Jeremiah 48:29-30
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. I know his insolence, declares the LORD; his boasts are false, his deeds are false.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The repeated words for "pride" here aren't just emphasizing Moab's arrogance; they highlight that Moab itself was its own loudest herald, boasting of its power and loftiness so persistently that their own words testified against them. This isn't just a description of pride, but of pride in action, proclaimed for all to hear.
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Why does the prophet use so many words to describe Moab's arrogance? It's not just about quantity, but a deep-seated character flaw.
This verse is packed with synonyms for pride: 'pride,' 'loftiness,' 'arrogancy,' and 'haughtiness.' It paints a picture of Moab as a nation utterly consumed by self-importance.
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When we hear about pride, we might think of human judgment. But this verse tells us something deeper: God is listening.
The opening phrase, 'We have heard,' might seem like a human observation. However, the context, especially the following verses where God speaks directly ('saith the LORD'), indicates that this report of Moab's pride has reached the very throne of heaven.
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.
ebrah · Hebrew Noun
A form of aggressive, abusive, or irreverent speech/behavior that disregards others and God, often characterized by unmerited confidence.
Jeremiah's words about Moab's pride echo earlier prophecies and describe a nation that remained unrepentant even as powerful empires rose and fell around them, especially during the Babylonian exile of Judah.
c. 840 BC
Moabite Stone inscription
King Mesha of Moab celebrates his victories and independence from Israel, highlighting Moab's national pride and achievements.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah prophesies against Moab
Isaiah denounces Moab's immense pride and arrogance, noting that despite past warnings, the nation has not reformed. This prophecy is echoed by Jeremiah.
605 BC
First Babylonian deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports some Judean nobility and skilled workers to Babylon after a military campaign, marking the beginning of Babylonian dominance over the region.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling a large portion of the population to Babylon. Moab, allied with Babylon, likely experienced increased nationalistic pride during this period.
c. 550 BC - 539 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire, initiating a new era of regional powers and eventually allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem.
This passage uses nearly identical language to describe Moab's immense pride and arrogance, highlighting that this was an ongoing, uncorrected sin for the nation over many years.
Ezekiel 28:17This verse describes the heart of Tyre's king becoming haughty because of his beauty and prosperity, a parallel to how Moab's pride stemmed from its perceived strength and achievements, leading to its downfall.
Proverbs 16:18This proverb directly states that 'pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,' serving as a theological explanation for the judgment pronounced against proud Moab.
Luke 1:52This verse from the Magnificat recounts God scattering the proud and bringing down the mighty from their thrones, echoing the consistent biblical theme of God's judgment against haughtiness, as seen with Moab.
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 ;…
The repeated words for "pride" here aren't just emphasizing Moab's arrogance; they highlight that Moab itself was its own loudest herald, boasting of its power and loftiness so persistently that their own words testified against them. This isn't just a description of pride, but of pride in action, proclaimed for all to hear.
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 840 BC", "title": "Moabite Stone Inscription", "description": "King Mesha of Moab boasts of his military victories and expansion, reflecting a national pride that was well-known and noted by surrounding nations like Israel.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 740 BC", "title": "Isaiah's Prophecy Against Moab", "description": "The prophet Isaiah also denounced Moab's excessive pride and arrogance, indicating that this had been a long-standing issue for the nation.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 590 BC", "title": "Jeremiah's Prophecy Issued", "description": "Jeremiah delivers his prophecy against Moab, incorporating language similar to Isaiah's, highlighting that Moab's pride had not diminished and continued to provoke God's judgment.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "586 BC", "title": "Fall of Jerusalem", "description": "The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians led many Judeans to flee to Moab, where they were not always received kindly, potentially increasing Moab's sense of superiority.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "Post-586 BC", "title": "Babylonian Domination of Moab", "description": "Moab, like other surrounding nations, eventually fell under the dominion of the Babylonian Empire, a stark contrast to their former pride and independence.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Jeremiah's words about Moab's pride echo earlier prophecies, showing that this deep-seated arrogance, evident even in national monuments, had persisted for centuries and was a primary reason for God's judgment." }
{ "hasHistoricalBackground": true, "events": [ { "date": "c. 840 BC", "title": "Moabite Stone Inscription", "description": "King Mesha of Moab boasts of his military victories and expansion, reflecting a national pride that was well-known and noted by surrounding nations like Israel.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 740 BC", "title": "Isaiah's Prophecy Against Moab", "description": "The prophet Isaiah also denounced Moab's excessive pride and arrogance, indicating that this had been a long-standing issue for the nation.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "c. 590 BC", "title": "Jeremiah's Prophecy Issued", "description": "Jeremiah delivers his prophecy against Moab, incorporating language similar to Isaiah's, highlighting that Moab's pride had not diminished and continued to provoke God's judgment.", "isCurrentContext": true }, { "date": "586 BC", "title": "Fall of Jerusalem", "description": "The destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians led many Judeans to flee to Moab, where they were not always received kindly, potentially increasing Moab's sense of superiority.", "isCurrentContext": false }, { "date": "Post-586 BC", "title": "Babylonian Domination of Moab", "description": "Moab, like other surrounding nations, eventually fell under the dominion of the Babylonian Empire, a stark contrast to their former pride and independence.", "isCurrentContext": false } ], "summaryInsight": "Jeremiah's words about Moab's pride echo earlier prophecies, showing that this deep-seated arrogance, evident even in national monuments, had persisted for centuries and was a primary reason for God's judgment." }
"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. I know his insolence, declares the LORD; his boasts are false, his…" — The repeated words for "pride" here aren't just emphasizing Moab's arrogance; they highlight that Moab itself was its own loudest herald, boasting of its power and loftiness so persistently that thei…
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