Bible Strands
Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The prophet Jeremiah pronounces this oracle against Moab amid a campaign of divine judgment. The text declares a double curse on those who neglect God's command to execute war.
The words — The Hebrew רְמִיָּה (re.mi.Yah) means "slackness" or negligence, directly modifying מְלֶ֥אכֶת יְהוָ֖ה (me.Le.khet Yah.weh), literally "the work of Yahweh."
The thread — This warning aligns with the command to devote enemies to destruction in 1 Samuel 15:3 and the prophetic rebuke for failing to execute God's judgment in 1 Kings 20:42. Judges 5:23 similarly curses those who refuse to come to Yahweh's aid in battle.
Why it lands — The text states that spiritual negligence and military hesitation incur a curse. It requires the reader to execute divine commands without delay or self-preservation.
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
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
Cross-references
- 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
- 1 Kings 20:42 And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”
- Judges 5:23 ‘Curse Meroz,’ says the angel of the LORD. ‘Bitterly curse her inhabitants; for they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.’
- 1 Samuel 15:9 Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.
- Numbers 31:14 But Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who were returning from the battle.
- 2 Kings 13:19 But the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times. Then you would have struck down Aram until you had put an end to it. But now you will strike down Aram only three times.”
- Jeremiah 50:25 The LORD has opened His armory and brought out His weapons of wrath, for this is the work of the Lord GOD of Hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.
- 1 Samuel 15:13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”
- Jeremiah 47:6 ‘Alas, O sword of the LORD, how long until you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still!’