Jeremiah 48:42
And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
After Nebuchadnezzar's invasion (c. 582 BC), Moab never regained independence. Subsequent Persian, Greek, and Roman administrations absorbed the territory into larger provinces. By the 4th century BC, Arab tribes (Nabateans) displaced remaining Moabites. The prophecy's fulfillment was complete—Moab ceased to exist as 'a people.' Yet Jeremiah 48:47 promises eventual restoration 'in the latter days,' possibly referring to individuals of Moabite descent being incorporated into the messianic kingdom. Ruth the Moabitess, ancestress of David and Jesus, exemplifies this gracious inclusion. The principle stands: nations that defy God forfeit their existence, but individuals who turn to Him find mercy.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean to 'magnify yourself against the LORD,' and how might nations or individuals do this today?
- How does Moab's complete political destruction demonstrate that God takes personal affronts seriously?
- What hope does Ruth's inclusion in Christ's genealogy offer despite Moab's national judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Moab shall be destroyed from being a people—the Hebrew shamad (שָׁמַד, destroyed, exterminated) and me'am (מֵעָם, from being a people/nation) indicate total political annihilation. Moab would cease to exist as an independent nation. This is not ethnic genocide but the end of Moabite national sovereignty—their identity as a distinct political entity would be obliterated.
Because he hath magnified himself against the LORD—the causation is explicit. The verb gadal (גָּדַל, magnified, exalted) combined with al-YHWH (עַל־יְהוָה, against the LORD) identifies Moab's fundamental sin: not mere idolatry, but arrogant defiance of Yahweh Himself. Jeremiah 48:26-27 specifies that Moab mocked Israel and exulted in Judah's suffering, treating God's disciplinary judgment of His people as proof of His weakness. This is the pattern of hubris that brings divine judgment: Pharaoh (Exodus 5:2), Sennacherib (2 Kings 19:22-23), Nebuchadnezzar himself (Daniel 4:30), and Herod (Acts 12:21-23) all suffered for magnifying themselves against God.