And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.

JEREMIAH 48:42KJV
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Jeremiah 48:42 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 48:42 mean?

Jeremiah 48:42 says that Moab, a neighboring nation of Israel, will be wiped out as a distinct people because they acted arrogantly against the LORD. The verse points to a total downfall as a direct result of Moab’s pride and opposition to God.

The prophet Jeremiah is delivering a message from God to the people of Moab during a time when various nations faced judgment for their actions. In this verse, Jeremiah states that Moab’s destruction is not just military defeat, but the end of their identity as a people, specifically because they “magnified themselves” or exalted themselves against the LORD, showing pride and defiance toward God.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 48:42

  • “Destroyed” (שָׁמַד, shamad): This word means to be completely wiped out or exterminated, not just defeated in battle. It emphasizes the totality of Moab’s end as a people.
  • “Magnified” (גָּדַל, gadal): This word means to make great or to act proudly. Here, it points to Moab’s arrogance and self-exaltation, especially in opposition to God.
  • “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God. The verse stresses that Moab’s offense is not just against another nation, but against the LORD Himself.

Why Jeremiah 48:42 matters

  • Jeremiah 48:42 clarifies that the reason for Moab’s destruction is not just political or military, but spiritual—rooted in their pride against God.
  • The verse highlights a recurring theme in the Bible: nations or people who exalt themselves against God face consequences, regardless of their strength or status.
  • This verse connects to the wider chapter, where Jeremiah lists Moab’s sins and foretells their downfall, showing that God holds all nations accountable, not just Israel.

Where else these words appear

“destroyed” Hebrew H8045 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
  • Deuteronomy 31:3 The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.
  • Esther 4:8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

“magnified” Hebrew H1431 · used in 112 verses

  • Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
  • 1 Chronicles 17:24 Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.
  • Isaiah 10:15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.