Jeremiah 48:35 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 48:35 mean?

Jeremiah 48:35 says that God will put an end to the religious practices in Moab, specifically stopping those who offer sacrifices on high places and burn incense to their gods. This verse shows God declaring that the worship of other gods in Moab will be brought to a halt.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking a message from the LORD (God) about the nation of Moab, a neighboring people often in conflict with Israel. The verse is part of a longer prophecy announcing judgment on Moab for its pride and idolatry. By mentioning the ending of sacrifices and incense burning, the verse highlights how central these rituals were to Moabite religion and how complete the coming judgment would be.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 48:35

• "Cease" (שָׁבַת, shavat): This word means to stop or bring to an end. Here, it emphasizes that the religious activities in Moab will be completely halted, not just reduced.
• "Offereth" (עָלָה, ‘alah): This verb often means to go up or to offer, especially in the context of sacrifices. It points to the act of making offerings on the high places, which were elevated sites used for worship.
• "Places" (בָּמָה, bamah): This refers to the "high places," which were open-air shrines or altars on hills where people worshipped gods other than the LORD. Mentioning these shows the specific practices God is targeting.
• "Incense" (קָטַר, qatar): This word means to burn incense, a common act of worship in ancient religions. The burning of incense was a way to honor and communicate with a deity.
• "Gods" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): This word refers to the gods of Moab, not the God of Israel. It underlines the focus on idolatry as the reason for judgment.

Why Jeremiah 48:35 matters

• This verse makes clear that the judgment on Moab is not just political or military but also spiritual, targeting the heart of Moabite religious life.
• By specifying the end of sacrifices and incense burning, Jeremiah 48:35 highlights how deeply idolatry was rooted in Moab and how thorough the coming change would be.
• The verse connects to the larger theme in Jeremiah 48, where God is shown as sovereign over all nations, not just Israel, and concerned with how every nation worships.