Jeremiah 48:29
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What's easily missed here is that Jeremiah isn't just reporting on Moab's pride; he's using an abundance of words—pride, loftiness, arrogance, haughtiness—to show that Moab was essentially broadcasting its own arrogance. It's like they were the loudest advertisers of their own downfall, making their sin so obvious that it couldn't be ignored.
We have heard of the pride of Moab— he is very proud— of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse bursts forth as Jeremiah begins to pronounce judgment on the nation of Moab. Following prophecies against other nations, the focus now shifts to Moab, highlighting their profound arrogance and self-importance. This description echoes earlier warnings from Isaiah, suggesting that Moab's pride has festered and grown, making them ripe for the divine reckoning that is about to unfold.
Ever notice how some people just talk a big game? Moab was like that, but on a national scale. Their reputation for pride preceded them.
The verse starts with "We have heard...". This isn't just casual gossip; it signifies that Moab's arrogance was so well-known, it had become a common report among neighboring nations, including Israel.
A Notorious Sin
Commentators note that this isn't a new problem. Jeremiah is echoing language used by Isaiah about Moab's pride, suggesting that their arrogance was deeply ingrained and hadn't been corrected by past judgments.
Loud and Clear
This pride wasn't quiet. The repeated emphasis on Moab's 'loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart' isn't just redundant. It paints a picture of a people who loudly proclaimed their own greatness, expecting everyone to notice and be impressed.
Why did God pay so much attention to Moab's pride? Because it wasn't just a personality flaw; it was a direct challenge to His authority.
The language used to describe Moab's pride – 'loftiness,' 'arrogancy,' 'haughtiness' – points to a mindset that elevates self above all else. This is precisely what God cannot tolerate.
The Opposite of God's Character
Pride, in its essence, is the belief that one is self-sufficient and doesn't need God. It's the opposite of the humility and dependence that God's people are called to.
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A Recipe for Judgment
When a nation, or an individual, becomes so consumed with their own greatness, they inevitably set themselves up against the Most High. As the commentaries suggest, this pervasive arrogance ultimately sealed Moab's fate, making them ripe for the judgment that Jeremiah proclaims.
Understand the original words
ga'own · Hebrew Noun
An attitude of self-exaltation or an inflated view of one's own importance, which the Bible consistently identifies as an abomination to God and the root of many sins.
gobah · Hebrew Noun
A heightened, elevated, or lofty state, often used to describe excessive and unjustified self-importance.
Jeremiah echoes Isaiah's earlier prophecy, emphasizing that Moab's pride was not a new issue but an ingrained characteristic that had grown worse over time, thus warranting severe judgment from God.
c. 8th century BC
Isaiah's Prophecy Against Moab
Isaiah prophesied against Moab, describing its pride and predicting judgment. This earlier prophecy established a pattern of divine disapproval for Moab's arrogance.
c. 7th century BC— this verse
Moab's Continued Pride and Arrogance
Despite the warnings from Isaiah, Moab's excessive pride, arrogance, and haughtiness persisted and even intensified over the generations.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins his campaigns, deporting some Jewish exiles to Babylon. This marks the rising power that would eventually impact Moab.
582 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar conducts further deportations from Judah, solidifying Babylonian dominance in the region and setting the stage for future judgments on surrounding nations.
This passage uses very similar language to describe Moab's excessive pride, highlighting that this was a long-standing and unaddressed characteristic of the nation.
Proverbs 16:18This verse directly links pride with a fall, serving as a timeless principle that explains why God's judgment is inevitable for nations and individuals consumed by arrogance.
Ezekiel 28:17This passage describes the pride of the King of Tyre, showing a parallel between his self-exaltation and ultimate downfall, mirroring the fate of proud nations like Moab.
Luke 14:11Jesus teaches that those who exalt themselves will be humbled, a principle that applies universally to both individuals and nations, including Moab, who proclaimed their greatness.
clarkeJeremiah 48:29: "We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart."
The pride of Moab - See on Isaiah 16:1 (note).
gillJeremiah 48:29: "We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart."
We have heard the pride of Moab,.... Israel, and all the nations round about, had heard of this, and seen or heard of many instances of it; the thing was notorious; according to Kimchi, it is the prophet that here speaks in the name of the nations; but it seems best to understand it of the Lord himself, as appears from the Jeremiah 48:30 ;…
What's easily missed here is that Jeremiah isn't just reporting on Moab's pride; he's using an abundance of words—pride, loftiness, arrogance, haughtiness—to show that Moab was essentially broadcasting its own arrogance. It's like they were the loudest advertisers of their own downfall, making their sin so obvious that it couldn't be ignored.
This verse bursts forth as Jeremiah begins to pronounce judgment on the nation of Moab. Following prophecies against other nations, the focus now shifts to Moab, highlighting their profound arrogance and self-importance. This description echoes earlier warnings from Isaiah, suggesting that Moab's pride has festered and grown, making them ripe for the divine reckoning that is about to unfold.
This verse bursts forth as Jeremiah begins to pronounce judgment on the nation of Moab. Following prophecies against other nations, the focus now shifts to Moab, highlighting their profound arrogance and self-importance. This description echoes earlier warnings from Isaiah, suggesting that Moab's pride has festered and grown, making them ripe for the divine reckoning that is about to unfold.
"We have heard of the pride of Moab— he is very proud— of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart." — What's easily missed here is that Jeremiah isn't just reporting on Moab's pride; he's using an abundance of words—pride, loftiness, arrogance, haughtiness—to show that Moab was essentially broadcas…
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Last reviewed October 2026
