Jeremiah 48:15
Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.
Original Language Analysis
שֻׁדַּ֤ד
is spoiled
H7703
שֻׁדַּ֤ד
is spoiled
Strong's:
H7703
Word #:
1 of 13
properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
מוֹאָב֙
Moab
H4124
מוֹאָב֙
Moab
Strong's:
H4124
Word #:
2 of 13
moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants
וְעָרֶ֣יהָ
out of her cities
H5892
וְעָרֶ֣יהָ
out of her cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
3 of 13
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
עָלָ֔ה
and gone up
H5927
עָלָ֔ה
and gone up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
4 of 13
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
בַּֽחוּרָ֖יו
young men
H970
בַּֽחוּרָ֖יו
young men
Strong's:
H970
Word #:
6 of 13
properly, selected, i.e., a youth (often collective)
יָרְד֣וּ
are gone down
H3381
יָרְד֣וּ
are gone down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
7 of 13
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
לַטָּ֑בַח
to the slaughter
H2874
לַטָּ֑בַח
to the slaughter
Strong's:
H2874
Word #:
8 of 13
properly, something slaughtered; hence, a beast (or meat, as butchered); abstractly butchery (or concretely, a place of slaughter)
יְהוָ֥ה
is the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֥ה
is the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Jeremiah 50:27Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.Jeremiah 46:18As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.Jeremiah 51:57And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.Malachi 1:14But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
Historical Context
Jeremiah wrote during the neo-Babylonian empire's expansion under Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC). Archaeological evidence shows Moabite cities were destroyed during this period, with many sites abandoned. The phrase 'LORD of hosts' appears frequently in prophetic literature confronting false gods and earthly powers with the reality of Yahweh's supreme authority.
Questions for Reflection
- How does recognizing God as 'the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts' relativize all earthly powers and authorities?
- What does it mean that the strongest and best of Moab ('chosen young men') could not escape divine judgment?
- In what ways does God's sovereign kingship provide comfort to the oppressed while warning the proud and powerful?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities (שָׁדַד מוֹאָב וְעָרֶיהָ עָלָה)—The verb shadad (devastated/plundered) announces total military defeat. His chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter (וּמִבְחַר בַּחוּרָיו יָרְדוּ לַטָּבַח)—Moab's elite warriors (mivchar bachurav, choice of young men) descend to tabach (slaughter), the same word used for ritual animal sacrifice, suggesting their deaths are divine judgment, not merely military defeat.
Saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts (נְאֻם־הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ)—This title emphasizes Yahweh's sovereign authority over all earthly kingdoms. Moab's king is nothing before Yahweh Tseva'ot, the Commander of heaven's armies. Human monarchy bows to divine kingship.