Jeremiah 48:13 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 48:13 mean?

Jeremiah 48:13 says that Moab will be disappointed and put to shame because of their trust in Chemosh, their national god, just as Israel was once ashamed for trusting in Bethel, which had become an idol to them. The verse is warning that false sources of security will ultimately fail those who rely on them.

Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Moab, a neighboring nation east of Israel. The verse compares Moab’s misplaced confidence in Chemosh to Israel’s past trust in Bethel, a site that had become associated with idol worship. The point is that both nations will experience shame when what they trusted in cannot save them.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 48:13

• מוֹאָב (Moav, "Moab"): Refers to the nation descended from Lot, often seen as Israel's rival. Mentioning Moab makes the warning specific and personal to a real historical people.
• יֵבֹשׁ (yevosh, "ashamed"): This word means more than embarrassment; it carries the sense of being let down or disappointed by something you depended on.
• כְּמוֹשׁ (Kemosh, "Chemosh"): The main god of Moab. Naming Chemosh highlights the religious aspect of Moab’s trust and shows that even national gods can fail.
• בֵּית־אֵל (Beit-El, "Bethel"): Once a sacred place in Israel, Bethel became a center of idol worship. The reference reminds readers that even Israel suffered shame when they put their trust in the wrong things.
• מִבְטָחָם (mivtacham, "their confidence"): This word points to what people rely on for safety or hope. The verse stresses that trusting in the wrong thing leads to disappointment.

Why Jeremiah 48:13 matters

• The verse clarifies that religious or national pride does not guarantee security; even cherished beliefs or places can become sources of shame if they are false.
• By comparing Moab to Israel, Jeremiah shows that no nation is immune to the consequences of misplaced trust, making the warning universal and not just for outsiders.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by showing that God holds all nations accountable for what they trust in, not just Israel, and that judgment comes when those trusts are exposed as empty.