Bible Strands
Jeremiah 48:1
Concerning Moab, this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Woe to Nebo, for it will be devastated. Kiriathaim will be captured and disgraced; the fortress will be shattered and dismantled.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, delivers a pronouncement concerning Moab. The text provides no specific human audience or chronological marker beyond framing the declaration as a direct divine oracle.
The words — The oracle opens with כֹּֽה\־ (koh-) = thus, introducing the divine speech, and immediately follows with ה֤וֹי (Ho) = woe! to announce impending judgment.
The thread — The text names Nebo and Kiriathaim, cities also recorded in Numbers 32:3 and Numbers 32:37 as part of the Transjordanian settlement pattern. Jeremiah 48:22 later repeats Nebo in a list of Moabite locations facing destruction.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that divine judgment targets specific, named communities rather than abstract concepts. It requires the reader to treat the listed cities as concrete historical recipients of the declared devastation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.
Cross-references
- Numbers 32:3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
- Numbers 32:37 The Reubenites built up Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim,
- Jeremiah 48:22 upon Dibon, Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim,
- Isaiah 15:1 This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night!
- Jeremiah 25:21 Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites;
- Ezekiel 25:8 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,”
- Amos 2:1 This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king.
- Genesis 19:37 The older daughter gave birth to a son and named him Moab. He is the father of the Moabites of today.
- Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
- Numbers 33:47 They set out from Almon-diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim facing Nebo.