Jeremiah 48:39How is it broken down! how do they wail! how has Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab become a derision and a terror to all who are around him.
The setting
The aftermath in Moab (modern Jordan), ~586 BC. Neighboring nations now point and whisper about the once-proud kingdom...
The emotion here: stunned at how completely the mighty have fallen
The original word
shechiyn (שְׂחִין) — object of scorn, from root meaning 'to laugh at' or 'mock with derision'
Why it matters
Moab had been a regional power for centuries, controlling trade routes between Arabia and the Mediterranean
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 48:39
The 'turned the back' phrase refers to the shameful retreat of warriors who were once feared by their enemies
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about God enjoying punishment, but it's actually showing the tragic irony of how pride leads to the very shame it tries to avoid.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 48:39
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 48:39 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 48:39 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is lamenting. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include shame, mockery, downfall. Notable phrases: broken down; they wail; turned back with shame. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 48:39 mean to you, today?
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