Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

JEREMIAH 48:35KJV
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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.

Where else these words appear

“cease” Hebrew H7673 · used in 67 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:21 To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
  • Jeremiah 48:33 And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.

“places” Hebrew H1116 · used in 92 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • 2 Kings 15:35 Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 32:12 Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

“incense” Hebrew H6999 · used in 112 verses

  • Exodus 29:13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul that is above the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar.
  • Leviticus 9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:
  • 2 Chronicles 28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.