Jeremiah 48:33-34
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. “From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they utter their voice, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. For the waters of Nimrim also have become desolate.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The prophecy highlights how the very sounds of celebration associated with harvest—the joyful shouts of grape-treaders—will be silenced, replaced by a cry that is "no shouting." This isn't just about a lack of wine, but a profound reversal where the expected sounds of joy are twisted into cries of despair or the clamor of invasion.
Jeremiah is detailing God's judgment on Moab for its pride and defiance, describing the devastation that will befall its fertile land. This includes the destruction of its vineyards and wine production, silencing the joyful sounds traditionally associated with the harvest. The passage contrasts the past abundance and celebration with the future emptiness and wailing brought on by divine punishment.
Imagine the sound of harvest—laughter, music, joyful shouts. Now imagine that sound replaced by utter silence. This verse paints a stark picture of loss.
Jeremiah 48:33 vividly describes the complete devastation of Moab. The 'plentiful field' and the 'land of Moab' are stripped of their joy and gladness.
The Lost Harvest
The most striking image is the failure of the winepresses. The vintage was a time of intense celebration, marked by shouts of joy as workers trod the grapes. The prophet emphasizes this by saying, 'none shall tread with shouting.'
A Shift in Sound
But it gets even more profound. The verse concludes, 'their shouting shall be no shouting.' This isn't just the absence of joy; it's the perversion of sound itself. The celebratory shouts of the vintagers are replaced by something else entirely—likely the cries of invaders or the lamentations of a conquered people. The familiar sounds of life and celebration are silenced, replaced by the sounds of destruction and despair.
Who is responsible for this silence? The verse points to a sovereign hand orchestrating this sorrow.
While human invaders bring destruction, Jeremiah emphasizes that God is the ultimate cause of Moab's downfall.
Divine Action
The text explicitly states, 'I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses.' This isn't a passive observation of disaster; it's an active declaration of God's judgment.
Purpose of Judgment
Moab, like other nations, faced God's judgment for their pride and their opposition to God's people and His purposes. The silencing of their joyous sounds is a direct consequence of their sin and God's righteous decree.
Understand the original words
šĕmāmâ · Hebrew Noun
A condition of emptiness, abandonment, and destruction; often the result of divine judgment upon a place or people who have turned from God.
Jeremiah's prophecy against Moab paints a vivid picture of desolation by describing the cessation of harvest celebrations. This imagery would have resonated deeply with the Moabites who were likely suffering under the Babylonian conquest around 582 BC, a time of immense upheaval and loss of national life.
c. 840 BC
Moabite Rebellion Against Israel
The Moabite king Mesha rebels against the kingdom of Israel, an event recorded on the Mesha Stele. This highlights Moab's historical independence and periods of conflict with its neighbors.
c. 730-720 BC
Assyrian Domination of the Region
The Neo-Assyrian Empire expands its influence, bringing Moab, along with other regional powers, under its control. This period marks a loss of autonomy for Moab.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportations
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins deporting Judean elites to Babylon. This sets a precedent for the larger exiles and signifies the rising power of Babylon, which would later impact Moab.
c. 582 BC— this verse
Babylonian Campaigns in the Region
After the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar II conducts military campaigns throughout the region, including against Moab and Ammon. This likely led to significant devastation and subjugation of Moab.
This passage is nearly identical to Jeremiah 48:33, highlighting the devastating loss of agricultural joy and abundance, specifically mentioning the cessation of wine from the presses.
Jeremiah 25:30This verse describes God's judgment roaring like a lion, a stark contrast to the joyous shouting of vintage, underscoring how divine wrath silences human celebration and brings ruin.
Joel 1:11-12This passage vividly portrays the despair of farmers whose crops and vineyards have failed, directly mirroring the loss of joy and the silencing of the winepress described in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 48:36This verse speaks of the heart sounding like pipes for Moab's men, linking the desolation of their riches to the sorrowful music of mourning, a direct parallel to the silenced joy.
Hosea 2:11-12This passage details God removing the joy, festivals, new moons, and harvests from Israel because of their sin, showing a pattern of divine judgment taking away the very sources of celebration.
gillJeremiah 48:33: "And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting."
And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field,.... Or, from Carmel (k); not Mount Carmel in the land of Israel; for the prophecy is of Moab; though that reached to Sibmah; but here it signifies any fruitful place, like Carmel, where were good pasturage, corn, and fru…
barnesJeremiah 48:33: "And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting."
Winepresses - Rather, "wine-vats," into which the wine runs from the presses. Their shouting shall be no shouting - The vintage shout is - silence. For the vines have been destroyed, and desolation reigns where once was the joyful cry of those who tread the grapes.
The prophecy highlights how the very sounds of celebration associated with harvest—the joyful shouts of grape-treaders—will be silenced, replaced by a cry that is "no shouting." This isn't just about a lack of wine, but a profound reversal where the expected sounds of joy are twisted into cries of despair or the clamor of invasion.
Jeremiah is detailing God's judgment on Moab for its pride and defiance, describing the devastation that will befall its fertile land. This includes the destruction of its vineyards and wine production, silencing the joyful sounds traditionally associated with the harvest. The passage contrasts the past abundance and celebration with the future emptiness and wailing brought on by divine punishment.
Jeremiah is detailing God's judgment on Moab for its pride and defiance, describing the devastation that will befall its fertile land. This includes the destruction of its vineyards and wine production, silencing the joyful sounds traditionally associated with the harvest. The passage contrasts the past abundance and celebration with the future emptiness and wailing brought on by divine punishment.
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c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ushering in the Persian Empire. While not directly impacting Moab's destruction, this marks a shift in imperial powers and a later period of potential restoration.
"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. “From the outcr…" — The prophecy highlights how the very sounds of celebration associated with harvest—the joyful shouts of grape-treaders—will be silenced, replaced by a cry that is "no shouting." This isn't just about…
