Jeremiah 48:26
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The verse vividly portrays Moab's downfall by comparing it to a drunkard wallowing in his own filth. This isn't just about public shame, but about a complete loss of self-control and dignity, a stark contrast to the pride with which Moab "magnified himself against the LORD." His arrogant defiance ultimately leads to a grotesque, debased end, proving that boasting against God always results in utter humiliation.
“Make him drunk, because he magnified himself against the LORD, so that Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he too shall be held in derision.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab, a nation that often mocked and mistreated Israel, especially during their times of distress. Following pronouncements of Moab's coming destruction and humiliation, God commands the agents of his wrath to "make Moab drunk." This is not with literal wine, but with the intoxicating, disorienting cup of divine vengeance, because Moab had arrogantly exalted itself against the LORD, and would now be left to wallow in disgrace like a drunken person in their own vomit, becoming a spectacle of mockery.
The imagery here is intense and visceral. Moab isn't just facing defeat; they're being metaphorically force-fed a drink they can't refuse.
The verse commands Moab to be 'made drunk,' but this isn't about a casual night out. It's a powerful metaphor for the overwhelming, disorienting, and incapacitating effects of God's judgment.
The Cup of Wrath
Scripture frequently uses the metaphor of a 'cup' filled with wine to represent God's judgment and wrath (see Jeremiah 25:15-17). When Moab is commanded to be made drunk, it means they will be subjected to the full, intoxicating measure of divine punishment. This judgment strips away their reason, their power, and their ability to resist, leaving them helpless and confused.
The Purpose of the 'Drunkenness'
This isn't random chaos. The 'drunkenness' is a direct consequence of Moab's sin: 'because he magnified himself against the LORD.' Their pride and arrogance against God have led to a state where they are so consumed by divine vengeance that they lose all control, staggering and falling under its weight.
Magnifying oneself against God sounds serious, but what does it really look like? And how does God respond to such defiance?
Moab's downfall isn't just about military defeat; it's about the exposure of their pride and the shame that comes with it.
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Magnifying Against the LORD
'He magnified himself against the LORD' means Moab acted with extreme arrogance, essentially puffing themselves up as if they were equal to or greater than God. This could manifest in several ways:
Wallowing in Shame
The consequence is stark: 'Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.' This is a deeply humiliating image. Like a drunkard who vomits and then lies helplessly in his own filth, Moab will be reduced to a state of utter degradation. Their past pride and vaunted status will be exposed as worthless, leaving them a spectacle of shame for all to see.
Divine Retribution
This isn't just about natural consequences; it's divine retribution. God ensures that those who mock and defy Him will ultimately become objects of ridicule themselves. The shame they inflict on others, or the pride they display against God, is thrown back upon them in a potent, public humiliation.
Understand the original words
shakar · Hebrew Verb
To drink to excess, often used metaphorically in Scripture to describe the state of being under divine judgment or staggering under the weight of God's wrath.
gadal · Hebrew Verb
To lift oneself up in pride or arrogance, often in defiance of God's authority; it describes a heart that elevates itself above the Creator.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
Refers to the LORD, the covenant God of Israel (Yahweh). It signifies His supreme authority, sovereignty, and personal relationship with His people.
sechoq · Hebrew Noun
A state of being mocked, scorned, or held in contempt; it often signifies the public shame that follows those who oppose God.
This prophecy against Moab comes in the context of the Babylonian exile of Judah. Moab's own pride and contempt towards God's people during their suffering are met with divine judgment, depicted through vivid imagery of intoxication and public shame.
c. 853 BC
Battle of Qarqar
A major battle where the Assyrian empire clashed with a coalition of Levantine states. Moab was part of this coalition, indicating its involvement in regional military and political affairs.
c. 785 BC
Moabite Expansion
Moab experienced a period of resurgence and expansion, asserting its independence and regional influence, often at the expense of its neighbors like Israel.
c. 730s BC
Assyrian Domination Begins
The Neo-Assyrian Empire under Tiglath-Pileser III began its major campaigns into the Levant, subjugating various kingdoms, including Moab, which became a vassal state.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquered Judah, deporting some of its elite to Babylon. This marked the beginning of Babylonian dominance in the region, impacting all surrounding nations.
582 BC— this verse
Final Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining Judean population. This event deeply affected Moab, which had a complex and often hostile relationship with Judah.
c. 550-500 BC
Persian Empire Rises
The Persian Empire conquered the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ushering in a new era of regional control. While Moab likely fell under Persian rule, its distinct national identity continued to diminish.
This passage uses the same imagery of drunkenness and confusion to describe the downfall of Egypt, highlighting God's judgment against pride and rebellion.
Habakkuk 2:15-16Here, the prophet condemns those who intoxicate others with their 'wine' of violence and idolatry, leading to their own shame and derision, mirroring Moab's fate.
Jeremiah 25:15-29This broader passage describes God giving a 'cup of wrath' to nations, including Moab, to make them drunk and desolate, emphasizing the universal consequence of defying God.
Ezekiel 25:8Similar to Jeremiah, this verse describes Moab's arrogance and how God will punish them for their actions against His people, leading to their humiliation.
barnesJeremiah 48:26: "Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision."
Make ye him drunken - With the wine-cup of God's fury, until terror deprive him of his senses.
pooleJeremiah 48:26: "Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision."
Make ye him drunken; either make ye him to stagger like a drunken man, (the cause being put for the effect,) or fill him with the intoxicating wine cup of God’s vengeance, with the effects of God’s wrath. For he magnified himself against the Lord; because of his pride, and exalting himself against the Lord, as if he had been stronger than he, a…
The verse vividly portrays Moab's downfall by comparing it to a drunkard wallowing in his own filth. This isn't just about public shame, but about a complete loss of self-control and dignity, a stark contrast to the pride with which Moab "magnified himself against the LORD." His arrogant defiance ultimately leads to a grotesque, debased end, proving that boasting against God always results in utter humiliation.
This passage is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab, a nation that often mocked and mistreated Israel, especially during their times of distress. Following pronouncements of Moab's coming destruction and humiliation, God commands the agents of his wrath to "make Moab drunk." This is not with literal wine, but with the intoxicating, disorienting cup of divine vengeance, because Moab had arrogantly exalted itself against the LORD, and would now be left to wallow in disgrace like a drunken person in their own vomit, becoming a spectacle of mockery.
This passage is part of Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab, a nation that often mocked and mistreated Israel, especially during their times of distress. Following pronouncements of Moab's coming destruction and humiliation, God commands the agents of his wrath to "make Moab drunk." This is not with literal wine, but with the intoxicating, disorienting cup of divine vengeance, because Moab had arrogantly exalted itself against the LORD, and would now be left to wallow in disgrace like a drunken person in their own vomit, becoming a spectacle of mockery.
"“Make him drunk, because he magnified himself against the LORD, so that Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he too shall be held in derision." — The verse vividly portrays Moab's downfall by comparing it to a drunkard wallowing in his own filth. This isn't just about public shame, but about a complete loss of self-control and dignity, a stark…
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Last reviewed October 2026
