Jeremiah 48:29-30
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What's striking here isn't just that Moab is proud, but that the prophet uses so many words to say it—pride, loftiness, arrogance, haughtiness! It’s like he's piling them up to emphasize how Moab’s own self-importance was so loud and evident that even outsiders had “heard” all about it. This intense focus highlights that their pride wasn't a hidden flaw, but a defining, almost noisy, characteristic that sealed their fate.
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)
This passage is part of a larger oracle against Moab, a neighboring nation to Israel. Jeremiah is calling out Moab's persistent sin of arrogance and self-reliance, which echoes earlier prophecies about them. Even though they've faced judgment before, as noted by the repetition of phrases used by Isaiah, Moab hasn't learned humility, leading to an even more severe pronouncement of doom that will strip them of their pride and prosperity.
Moab's pride wasn't a quiet thing; it was something everyone could 'hear'. What does it mean when our inner attitudes become loud external declarations?
The prophet Jeremiah uses a powerful phrase here: 'We have heard of the pride of Moab.' This isn't just about knowing that Moab was proud; it implies that their pride was so evident, so vocal, that it registered on the ears of others.
A Boastful Broadcast
Think of it like a constant broadcast. Moab didn't just feel proud; they acted it out. They were 'very proud,' and their 'loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart' were not hidden away. Instead, they were proclaimed through their actions, their words, and their demeanor.
God Hears and Sees
The commentaries suggest this phrase implies a notoriety – their pride was a well-known characteristic. But more importantly, it signals that God hears and sees these outward expressions of inner arrogance. What we proclaim about ourselves, intentionally or unintentionally, is not lost on Him.
Jeremiah piles on the words to describe Moab's pride. Why use so many synonyms? What's the point of this literary emphasis?
Jeremiah doesn't just say Moab was proud; he uses a cascade of words: 'loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance, and the haughtiness of his heart.' This isn't redundant; it's emphatic.
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Layers of Defiance
These terms, while similar, paint a picture of pride in various dimensions:
Unchecked Growth
Commentators note that this repetition, echoing similar descriptions from Isaiah, highlights that Moab's pride had only grown worse over time. They hadn't learned from past judgments or warnings. This insistence on their arrogance underscores its pervasiveness and the depth of their rebellion against God. It was a core part of their identity, unchecked and unrepentant.
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 deep-seated pride echo earlier prophecies by Isaiah, showing a nation resistant to change. This verse highlights how a long history of arrogance, especially in the face of regional upheaval like the Babylonian exile, ultimately sealed Moab's fate.
c. 750 BC
Isaiah prophesies against Moab
The prophet Isaiah denounces Moab's pride and arrogance, foretelling judgment. This indicates that Moab's defiant spirit was a long-standing issue.
c. 605 BC
First deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar begins deporting Judeans to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile. This event heightened regional instability and showcased Babylon's growing power.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling most of the remaining Judeans. This devastating event solidified Babylon's dominance and impacted all surrounding nations, including Moab.
c. 582 BC— this verse
Babylonian campaigns in the region
Following the fall of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar conducted military campaigns against remaining rebellious territories in the region, likely including Moab.
This passage uses remarkably similar language to describe Moab's pride, highlighting that this was a long-standing and uncorrected character flaw that would ultimately lead to judgment.
Ezekiel 28:2Like Moab's excessive pride, the description of Tyre's inflated self-importance and arrogance in this passage offers a parallel of a nation brought low because it trusted in its own greatness.
Proverbs 16:18This verse succinctly states the principle that 'pride goes before destruction,' serving as a foundational truth that explains why the profound pride of Moab, as detailed in Jeremiah 48:29, inevitably led to its downfall.
Luke 14:11Jesus' teaching that 'whoever exalts himself will be humbled' directly applies to Moab's situation, showing that the divine perspective always contrasts with human arrogance, and self-exaltation is met with divine humility.
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 striking here isn't just that Moab is proud, but that the prophet uses so many words to say it—pride, loftiness, arrogance, haughtiness! It’s like he's piling them up to emphasize how Moab’s own self-importance was so loud and evident that even outsiders had “heard” all about it. This intense focus highlights that their pride wasn't a hidden flaw, but a defining, almost noisy, characteristic that sealed their fate.
This passage is part of a larger oracle against Moab, a neighboring nation to Israel. Jeremiah is calling out Moab's persistent sin of arrogance and self-reliance, which echoes earlier prophecies about them. Even though they've faced judgment before, as noted by the repetition of phrases used by Isaiah, Moab hasn't learned humility, leading to an even more severe pronouncement of doom that will strip them of their pride and prosperity.
This passage is part of a larger oracle against Moab, a neighboring nation to Israel. Jeremiah is calling out Moab's persistent sin of arrogance and self-reliance, which echoes earlier prophecies about them. Even though they've faced judgment before, as noted by the repetition of phrases used by Isaiah, Moab hasn't learned humility, leading to an even more severe pronouncement of doom that will strip them of their pride and prosperity.
"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…" — What's striking here isn't just that Moab is proud, but that the prophet uses so many words to say it—pride, loftiness, arrogance, haughtiness! It’s like he's piling them up to emphasize how Moab’s o…
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Last reviewed October 2026
