✝
← Bible
ARCBLIVREKJVVBL

Jeremias 48

BLIVRE · Chapter 48/52

1Sobre Moabe.Assim diz o SENHOR dos exércitos, Deus de Israel: Ai de Nebo! Pois foi arruinada; envergonhada está Quiriataim, já foi tomada; Misgabe está envergonhada e espantada.

2Já não há mais exaltação em Moabe; em Hesbom tramaram o mal contra ela, [dizendo] : Vinde, e a eliminemos das nações. Também tu, Madmém, serás cortada fora; a espada irá atrás de ti.

3[Ouve-se] uma voz de clamor de Horonaim: Ruína e grande destruição!

4Moabe foi destruída; fizeram com que se ouvisse o grito de seus pequenos.

5Pois na subida de Luíte subirão com grande choro; pois na descida de Horonaim os inimigos [de Moabe] ouviram clamor de destruição.

6Fugi, livrai vossa vida, e sereis como um arbusto no deserto.

7Pois por causa de tua confiança confiaste em tuas obras e em teus tesouros, tu também serás tomada; e Quemos irá ao cativeiro, seus sacerdotes e juntamente seus príncipes.

8Pois virá o destruidor a cada uma das cidades, e nenhuma cidade escapará; e perecerá também o vale, e será destruída a planície,pois assim diz o SENHOR.

9Dai asas a Moabe, para que ele saia voando; pois suas cidades se tornarão desertas até não restar quem more nelas.

10Maldito aquele que fizer enganosamente a obra do SENHOR, e maldito aquele que detiver sua espada do sangue.

11Tranquilo esteve Moabe desde sua juventude, e sobre suas impurezas esteve quieto; e não foi esvaziado de vaso em vaso, nem nunca foi ao cativeiro; por isso seu sabor ficou nele, e seu cheiro não mudou.

12Por isso eis que vêm dias, diz o SENHOR, em que eu lhe enviarei derramadores que o derramarão; e esvaziarão seus vasos, e romperão seus jarros.

13E Moabe se envergonhará de Quemos, assim como a casa de Israel se envergonhou de Betel, [que era] sua confiança.

14Como direis: Somos guerreiros, homens valentes para a guerra?

15Moabe é destruído, e suas cidades invadidas, e seus melhores rapazes descem ao degoladouro, diz o rei, cujo nome é EU-SOU dos exércitos.

16Próxima está a vinda da perdição de Moabe; e seu desastre vem com muita pressa.

17Condoei-vos dele todos vós que estais ao seu redor, e todos vós que sabeis seu nome. Dizei: Como se quebrou a vara forte, o belo cajado!

18Desce da [tua] glória, e senta-te no lugar seco, ó moradora, filha de Dibom; pois o destruidor de Moabe subiu contra ti, e arruinou tuas fortalezas.

19Para-te no caminho, e olha, ó moradora de Aroer; pergunta ao que vai fugindo, e à que escapou, dize: O que aconteceu?

20[Responderão] : Moabe está envergonhado, porque foi quebrantado; uivai e gritai; anunciai em Arnom que Moabe foi destruído,

21O julgamento também veio juízo sobre a terra da planície: sobre Holom, sobre Jazá, e sobre Mefate;

22Sobre Dibom, sobre Nebo, e sobre Bete-Diblataim;

23Sobre Quiriataim, sobre Bete-Gamul, e sobre Bete-Meom;

24Sobre Queriote, sobre Bosra, e sobre todas as cidades da terra de Moabe, as de longe e as de perto.

25O poder de Moabe foi cortado, e seu braço quebrado,diz o SENHOR.

26Embriagai-o, pois contra o SENHOR se engrandeceu; e Moabe se revolverá sobre seu vômito, e ele também será por escárnio.

27Pois para ti não foi Israel por escárnio? Por acaso ele foi achado entre ladrões, para que balances a cabeça quando falas dele?

28Deixai as cidades, e habitai em rochedos, ó moradores de Moabe; e sejais como a pomba que faz ninho nas brechas da boca da caverna.

29Temos ouvido a soberba de Moabe, que é soberbo demais, assim como sua arrogância e seu orgulho, sua altivez e a altura de seu coração.

30Eu conheço sua insolência,diz o SENHOR; porém não será assim; suas mentiras lhe serão em vão.

31Por isso eu uivarei por Moabe, e gritarei por todo Moabe; gemerão por causa dos homens de Quir-Heres.

32Com o choro de Jazer chorarei por ti, ó vide de Sibma; teus sarmentos passaram o mar, [e] chegaram até o mar de Jazer; [porém] o destruidor veio sobre os frutos de teu verão, e sobre tua vindima.

33Assim foram tirados a alegria e o regozijo dos campos férteis, e da terra de Moabe: pois fiz cessar o vinho das prensas; já não pisarão [uvas] com júbilo; o grito não será de júbilo.

34Houve um grito desde Hesbom até Eleale e até Jaaz; deram sua voz desde Zoar até Horonaim e Eglate-Selísia; pois também as águas de Ninrim serão assoladas.

35E eu,diz o SENHOR, farei cessar de Moabe quem sacrifique no lugar alto, e quem ofereça incenso a seus deuses.

36Portanto meu coração ressoará como flautas por causa de Moab; também meu coração ressoará como flautas pelos homens de Quir-Heres; pois as riquezas que tinham acumulado se perderam;

37Pois em toda cabeça haverá calva, e toda barba será cortada; sobre todas mãos há arranhões, e sobre todos os lombos há sacos.

38Sobre todas os terraços de Moabe e em suas ruas, em todo ele haverá pranto; pois eu quebrantei a Moabe como a um vaso desagradável,diz o SENHOR.

39Como foi quebrantado! Como uivam! Como Moabe virou as costas, e se envergonhou! Assim Moabe servirá de escárnio e de espanto a todos os que estão ao seu redor.

40Pois assim diz o SENHOR: Eis que voará como águia, e estenderá suas asas sobre Moabe.

41Tomadas são as cidades, e invadidas são as fortalezas; e o coração dos guerreiros de Moabe naquele dia será como o coração de mulher em dores de parto.

42E Moabe será destruído de modo que deixará de ser povo, pois se engrandeceu contra o SENHOR.

43Medo, cova, e laço [vem] sobre ti, ó morador de Moabe,diz o SENHOR.

44O que fugir do medo, cairá na cova; e o que subir da cova, ficará preso do laço; porque eu trarei sobre ele, sobre Moabe, o ano de sua punição,diz o SENHOR.

45Os que fugiam da força, paravam à sombra de Hesbom; porém fogo saiu de Hesbom, e labareda do meio de Seom, e queimou a testa de Moabe, e o topo da cabeça dos filhos do tumulto.

46Ai de ti, Moabe! Pereceu o povo de Quemos; pois teus filhos foram levados cativos, e tuas filhas foram em cativeiro.

47Porém restaurarei Moabe de seu infortúnio nos últimos dias, diz o SENHOR. Até aqui é o julgamento de Moabe.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

A long and detailed judgment is pronounced against Moab, a neighboring nation historically linked to Israel, listing city after city that would be destroyed because of its pride and trust in its riches.

Explanation

Moab, a descendant of Lot (Genesis 19:37) and a nation with complex historical ties to Israel (including the story of Ruth the Moabite), receives here one of the most extensive prophecies against any foreign nation in the entire book. The repeated mention of the Moabite god Chemosh shows how a nation's religious identity was deeply tied to its political identity. The central criticism — trusting in 'works and treasures' (v. 7) instead of acknowledging God's sovereignty over the nations — applies more broadly to any society that bases its security solely on material wealth. Even so, the chapter ends with an unexpected note of mercy: even Moab would have its 'captives' restored 'in the latter days.'

Fun facts

  • Many of the Moabite cities listed (Nebo, Kiriathaim, Heshbon, Dibon) are confirmed by royal inscriptions, including the famous Mesha Stele (Moabite Stone) from the 9th century BC, which mentions many of these same locations.
  • Chemosh, the national god of Moab mentioned repeatedly, is also cited in 1 Kings 11:7, where Solomon builds an altar for him under the influence of his foreign wives.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Jeremias 48:1Opens the oracle against Moab, a nation neighboring to the east of the Dead Sea, descended from Lot (Genesis 19); Nebo and Kiriathaim were important Moabite cities, already announced as destroyed.
  2. Jeremias 48:2Heshbon was Moab’s capital; the Hebrew wordplay (Heshbon, “to plan”) shows enemies plotting to put an end to the nation once and for all -- Madmen is also a direct target of the sword.
  3. Jeremias 48:3Horonaim was another Moabite city; the cry described is the actual sound of a city being destroyed, heard from a distance.
  4. Jeremias 48:4Even Moab’s small children are mentioned crying -- a detail that humanizes the devastation beyond cities and armies.
  5. Jeremias 48:5Describes refugees going up and down the roads between the cities of Luhith and Horonaim, weeping continually as they flee the invasion.
  6. Jeremias 48:6Ironic survival advice: flee to the wilderness and become like a lone shrub (a tamarisk bush) -- to survive, but alone and uprooted, with no nation left.
  7. Jeremias 48:7Explains the cause of the fall: Moab trusted in its own wealth and achievements, not in God; Chemosh, the national Moabite god, would be led away captive along with his priests and princes.
  8. Jeremias 48:8No city of Moab would escape, neither those of the valley nor those of the plain -- the destruction reaches both the low and high ground of the territory.
  9. Jeremias 48:9A poetic image of urgency: “give wings unto Moab” pleads for the nation to flee as if flying, because its cities will be left completely uninhabited.
  10. Jeremias 48:10An unusual verse: it curses whoever carries out God’s judgment against Moab carelessly or half-heartedly -- the destruction is treated as a mission that must be carried out in earnest, not halfway.
  11. Jeremias 48:11The image of Moab as a wine that was never poured from vessel to vessel describes a people who never went through invasion or exile. Its taste and smell stay the same because it was never stirred -- a metaphor for the complacency of those who have never suffered.
  12. Jeremias 48:12Continues the wine metaphor from verse 11: God will send those who will finally pour out and break Moab’s containers, shaking up a nation that had grown far too comfortable over generations.
  13. Jeremias 48:13Compares Moab’s future shame over Chemosh to the shame Israel already felt over the golden calf at Bethel -- trusting in idols always ends in disappointment, whatever the people.
  14. Jeremias 48:14An ironic question that exposes Moab’s false military confidence, about to be disproved by the facts.
  15. Jeremias 48:15Confirms the fall of the cities and the death of Moab’s finest young warriors, with the authority of the Lord of Hosts himself behind the sentence.
  16. Jeremias 48:16Reinforces the urgency: Moab’s ruin is coming fast, not some distant threat in time.
  17. Jeremias 48:17Calls on the neighboring nations that knew Moab to mourn its fall, using the image of a strong, beautiful staff now broken -- a symbol of shattered power.
  18. Jeremias 48:18Dibon was an important city of Moab; the instruction to come down from glory and sit on dry ground is a gesture of mourning and humiliation before the invasion.
  19. Jeremias 48:19Aroer sat on a strategic route; the instruction is to watch the fugitives passing by and ask directly what is happening -- a vivid way of announcing the news of the fall.
  20. Jeremias 48:20The Arnon River marked Moab’s northern border; the news of the destruction was to be cried out all the way to that border, so that no one would fail to hear.
  21. Jeremias 48:21Begins a long list of cities on the Moabite plain struck by the judgment -- Holon, Jahazah, Mephaath -- showing that no region was left out.
  22. Jeremias 48:22The list continues: Dibon, Nebo, Beth-diblathaim -- cities that reinforce the total reach of the destruction.
  23. Jeremias 48:23More cities struck: Kiriathaim, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon -- the oracle lists them name by name to make clear this is a complete national judgment, not an isolated one.
  24. Jeremias 48:24Closes the list with Kerioth and Bozrah, and sums up: every city of Moab, far or near, would be reached by the same judgment.
  25. Jeremias 48:25An image of shattered military power: Moab’s “horn” (a symbol of strength, as in an animal) and “arm” are cut off -- its ability to resist is finished.
  26. Jeremias 48:26Calls Moab to “get drunk” as punishment for its arrogance against God -- the image of a drunk man vomiting describes the public humiliation to come.
  27. Jeremias 48:27A rhetorical question that turns the tables: Moab used to mock Israel when God’s people were humiliated before -- now it is Moab’s turn to go through the same shame.
  28. Jeremias 48:28Advises the Moabites to abandon their destroyed cities and take refuge in caves in the cliffs, like doves seeking shelter in the clefts of the rock -- isolated survival, with no more city life.
  29. Jeremias 48:29Acknowledges the spiritual reason for the punishment: Moab’s extreme pride, described with several different words for arrogance in the original text -- a people known for their haughtiness.
  30. Jeremias 48:30God says He knows this arrogance well, along with Moab’s empty boasts, but assures that they will not hold up against the reality of the destruction.
  31. Jeremias 48:31Despite announcing the judgment, the tone shifts to genuine lament: God, through the prophet, weeps for the city of Kir-heres and for the whole Moabite people, even while condemning their sins.
  32. Jeremias 48:32Sibmah was famous for its vineyards, which spread all the way to the Dead Sea (the sea of Jazer); the lament over this ruined vineyard sounds like grief for a planting that will never bear fruit again.
  33. Jeremias 48:33The joy of the grape harvest, traditionally full of celebration, disappears: God describes having stopped the wine from the presses, leaving Moab’s fertile land with no reason to celebrate.
  34. Jeremias 48:34Lists more panicked cities -- Heshbon, Elealeh, Jahaz, Zoar, Horonaim -- comparing the collective outcry to the bellowing of a young cow, and even mentions the waters of Nimrim drying up as part of the devastation.
  35. Jeremias 48:35God announces the end of Moab’s pagan sacrifices at the high places and of incense to its gods -- the destruction of the nation also brings an end to its national religion.
  36. Jeremias 48:36Compares God’s own lament to a flute playing a funeral song for Moab and for Kir-heres, acknowledging the loss of everything the people had accumulated.
  37. Jeremias 48:37Describes traditional mourning rituals of the ancient Near East: shaved heads, trimmed beards, cuts on the hands, sackcloth around the waist -- visible signs of collective grief.
  38. Jeremias 48:38The weeping spreads across every rooftop and street of Moab; God compares the shattered nation to a piece of pottery that no one wants anymore, because it has lost its usefulness.
  39. Jeremias 48:39Repeats the astonishment at such a complete fall: Moab, once respected, now becomes an object of mockery among all its neighbors.
  40. Jeremias 48:40An image of a sudden attack: the enemy is compared to an eagle spreading its wings and swooping down on Moab from above, with no chance to flee.
  41. Jeremias 48:41The cities and strongholds fall, and even Moab’s bravest warriors feel a fear compared to the pains of childbirth -- military courage collapses completely.
  42. Jeremias 48:42Sums up the final sentence: Moab will cease to exist as a nation, punished specifically for having exalted itself against God, not merely for political rivalry with Judah.
  43. Jeremias 48:43Uses three words that rhyme in Hebrew -- pahad, pahath, pah (terror, pit, snare) -- describing a triple trap that no one in Moab will escape.
  44. Jeremias 48:44Details the trap: whoever escapes the terror will fall into the pit, and whoever escapes the pit will be caught in the snare -- there is no way to escape all three threats at once.
  45. Jeremias 48:45Heshbon, once a refuge for fugitives, also catches fire -- a blaze that consumes even Moab’s boastful leaders.
  46. Jeremias 48:46Chemosh was the national god of Moab, the same one mentioned in 1 Kings 11:7, associated with Solomon. Calling the Moabites “the people of Chemosh” was a common way at the time of identifying a people by the god they worshiped, not merely by their territory.
  47. Jeremias 48:47Despite all the judgment, the chapter ends with a rare note of hope for a foreign nation: God promises to restore Moab’s fortunes “in the latter days,” as he did for other peoples in these oracles.

Chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

App StoreGoogle Play

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.

App StoreGoogle Play