Moab is put to shame, for it is broken; wail and cry! Tell it beside the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah 48:20
What does Jeremiah 48:20 mean?
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Jeremiah 48:20
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The call to "tell it beside the Arnon" isn't just reporting news; it's about broadcasting the devastating defeat from Moab's northern border, their last line of defense and a historically significant boundary, to ensure everyone hears and understands the totality of their ruin. This specific location highlights the complete collapse of their defenses and pride.
Moab is put to shame, for it is broken; wail and cry! Tell it beside the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab, which begins with their pride and boasts, contrasted with their impending downfall. After a series of pronouncements about Moab's devastation, the prophet calls for a public lament to be spread throughout the land, specifically mentioning the region by the Arnon river, which marked Moab's border. This announcement is a response to the unfolding judgment that has already begun to break down their strongholds.
Imagine a devastating announcement being made, not through a loudspeaker, but through cries echoing across the land. This verse paints a vivid picture of disaster.
Jeremiah 48:20 is a powerful announcement of judgment. The verse opens with "Moab is put to shame, for it is broken." This isn't just about a military defeat; it's about public disgrace and the utter collapse of their strength and pride. The instruction to "wail and cry!" and "Tell it beside the Arnon" emphasizes the widespread nature of this calamity.
A Message Carried by Grief
The pronouncement is to be spread along the Arnon River, a significant border of Moab. This signifies that the news of Moab's destruction will reach even its furthest corners. The cry of anguish is the message itself, a raw, unfiltered expression of a nation's downfall. It’s a stark reminder that God’s judgment brings not just defeat, but profound, public humiliation.
The mention of a specific geographical location, the Arnon River, anchors this prophecy. What's the significance of this borderland in Moab's story?
The Arnon River served as a crucial border for the nation of Moab, separating them from the Amorites to the north and later influencing boundaries with Israelite tribes. By commanding the news of Moab's destruction to be "told beside the Arnon," Jeremiah highlights that the devastation is reaching even these significant boundaries.
A Proclaimed End
This location was historically a place of encounter and sometimes conflict. To announce disaster here is to declare that Moab's very identity, marked by this river, is being erased. It’s as if the news is to be shouted from the ramparts of their own land, ensuring that no part of Moab remains untouched or unaware of the impending doom. The Arnon, once a marker of their territory, becomes a witness to their undoing.
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Understand the original words
bosh · Hebrew Verb
A state of disgrace, dishonor, or humiliation resulting from sin, failure, or divine judgment. It involves both the internal feeling of being disgraced and the external reality of being put to public shame.
shadad · Hebrew Verb
The act of making desolate, ruined, or destroyed. It often describes the total devastation of a land or city as a consequence of divine wrath or war.
Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab directly addresses the devastation wrought by the Babylonian conquest under Nebuchadnezzar II. The lamentations and descriptions of ruined cities reflect the historical reality of Moab's subjugation around 582 BC, a consequence of its pride and past actions against Israel.
c. 840 BC
Moabite Stone records Mesha's rebellion
The Moabite Stone, a monument erected by King Mesha of Moab, details Moab's successful rebellion against Israel and its reconquest of territory previously held by Israel. This shows Moab's national consciousness and its historical conflict with its neighbors.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian invasions of Moab
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sargon II, exerted influence and control over Moab, often demanding tribute. This period saw Moab's subjugation to a larger empire.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian deportation of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon began his campaigns, including the first deportation of Judean captives and treasures. This marked the rising power of Babylon, which would soon impact surrounding nations like Moab.
c. 582 BC— this verse
Babylonian conquest of Moab
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army campaigns against Moab. This event, described by Jeremiah, marks the devastation of Moabite cities and the loss of its independence, leading to widespread lamentation.
c. 539 BC
Persian conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered the Babylonian Empire. This ushered in a new era where former Babylonian territories, including Moab, came under Persian rule, though Moab's national identity was largely diminished.
This passage describes a similar scene of devastation and lament for Moab, highlighting the cities wailing and crying out as judgment falls upon the land.
Ezekiel 25:11This verse speaks of judgment upon Moab and Ammon, stating that Moab will be a reproach, mirroring the shame and brokenness described in Jeremiah 48:20.
Lamentations 2:10This passage describes the leaders of Zion being silenced and mourning, which parallels the silence and despair that would fall upon Moab as their cities are broken down.
Jeremiah 49:3This verse describes judgment on Ammon, a neighbor of Moab, using similar language of confusion and shame, indicating a shared regional downfall.
barnesJeremiah 48:20: "Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,"
Or, "Moab is ashamed, because she (Dibon) is broken" by her fortifications being battered down.
pooleJeremiah 48:20: "Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled,"
Arnon was the name of a river, Numbers 21:14 Deu 2:36 Joshua 12:1 . It was the border of Moab, whither Balak went to meet Balaam, Numbers 22:36 ; probably the adjacent country or city might take its name from the river.
The call to "tell it beside the Arnon" isn't just reporting news; it's about broadcasting the devastating defeat from Moab's northern border, their last line of defense and a historically significant boundary, to ensure everyone hears and understands the totality of their ruin. This specific location highlights the complete collapse of their defenses and pride.
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab, which begins with their pride and boasts, contrasted with their impending downfall. After a series of pronouncements about Moab's devastation, the prophet calls for a public lament to be spread throughout the land, specifically mentioning the region by the Arnon river, which marked Moab's border. This announcement is a response to the unfolding judgment that has already begun to break down their strongholds.
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab, which begins with their pride and boasts, contrasted with their impending downfall. After a series of pronouncements about Moab's devastation, the prophet calls for a public lament to be spread throughout the land, specifically mentioning the region by the Arnon river, which marked Moab's border. This announcement is a response to the unfolding judgment that has already begun to break down their strongholds.
"Moab is put to shame, for it is broken; wail and cry! Tell it beside the Arnon, that Moab is laid waste." — The call to "tell it beside the Arnon" isn't just reporting news; it's about broadcasting the devastating defeat from Moab's northern border, their last line of defense and a historically significant…
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Last reviewed October 2026