Jeremiah 48:38
There shall be lamentation generally vpon all the house toppes of Moab, and in the streetes thereof: for I haue broken Moab like a vessell, wherin is no pleasure, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 48:38 (KJV)
There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein
is no pleasure, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 48:38 (KJV)
The book of Jeremiah is a collection of prophecies delivered by the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah and the surrounding nations. Jeremiah ministered during the period of Judah’s decline and the eventual exile to Babylon, a time when God’s warnings were repeatedly given to both Israel and its neighbors. In Jeremiah 48 the prophet turns his attention to Moab, announcing a severe judgment against this nation.
The verse portrays a scene of lamentation that will sweep across Moab. The imagery of “lamentation upon all the housetops” and “in the streets thereof” suggests that mourning will be so pervasive that it will be heard from the highest rooftops down to the bustling streets. In ancient Near Eastern culture the housetop was a common place for gathering, prayer, and public proclamation; therefore the description conveys that the grief will be openly expressed and impossible to conceal.
The judgment is expressed with the striking metaphor of a broken vessel. Jeremiah declares that the LORD has “broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure.” A shattered vessel is worthless, unable to hold anything of value, and its brokenness signifies total loss. This language emphasizes the complete devastation that will befall Moab, indicating that the nation will be reduced to a state of utter ruin and loss of purpose.
The passage concludes with the solemn declaration, “saith the LORD.” By ending with God’s own voice, the text underscores that this pronouncement comes directly from the Sovereign Creator. It affirms God’s authority to execute judgment and reminds the reader that divine judgment is both righteous and final. The combination of vivid imagery and the explicit divine attribution serves to reinforce the seriousness of the warning and the inevitability of the foretold destruction for Moab.
