Jeremiah 48:7
For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken; and Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights the utter futility of trusting in anything other than God. Not only will Moab be captured, but their chief god, Chemosh, will be taken into exile along with his priests and officials, demonstrating that their idols were powerless to protect even themselves. This emphasizes the ultimate emptiness of relying on human achievements, riches, or even divine representations rather than the Creator himself.
This passage is part of a larger oracle against Moab, detailing God's judgment for their pride and their turning away from Him. Jeremiah has already described the desolation of Moab's cities and land, and now he focuses on the specific reasons for their downfall: their misplaced trust in material wealth and their national god, Chemosh. The consequence will be not only their own capture but also the exile of their idol, demonstrating its powerlessness to protect them.
Moab's confidence wasn't in a person, but in things they could see and touch. What does it look like when we do the same?
Jeremiah points out Moab's fatal flaw: they 'trusted in your works and your treasures.'
What are 'Works'?
This could refer to several things:
Regardless of the exact meaning, the core issue is placing ultimate trust in anything other than the Lord. It's a dangerous mistake that leaves us vulnerable when the storm hits.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Jeremiah 48:7 is available in the Sola app.
Imagine a nation's most powerful deity being paraded in chains! This verse reveals the ultimate bankruptcy of idolatry.
The most striking part of this verse is the fate of Chemosh, Moab's national god: 'Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials.'
What This Means:
Understand the original words
ma‘aseh · Hebrew Noun
A state of being in which an individual relies on their own efforts, material possessions, or human ingenuity rather than on God, often cited as a form of idolatry or pride.
owtsar · Hebrew Noun
Accumulated wealth or riches, often viewed in Scripture as a potential snare that leads to false security and reliance away from God.
Kemowsh · Hebrew Noun
The national deity of the Moabites, an idol whose worship frequently involved detestable practices and who is depicted in Scripture as powerless against the sovereignty of the LORD.
gowlah · Hebrew Noun
The state of being forcibly removed from one’s land, often as a judgment from God for sin, signifying total defeat, loss of divine protection, and displacement.
This prophecy against Moab wasn't delivered in a vacuum; it was spoken during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile of Judah. Moab, having likely rejoiced in Judah's downfall and trusted in their own strength and idols like Chemosh, faces a similar, devastating judgment.
c. 840 BC
Moabite Stone records kingdom
King Mesha of Moab records his rebellion against Israel and boasts of his victories, attributing them to his god Chemosh.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian records mention Moab
Moab is mentioned in Assyrian tribute lists, indicating it was under Assyrian influence or control during this period.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins his campaigns against Judah, deporting some of the Jewish nobility. This sets the stage for later Babylonian dominance.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling a large portion of the population to Babylon. This event deeply impacted Judah's national and religious identity.
c. 550 BC
Persian Empire Rises
Cyrus the Great founds the Persian Empire, which would eventually conquer Babylon and influence the region, including Judah.
c. 539 BC
Babylon Falls to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ending Babylonian rule and allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their lands.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Jeremiah prophesies against Moab
Jeremiah delivers oracles against Moab, condemning their pride, idolatry, and their actions against Judah. This verse is part of that prophecy.
This passage describes the gods of Babylon being carried away in captivity, mirroring how Chemosh, the god of Moab, will be taken captive, highlighting the futility of trusting in idols.
Jeremiah 48:13This verse directly contrasts Moab's shame in Chemosh with Israel's shame in Bethel, reinforcing the theme of misplaced trust in deities that ultimately fail.
Amos 1:15This verse echoes the phrase 'with his priests and his princes together' from Jeremiah 48:7, emphasizing the complete destruction and captivity that awaits those who rely on false gods and human strength.
Jeremiah 2:11This verse speaks to nations exchanging their gods, which are no gods, for true gods, directly addressing the error of trusting in idols like Chemosh instead of the Lord.
pulpitJeremiah 48:7: "For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together."
Verse 7. - In thy works; i.e. either "in thy evil deeds" (comp. Isaiah 28:15) or "in thy idols" (frequently called "the work of men's hands," e.g. Deuteronomy 4:28, and sometimes simply "works," e.g. Isaiah 41:29; Isaiah 57:12; comp. Isaiah L 31). Chemoah. In Numbers 21:29 Moab is called "people of Chemos…
clarkeJeremiah 48:7: "For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together."
Chemosh shall go forth into captivity - The grand national idol of the Moabites, Numbers 21:29 ; Judges 11:24 . Ancient idolaters used to take their gods with them to the field of battle. This was probably in imitation of the Israelites, who took the ark with them in such cases.
The verse highlights the utter futility of trusting in anything other than God. Not only will Moab be captured, but their chief god, Chemosh, will be taken into exile along with his priests and officials, demonstrating that their idols were powerless to protect even themselves. This emphasizes the ultimate emptiness of relying on human achievements, riches, or even divine representations rather than the Creator himself.
This passage is part of a larger oracle against Moab, detailing God's judgment for their pride and their turning away from Him. Jeremiah has already described the desolation of Moab's cities and land, and now he focuses on the specific reasons for their downfall: their misplaced trust in material wealth and their national god, Chemosh. The consequence will be not only their own capture but also the exile of their idol, demonstrating its powerlessness to protect them.
This passage is part of a larger oracle against Moab, detailing God's judgment for their pride and their turning away from Him. Jeremiah has already described the desolation of Moab's cities and land, and now he focuses on the specific reasons for their downfall: their misplaced trust in material wealth and their national god, Chemosh. The consequence will be not only their own capture but also the exile of their idol, demonstrating its powerlessness to protect them.
"For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken; and Chemosh shall go into exile with his priests and his officials." — The verse highlights the utter futility of trusting in anything other than God. Not only will Moab be captured, but their chief god, Chemosh, will be taken into exile along with his priests and offic…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
