Jeremiah 48:27
For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.
Original Language Analysis
וְאִ֣ם׀
H518
וְאִ֣ם׀
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 14
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
ל֣וֹא
H3808
ל֣וֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
2 of 14
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הָיָ֤ה
H1961
הָיָ֤ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
4 of 14
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
For was not Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
For was not Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
6 of 14
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
7 of 14
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
נִמְצָ֑אה
unto thee was he found
H4672
נִמְצָ֑אה
unto thee was he found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
9 of 14
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 14
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מִדֵּ֧י
for since
H1767
מִדֵּ֧י
for since
Strong's:
H1767
Word #:
11 of 14
enough (as noun or adverb), used chiefly with preposition in phrases
Cross References
Jeremiah 2:26As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,Ezekiel 25:8Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because that Moab and Seir do say, Behold, the house of Judah is like unto all the heathen;Zephaniah 2:8I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
Historical Context
Moab and Israel shared ancestry through Abraham but became bitter enemies. Moab refused Israel passage during the exodus (Numbers 22-24) and later oppressed them (Judges 3:12-14). By Jeremiah's time (circa 605-585 BC), Moab apparently gloated over Judah's Babylonian exile. This violated God's covenant with Abraham—blessing his descendants brings blessing, cursing them brings cursing. The prophets consistently condemned nations that rejoiced at Israel's calamity (Ezekiel 25:8, Amos 1:13-15, Obadiah 1:12).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's judgment on Moab for mocking Israel demonstrate His faithfulness to covenant promises even when Israel is under discipline?
- What warning does this verse give about rejoicing in others' misfortune, even when they are experiencing deserved consequences?
- How should Christians respond when those hostile to the church experience hardship—does this passage inform our posture?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
For was not Israel a derision unto thee? (הֲלוֹא הַשְּׂחֹק הָיָה לְךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל)—God charges Moab with mocking Israel. The word sechoq (שְׂחֹק) means laughter, scorn, derision—the contemptuous mockery one enemy levels at another's downfall. Was he found among thieves? This rhetorical question implies Israel did nothing to deserve Moab's scorn—they weren't caught in criminal activity justifying such treatment. Yet Moab rejoiced at Israel's exile and suffering (Ezekiel 25:8).
For since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy (כִּי־מִדֵּי דְבָרֶיךָ בּוֹ תִּתְנוֹדָד). The Hebrew nud (נוּד) means to shake oneself, to dance or leap—depicting Moab's gleeful celebration whenever Israel was mentioned. This reveals the deep-seated enmity between these nations descended from Abraham's family (Moab through Lot, Genesis 19:37). God's principle holds: those who curse Abraham's seed will themselves be cursed (Genesis 12:3). Moab's mockery of afflicted Israel brought divine judgment.