What is the meaning of Jeremiah 48:31? Therefore I will wail for Moab “Therefore I will wail for Moab” (Jeremiah 48:31) follows the prophet’s catalog of Moab’s pride and coming ruin (vv. 26–30). The “therefore” links sorrow to righteous judgment: • Jeremiah’s lament shows that godly people never gloat when discipline falls, echoing his earlier cry, “Oh, that my head were a spring of water…for the slain of my people!” (Jeremiah 9:1). • God Himself takes “no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11); the prophet reflects that heart. • Isaiah offered a similar wail over Moab (Isaiah 15:5), underscoring that even enemy nations are still part of God’s created family and worth grieving over. This section reminds us that truth and tears belong together: a holy God judges sin, and yet His servants mourn for sinners. I will cry out for all of Moab The repetition—“I will cry out for all of Moab”—broadens the lament to every corner of the nation. • No town, clan, or social class escapes the coming devastation; verse 42 confirms, “Moab will be destroyed as a nation.” • Jeremiah’s universal grief mirrors Jesus’ later lament over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44), revealing a consistency in God’s character across the Testaments. • The sweep of judgment also carries a gracious warning: “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls” (Proverbs 24:17). God expects His people to keep tender hearts even toward those under His wrath. By crying out “for all,” the prophet models intercession that refuses to write anyone off. I will moan for the men of Kir-heres Kir-heres (also called Kir-hareseth) was Moab’s fortified stronghold (2 Kings 3:25). Targeting that specific city teaches several lessons: • If the fortress falls, nowhere is secure—echoing Psalm 18:2, where only the Lord is the true “rock and fortress.” • Isaiah spoke of Kir-hareseth’s ruin and Moab’s mourning (Isaiah 16:7), so Jeremiah’s words confirm earlier prophecy, affirming Scripture’s unity. • The focus on “men” emphasizes leadership accountability; those who relied on walls and weapons could not shield the nation from divine justice (Jeremiah 17:5). Jeremiah’s moan shows compassion even for the powerful; God’s servants lament the downfall of any who bear His image. summary Jeremiah 48:31 paints a threefold portrait of prophetic grief: wailing, crying out, and moaning. The verse affirms that God’s judgments are deserved and certain, yet they break the hearts of those who love Him. Whether addressing an entire nation or its mightiest city, the prophet’s tears call us to hold truth and compassion together, trust the Lord as the only secure refuge, and remember that even enemies matter deeply to God. |
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