Jeremiah Chapter 48 · Verse 27

Authorized King James Version

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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
הַשְּׂחֹ֗ק a derision H7814
הַשְּׂחֹ֗ק a derision
Strong's: H7814
Word #: 3 of 14
laughter (in merriment or defiance)
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)
לְךָ֙ H0
לְךָ֙
Strong's: H0
Word #: 5 of 14
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
בְּגַנָּבִ֖ים among thieves H1590
בְּגַנָּבִ֖ים among thieves
Strong's: H1590
Word #: 8 of 14
a stealer
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
דְבָרֶ֥יךָ thou spakest H1697
דְבָרֶ֥יךָ thou spakest
Strong's: H1697
Word #: 12 of 14
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
בּ֖וֹ H0
בּ֖וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 13 of 14
תִּתְנוֹדָֽד׃ of him thou skippedst H5110
תִּתְנוֹדָֽד׃ of him thou skippedst
Strong's: H5110
Word #: 14 of 14
to nod, i.e., waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the hea

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.

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