Jeremiah 48:13
And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence.
Original Language Analysis
בֹּ֙שׁוּ֙
shall be ashamed
H954
בֹּ֙שׁוּ֙
shall be ashamed
Strong's:
H954
Word #:
1 of 10
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
מוֹאָ֖ב
And Moab
H4124
מוֹאָ֖ב
And Moab
Strong's:
H4124
Word #:
2 of 10
moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants
כַּאֲשֶׁר
H834
כַּאֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 10
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בֹּ֙שׁוּ֙
shall be ashamed
H954
בֹּ֙שׁוּ֙
shall be ashamed
Strong's:
H954
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
בֵּ֣ית
as the house
H1004
בֵּ֣ית
as the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
6 of 10
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 45:16They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.Jeremiah 48:39They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.Judges 11:24Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.
Historical Context
Bethel, once sacred as the site of Jacob's vision (Genesis 28:19), became the southern cult center for Jeroboam's golden calf apostasy (1 Kings 12:28-29). By the time of Assyria's conquest, Bethel symbolized Israel's religious compromise. Jeremiah uses this recent history as a warning to Moab, whose trust in Chemosh would prove equally futile.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'Bethels' or 'Chemoshes'—religious activities or traditions—might you trust more than genuine relationship with God?
- How does historical judgment on false worship systems challenge contemporary confidence in religious performance over heart transformation?
- What does it mean that even corrupted forms of true worship (Bethel) can become as worthless as outright paganism (Chemosh)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh (וּבֹשׁ מוֹאָב מִכְּמוֹשׁ)—Kemosh was Moab's national deity (Numbers 21:29; 1 Kings 11:7), to whom children were sacrificed. As the house of Israel was ashamed of Beth-el their confidence (כַּאֲשֶׁר־בֹּשׁוּ בֵית־יִשְׂרָאֵל מִבֵּית אֵל מִבְטַחָם)—Jeremiah compares Chemosh's failure to defend Moab with Bethel's golden calf failing to protect northern Israel during Assyria's conquest (722 BC).
The verse demolishes false confidence in religious systems divorced from the true God. Both Bethel (corrupted worship) and Chemosh (pagan idolatry) proved powerless in crisis. Divine judgment exposes the bankruptcy of all substitutes for covenant relationship with Yahweh—whether outright idols or distorted orthodoxy.