Jeremiah 48:31-33
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It's easy to see this as just Jeremiah expressing sadness, but he's actually shifting the perspective. The "I" who wails isn't just Jeremiah's personal sorrow; he's embodying the grief of all who will truly mourn Moab's fall, even as Moab itself likely celebrated Judah's troubles. This highlights a prophet's deep empathy, feeling the weight of God's judgment not as an abstract concept, but as a devastating human tragedy.
Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; for the men of Kir-hareseth I mourn. More than for Jazer I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches passed over the sea, reached to the Sea of Jazer; on your summer fruits and your grapes the destroyer has fallen. Gladness and joy have been taken away from the fruitful land of Moab; I have made the wine cease from the winepresses; no one treads them with shouts of joy; the shouting is not the shout of joy.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophecy against Moab has detailed its impending doom due to its pride and defiance against God, declaring that judgment will fall upon its cities and people. This verse marks a shift where the prophet, Jeremiah, expresses his deep sorrow and empathy for the Moabites, even though they previously mocked Judah's suffering. He laments the impending destruction, focusing specifically on the inhabitants of Kir-hareseth, a significant Moabite city, highlighting the human cost of divine judgment.
Why would Jeremiah, delivering God's judgment, express such deep sorrow for Moab? This isn't just sadness; it's a profound emotional response that reveals something vital about God's heart and the prophet's mission.
It might seem strange that Jeremiah would 'howl' and 'cry out' for Moab, a nation facing God's judgment. Commentators note that this passage is based on Isaiah 16:7, but Jeremiah shifts the focus.
A Prophet's Double Nature
Jeremiah, like many prophets, often embodies a complex emotional state. While he is the divine messenger of judgment, he also possesses a deeply human heart that feels the weight of impending destruction. This isn't a contradiction; it's a testament to the intensity of his calling and his empathy.
Mourning the Loss of People
While some prophecies focus on the destruction of a city or its resources (like the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth mentioned in Isaiah), Jeremiah's focus here is on 'the men of Kir-hareseth.' This shift highlights that God grieves over the loss of individual lives, even those who are His enemies. The prophet’s wailing reflects God's sorrow for the people caught in the devastation, not for their sin or their pride.
The mention of Kir-hareseth might seem like a minor detail, but it grounds the abstract judgment in a very real, human place. What does this specific location tell us about the scope of the loss?
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Kir-hareseth (also called Kir-heres) was a significant city in Moab, likely a stronghold given its strategic location. Its name might mean 'City of the Sun' or 'City of Potters,' hinting at its cultural or economic importance.
From Possessions to People
Isaiah's prophecy concerning Moab (which Jeremiah draws from) speaks of mourning for 'the raisin cakes of Kir-heres' – a poetic way to lament the destruction of its prized produce and prosperity. Jeremiah, however, shifts the lament to 'the men of Kir-heres.'
The Ultimate Loss
This change in focus is crucial. Instead of mourning lost goods or agricultural products, the grief is for the people themselves – their lives, their families, their future. This emphasizes that judgment results in the loss of human life and dignity, a loss that is deeply sorrowful, even when deserved.
Understand the original words
yālal · Hebrew Verb
To express grief or deep sorrow, often accompanied by loud lamentation; frequently used in the Bible regarding judgment or impending disaster.
zāʿaq · Hebrew Verb
To express intense sorrow, grief, or distress, often through weeping or lamenting; in a prophetic context, it reflects the compassionate heart of God or the prophet for the plight of humanity.
hāgâ · Hebrew Verb
To express sorrow or grief, often publicly or ceremonially; it signifies a reaction to death, destruction, or divine judgment.
gepen · Hebrew Noun
A common biblical metaphor for a nation or a people, representing their fruitfulness, growth, and dependence on God's cultivation.
qayits · Hebrew Noun
A reference to harvest products, used metaphorically to represent the prosperity, sustenance, and abundance of a land that God has provided.
šōdēd · Hebrew Noun
One who brings ruin or devastation, often acting as an instrument of divine judgment against a rebellious nation or people.
Jeremiah's lament for Moab, especially for the city of Kir-hareseth, occurs within the broader context of regional upheaval caused by the rising Babylonian empire. The prophecies reflect a coming judgment that would devastate Moab, mirroring the destruction and exile faced by Judah.
c. 730-700 BC
Assyrian Campaigns in Moab
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conducted military campaigns in the region, leading to vassalage and tribute from Moab. This period saw significant pressure on the smaller kingdoms of the Levant.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Campaigns Against Judah
Sennacherib's campaign against Judah, while Jerusalem was spared, caused widespread devastation and likely impacted surrounding territories like Moab, contributing to a sense of regional insecurity.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins his campaigns against the region, leading to the first major deportation of Judeans. This event marks the rise of Babylonian power and the decline of Assyrian influence.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This cataclysmic event deeply affected the surrounding nations and prophetic outlook.
c. 550-539 BC
Rise of Persia
The Median and Persian Empires rise to prominence, eventually conquering Babylon. This shift in power dynamics would eventually allow for the return of exiles.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great takes Babylon, initiating the Persian period. This event sets the stage for the decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Judah.
Late 7th - Early 6th Century BC— this verse
Prophecies Against Moab
Jeremiah delivers his prophecies against Moab, likely during the turbulent period of escalating Babylonian power and preceding the final destruction of Jerusalem. The judgments described reflect the imminent threat and eventual conquest of Moab.
This passage describes a similar impending doom for Moab, directly referencing Kir-heres and the lament over its loss, providing a textual parallel and context for Jeremiah's prophecy.
Jeremiah 48:36This verse immediately follows, explaining that the prophet's sorrow for Moab stems from the destruction of their high places and the loss of their treasured goods, directly linking the lament to divine judgment.
Lamentations 1:1-2The opening of Lamentations expresses a profound, personal grief for the devastation of Jerusalem, mirroring the deep sorrow and wailing Jeremiah expresses for the suffering of Moab.
Ezekiel 27:30-31This passage details the lament for the destruction of the city of Tyre, showing how prophets expressed deep sorrow over the ruin of specific cities and their people, even those facing judgment.
barnesJeremiah 48:31: "Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres."
Mine heart ... - Rather, "there shall be mourning for" etc.
pooleJeremiah 48:31: "Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres."
Though wicked men rejoice and triumph in the ruin of good men, yet their charity suffereth them not to do the like, but engageth them to mourn for them in the day of their affliction. Jeremiah declareth his compassion toward these Moabites, though they derided the Jews when they were carried into captivity. nay, he mourns upon the prospect of their misery at some di…
It's easy to see this as just Jeremiah expressing sadness, but he's actually shifting the perspective. The "I" who wails isn't just Jeremiah's personal sorrow; he's embodying the grief of all who will truly mourn Moab's fall, even as Moab itself likely celebrated Judah's troubles. This highlights a prophet's deep empathy, feeling the weight of God's judgment not as an abstract concept, but as a devastating human tragedy.
The prophecy against Moab has detailed its impending doom due to its pride and defiance against God, declaring that judgment will fall upon its cities and people. This verse marks a shift where the prophet, Jeremiah, expresses his deep sorrow and empathy for the Moabites, even though they previously mocked Judah's suffering. He laments the impending destruction, focusing specifically on the inhabitants of Kir-hareseth, a significant Moabite city, highlighting the human cost of divine judgment.
The prophecy against Moab has detailed its impending doom due to its pride and defiance against God, declaring that judgment will fall upon its cities and people. This verse marks a shift where the prophet, Jeremiah, expresses his deep sorrow and empathy for the Moabites, even though they previously mocked Judah's suffering. He laments the impending destruction, focusing specifically on the inhabitants of Kir-hareseth, a significant Moabite city, highlighting the human cost of divine judgment.
"Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; for the men of Kir-hareseth I mourn. More than for Jazer I weep for you, O vine of Sibmah! Your branches passed over the sea, reached to the Sea of Jaze…" — It's easy to see this as just Jeremiah expressing sadness, but he's actually shifting the perspective. The "I" who wails isn't just Jeremiah's personal sorrow; he's embodying the grief of all who wil…
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Last reviewed October 2026
