultimately vindicates righteousness.

Jeremiah 49 3 Commentary

Jeremiah 49:3 serves as a pronouncement of divine judgment against the Ammonites. Their capital city, Rabbah, along with all its surrounding villages, will be utterly destroyed by fire, leaving only ruins. This judgment is justified by their past transgressions, particularly their hostility towards Israel and their gloating over Judah's calamities. The prophecy culminates in a promise of vindication for Israel, who will possess the land and resources that rightfully belong to them. This demonstrates God's sovereign power as the Lord of hosts, ensuring that those who oppress His people will eventually face His retribution, while His own will experience restoration and justice.