Jeremiah 48:12
New International Version
But days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will send men who pour from pitchers, and they will pour her out; they will empty her pitchers and smash her jars.

New Living Translation
But the time is coming soon,” says the LORD, “when I will send men to pour him from his jar. They will pour him out, then shatter the jar!

English Standard Version
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I shall send to him pourers who will pour him, and empty his vessels and break his jars in pieces.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will send to him wanderers, who will pour him out. They will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.

King James Bible
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

New King James Version
“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I shall send him wine-workers Who will tip him over And empty his vessels And break the bottles.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will send to him those who tip vessels, and they will tip him over, and they will pour out his vessels and smash his jars.

NASB 1995
“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will send to him those who tip vessels, and they will tip him over, and they will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.

NASB 1977
“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I shall send to him those who tip vessels, and they will tip him over, and they will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares Yahweh, “when I will send to him those who tip vessels, and they will tip him over, and they will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.

Amplified Bible
Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “when I will send to Moab those who will tip him over and who will empty his vessels and break his [earthenware] jars in pieces.

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore look, the days are coming — this is the LORD’s declaration — when I will send pourers to him, who will pour him out. They will empty his containers and smash his jars.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore look, the days are coming— this is the LORD’s declaration— when I will send those to him, who will pour him out. They will empty his containers and smash his jars.

American Standard Version
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will send unto him them that pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.

Contemporary English Version
But now, I will send enemies to pour out the wine and smash the jars!

English Revised Version
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him them that pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
That is why the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will send people to pour Moab out of its jars and to smash its pitchers.

Good News Translation
"So now, the time is coming when I will send people to pour Moab out like wine. They will empty its wine jars and break them in pieces.

International Standard Version
"Therefore, look, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I'll send those who tip over vessels to him, and they'll tip him over. They'll empty his vessels and shatter his jars.

Majority Standard Bible
Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will send to him wanderers, who will pour him out. They will empty his vessels and shatter his jars.

NET Bible
But the time is coming when I will send men against Moab who will empty it out. They will empty the towns of their people, then will lay those towns in ruins. I, the LORD, affirm it!

New Heart English Bible
Therefore look, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that I will send to him those who pour off, and they shall pour him off; and they shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles in pieces.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send to him wanderers that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

World English Bible
Therefore behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will send to him those who pour off, and they will pour him off; and they will empty his vessels, and break their containers in pieces.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Therefore, behold, days are coming, "" A declaration of YHWH, "" And I have sent wanderers to him, "" And they have caused him to wander, "" And they empty out his vessels, "" And they dash his bottles in pieces.

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore, lo, days are coming, An affirmation of Jehovah, And I have sent to him wanderers, And they have caused him to wander, And his vessels they empty out, And his bottles they dash in pieces.

Smith's Literal Translation
For this, behold, the days coming, says Jehovah, and I sent to him those turning aside, and they turned aside, and they will empty his vessels and break his bottles.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore behold the days come, saith the Lord, and I will send him men that shall order and overturn his bottles, and they shall cast him down, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles one against another.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Because of this, behold, the days are approaching, says the Lord, when I will send to him those who will line up and knock down his bottles, and they will knock him down and empty his vessels, and they will break their bottles against one another.

New American Bible
Be assured! The days are coming—oracle of the LORD—when I will send him wine-makers to decant the wine; they shall empty its flasks and smash its jars.

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore, the time is surely coming, says the LORD, when I shall send to him decanters to decant him, and empty his vessels, and break his jars in pieces.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore, Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will send robbers against them, and they shall plunder them and empty their vessels and destroy their wine containers.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this, behold, days are coming, says LORD JEHOVAH, and I shall send upon them plunderers, and they shall plunder them, and they shall empty their vessels, and their bottles they shall shatter
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore, behold, the days come, Saith the LORD, That I will send unto him them that tilt up, And they shall tilt him up; And they shall empty his vessels, And break their bottles in pieces.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Therefore, behold, his days come, saith the Lord, when I shall send upon him bad leaders, and they shall lead him astray, and they shall utterly break in pieces his possessions, and shall cut his horns asunder.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on Moab
11Moab has been at ease from youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has remained the same, and his aroma is unchanged. 12Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will send to him wanderers, who will pour him out. They will empty his vessels and shatter his jars. 13Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh, just as the house of Israel was ashamed when they trusted in Bethel.…

Cross References
Isaiah 16:9-10
So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest. / Joy and gladness are removed from the orchard; no one sings or shouts in the vineyards. No one tramples the grapes in the winepresses; I have put an end to the cheering.

Isaiah 24:1-3
Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants— / people and priest alike, servant and master, maid and mistress, buyer and seller, lender and borrower, creditor and debtor. / The earth will be utterly laid waste and thoroughly plundered. For the LORD has spoken this word.

Isaiah 63:3
“I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.

Lamentations 1:15
The Lord has rejected all the mighty men in my midst; He has summoned an army against me to crush my young warriors. Like grapes in a winepress, the Lord has trampled the Virgin Daughter of Judah.

Ezekiel 22:31
So I have poured out My indignation upon them and consumed them with the fire of My fury. I have brought their ways down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”

Hosea 9:2
The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, and the new wine will fail them.

Amos 9:13-14
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, with which all the hills will flow. / I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.

Zephaniah 1:13
Their wealth will be plundered and their houses laid waste. They will build houses but not inhabit them, and plant vineyards but never drink their wine.

Revelation 14:10
he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb.

Revelation 18:6
Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.

Matthew 21:41
“He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”

Mark 12:9
What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.

Luke 20:16
He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”

Romans 9:22
What if God, intending to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the vessels of His wrath, prepared for destruction?

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore, behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will send to him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.

wanderers

Jeremiah 48:8,15
And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken…

Jeremiah 25:9
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Isaiah 16:2
For it shall be, that, as a wandering bird cast out of the nest, so the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.

empty

Jeremiah 48:11,38
Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed…

Jeremiah 14:3
And their nobles have sent their little ones to the waters: they came to the pits, and found no water; they returned with their vessels empty; they were ashamed and confounded, and covered their heads.

Jeremiah 19:10
Then shalt thou break the bottle in the sight of the men that go with thee,

Jump to Previous
Bottles Break Cause Completely Dash Declares Empty Flagons Jars Pieces Pour Shatter Smash Tilt Tip Turned Vessels Wander Wanderers Wine Wine-Skins
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Bottles Break Cause Completely Dash Declares Empty Flagons Jars Pieces Pour Shatter Smash Tilt Tip Turned Vessels Wander Wanderers Wine Wine-Skins
Jeremiah 48
1. The judgment of Moab
7. for their pride
11. for their security
14. for their carnal confidence
26. and for their contempt of God and his people
47. The restoration of Moab














Therefore behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD
This phrase introduces a prophetic declaration, a common formula in the prophetic books indicating the certainty of God's future actions. It emphasizes God's sovereignty and the inevitability of His plans. The phrase "the days are coming" is often used in the prophetic literature to signal impending judgment or fulfillment of God's promises, as seen in other passages like Jeremiah 31:31, which speaks of a new covenant.

when I will send to him wanderers
"Wanderers" here likely refers to invaders or marauders, possibly the Babylonians, who were known for their military campaigns and conquests. This reflects the historical context of the Babylonian Empire's expansion under Nebuchadnezzar II. The term suggests a sense of instability and disruption, as wanderers are not settled but move from place to place, bringing chaos.

who will pour him out
This imagery of pouring out suggests a complete emptying or desolation. It is symbolic of judgment and destruction, akin to the pouring out of wrath seen in other prophetic texts like Isaiah 51:17. The act of pouring out can also be seen as a metaphor for God's judgment being thorough and exhaustive.

They will empty his vessels
The vessels likely symbolize the wealth, resources, or people of Moab. In ancient times, vessels were used to store valuable commodities, so emptying them signifies a stripping away of prosperity and security. This can be connected to the broader theme of divine retribution against nations that oppose God's will, as seen in the judgment against Babylon in Jeremiah 51:34.

and shatter his jars
Shattering jars indicates total destruction and irreparability. In the cultural context, jars were essential for daily life, used for storing water, oil, and grain. The shattering signifies not just loss but a complete breakdown of societal and economic structures. This imagery is reminiscent of the potter's vessel in Jeremiah 19:11, symbolizing how God can break nations as easily as a potter breaks a flawed pot.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Jeremiah was called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the people of Judah and surrounding nations, including Moab.

2. Moab
A nation east of the Jordan River, often in conflict with Israel. Moab is the subject of God's judgment in this chapter.

3. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, who is the ultimate authority and judge over all nations.

4. Those who tip vessels
Symbolic agents of God's judgment, possibly referring to invading armies or divine forces that will bring about Moab's downfall.

5. Vessels and jars
Metaphors for Moab's wealth, stability, and pride, which will be overturned and shattered as a result of God's judgment.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God is in control of all nations and their destinies. No nation, regardless of its power or pride, is beyond His reach or judgment.

The Consequences of Pride
Moab's downfall serves as a warning against pride and self-reliance. Nations and individuals alike must recognize their dependence on God.

Divine Judgment is Inevitable
God's judgment may be delayed, but it is certain. This should lead to repentance and humility before God.

Symbolism of Vessels
The imagery of vessels being tipped and shattered can be applied to our lives. We must ensure our "vessels" are filled with righteousness and not pride or sin.

Hope in God's Justice
While judgment is severe, it is also just. Believers can find hope in the fact that God will ultimately set things right.Verse 12. - Wanderers, that shall cause him to wander; rather, taters, and they shall tilt him. The earthen jars of which Thevenot speaks were doubtless similar to those of the Israelites. They would be tilted on one side, that the wine might run off clear from the dregs. Their bottles; rather, flagons or pitchers (of earthenware). The confusion of numbers and pronouns is remarkable. First, Moab collectively is spoken of as a wine jar; then the Moabites individually as Moab's jars; last of all, the Moabites are spoken of as possessing "jars" (i.e. all the institutions, public and private, of the state and of society).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Therefore
לָכֵ֞ן (lā·ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

behold,
הִנֵּ֖ה־ (hin·nêh-)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

the days
יָמִ֤ים (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day

are coming,
בָּאִים֙ (bā·’îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

when I will send
וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי־ (wə·šil·laḥ·tî-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

to him
ל֥וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

wanderers,
צֹעִ֖ים (ṣō·‘îm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6808: To tip over, depopulate, to imprison, conquer, to lie down

who will pour him out.
וְצֵעֻ֑הוּ (wə·ṣê·‘u·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6808: To tip over, depopulate, to imprison, conquer, to lie down

They will empty
יָרִ֔יקוּ (yā·rî·qū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7324: Arm, cast out, draw out, make empty, pour forth out

his vessels
וְכֵלָ֣יו (wə·ḵê·lāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

and shatter
יְנַפֵּֽצוּ׃ (yə·nap·pê·ṣū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5310: To dash to pieces, scatter

his jars.
וְנִבְלֵיהֶ֖ם (wə·niḇ·lê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5035: A skin-bag for, liquids, a vase, a lyre


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 48:12 Therefore behold the days come says Yahweh (Jer.)
Jeremiah 48:11
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