And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.

JEREMIAH 48:8KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 48:8 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 48:8 mean?

Jeremiah 48:8 warns that a destroyer will invade every city in Moab, leaving no place untouched—both the valleys and the plains will be ruined, just as the LORD has declared. The verse emphasizes that total devastation is coming, with no area able to escape what God has spoken.

Jeremiah, speaking God’s message, is addressing the nation of Moab. The situation is one of coming judgment: God is announcing through Jeremiah that Moab’s cities, valleys, and plains will all face destruction. This is not a random disaster, but something the LORD (Yahweh) has specifically declared will happen.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 48:8

  • "spoiler" (שֹׁדֵד, shoded): This word means a destroyer or one who brings ruin. It highlights that the threat is not just a vague disaster, but an active force or invader coming to devastate Moab.
  • "valley" (עֵמֶק, ʿemeq) and "plain" (מִישׁוֹר, mishor): These words show that both the low-lying areas and the flatlands—different types of geography—will be affected. The destruction is not limited to cities but covers all the land.
  • "destroyed" (שָׁמַד, shamad): This term often means to be completely wiped out or exterminated, stressing how thorough the coming judgment will be.
  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): The use of God’s personal name underlines that this is not just a natural event, but a judgment directly from Israel’s God.

Why Jeremiah 48:8 matters

  • Jeremiah 48:8 makes clear that the coming judgment on Moab is total—no city, valley, or plain will be spared, countering any hope that some areas might escape.
  • The verse connects to the larger passage where Jeremiah is pronouncing God’s judgment on Moab for its pride and idolatry, showing that the consequences are both certain and comprehensive.
  • By stating “as the LORD hath spoken,” the verse emphasizes that this is not just Jeremiah’s opinion, but a divine decree that cannot be avoided or reversed.

Where else these words appear

“plain” Hebrew H4334 · used in 23 verses

  • Deuteronomy 3:10 All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan.
  • 1 Kings 20:23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we; but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
  • Psalms 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

“spoiler” Hebrew H7703 · used in 47 verses

  • Judges 5:27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
  • Jeremiah 4:20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
  • Jeremiah 49:3 Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.

“valley” Hebrew H6010 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 14:3 All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea.
  • Judges 7:1 Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
  • Job 39:10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

“escape” Hebrew H4422 · used in 85 verses

  • Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.
  • 2 Chronicles 16:7 And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
  • Isaiah 37:38 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.