Jeremiah 48:45
New International Version
“In the shadow of Heshbon the fugitives stand helpless, for a fire has gone out from Heshbon, a blaze from the midst of Sihon; it burns the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of the noisy boasters.

New Living Translation
“The people flee as far as Heshbon but are unable to go on. For a fire comes from Heshbon, King Sihon’s ancient home, to devour the entire land with all its rebellious people.

English Standard Version
“In the shadow of Heshbon fugitives stop without strength, for fire came out from Heshbon, flame from the house of Sihon; it has destroyed the forehead of Moab, the crown of the sons of tumult.

Berean Standard Bible
“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult.

King James Bible
They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

New King James Version
“Those who fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon Because of exhaustion. But a fire shall come out of Heshbon, A flame from the midst of Sihon, And shall devour the brow of Moab, The crown of the head of the sons of tumult.

New American Standard Bible
“In the shadow of Heshbon The fugitives stand without strength; For a fire has spread out from Heshbon And a flame from the midst of Sihon, And it has devoured the forehead of Moab And the scalps of the loud revelers.

NASB 1995
“In the shadow of Heshbon The fugitives stand without strength; For a fire has gone forth from Heshbon And a flame from the midst of Sihon, And it has devoured the forehead of Moab And the scalps of the riotous revelers.

NASB 1977
“In the shadow of Heshbon The fugitives stand without strength; For a fire has gone forth from Heshbon, And a flame from the midst of Sihon, And it has devoured the forehead of Moab And the scalps of the riotous revelers.

Legacy Standard Bible
“In the shadow of Heshbon Those who flee stand without strength; For a fire has gone forth from Heshbon And a flame from the midst of Sihon, And it has devoured the top of the head of Moab And the scalps of those who rumble.

Amplified Bible
“In the shadow of Heshbon The fugitives stand powerless [helpless and without strength], For a fire has gone out from Heshbon, A flame from the midst of Sihon; It has destroyed the forehead of Moab And the crowns of the heads of [the arrogant Moabites] the ones in tumult.

Christian Standard Bible
Those who flee will stand exhausted in Heshbon’s shadow because fire has come out from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It will devour Moab’s forehead and the skull of the noisemakers.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Those who flee will stand exhausted in Heshbon’s shadow because fire has come out from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It will devour Moab’s forehead and the skull of the noisemakers.

American Standard Version
They that fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and hath devoured the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

Contemporary English Version
Near the city of Heshbon, where Sihon once ruled, tired refugees stand in shadows cast by the flames of their burning city. Soon, the towns on other hilltops, where those warlike people live, will also go up in smoke.

English Revised Version
They that fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon: for a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and hath devoured the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Those who flee will stand exhausted in the shadow of Heshbon. A fire will come out of Heshbon and a flame from Sihon. It will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab and the skulls of those noisy people.

Good News Translation
Helpless refugees try to find protection in Heshbon, the city that King Sihon once ruled, but it is in flames. Fire has burned up the frontiers and the mountain heights of the war-loving people of Moab.

International Standard Version
"The fugitives will stand without strength in the shadow of Heshbon, for fire will go out from Heshbon and a flame from the middle of Sihon. It will devour the forehead of Moab and the heads of the rebellious people.

Majority Standard Bible
“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult.

NET Bible
In the shadows of the walls of Heshbon those trying to escape will stand helpless. For a fire will burst forth from Heshbon. Flames will shoot out from the former territory of Sihon. They will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab, the skulls of those war-loving people.

New Heart English Bible
Those who fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire has gone forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the city of Sihon, and it has destroyed the forehead of Moab, and the crown of the sons of tumult.

Webster's Bible Translation
They that fled stood under the shade of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

World English Bible
“Those who fled stand without strength under the shadow of Heshbon; for a fire has gone out of Heshbon, and a flame from the middle of Sihon, and has devoured the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
In the shadow of Heshbon fugitives have stood powerless, "" For fire has gone forth from Heshbon, "" And a flame from within Sihon, "" And it consumes the corner of Moab, "" And the crown of the sons of Shaon.

Young's Literal Translation
In the shadow of Heshbon stood powerless have fugitives, For fire hath gone forth from Heshbon, And a flame from within Sihon, And it consumeth the corner of Moab, And the crown of the sons of Shaon.

Smith's Literal Translation
They fleeing from the power stood in the shadow of Heshbon: for a fire will come forth from Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall consume, the corners of Moab and the crown of the sons of noise.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They that fled from the snare stood in the shadow of Hesebon: but there came a fire out of Kesebon, and a flame out of the midst of Seen, and it shall devour part of Moab. and the crown of the head of the children of tumult.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Those fleeing from the snare stood in the shadow of Heshbon. For a fire has gone forth from Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and it will devour the portion of Moab, and the top of the head of the sons of tumult.

New American Bible
In Heshbon’s shadow the fugitives stop short, exhausted; For fire blazes up from Heshbon, and flames up from the house of Sihon: It consumes the forehead of Moab, the scalp of the noisemakers.

New Revised Standard Version
In the shadow of Heshbon fugitives stop exhausted; for a fire has gone out from Heshbon, a flame from the house of Sihon; it has destroyed the forehead of Moab, the scalp of the people of tumult.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For a fire has gone forth out of Heshbon and a flame from the province of Sihon, and it shall devour the face of Moab and the crown of the head of the sons of Shaon.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because fire has proceeded from Kheshbon and a flame from the fortress cities of Sihon, and will devour the border of Moab and the Rulers of the sons of tumult
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
In the shadow of Heshbon the fugitives Stand without strength; For a fire is gone forth out of Heshbon, And a flame from the midst of Sihon, And it devoureth the corner of Moab, And the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on Moab
44“Whoever flees the panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For I will bring upon Moab the year of their punishment,” declares the LORD. 45“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult. 46Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished; for your sons have been taken into exile and your daughters have gone into captivity.…

Cross References
Numbers 21:28-30
For a fire went out from Heshbon, a blaze from the city of Sihon. It consumed Ar of Moab, the rulers of Arnon’s heights. / Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He gave up his sons as refugees, and his daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites. / But we have overthrown them; Heshbon is destroyed as far as Dibon. We demolished them as far as Nophah, which reaches to Medeba.”

Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

Isaiah 15:1-9
This is the burden against Moab: Ar in Moab is ruined, destroyed in a night! Kir in Moab is devastated, destroyed in a night! / Dibon goes up to its temple to weep at its high places. Moab wails over Nebo, as well as over Medeba. Every head is shaved, every beard is cut off. / In its streets they wear sackcloth; on the rooftops and in the public squares they all wail, falling down weeping. ...

Isaiah 16:6-14
We have heard of Moab’s pomposity, his exceeding pride and conceit, his overflowing arrogance. But his boasting is empty. / Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken. / For the fields of Heshbon have withered, along with the grapevines of Sibmah. The rulers of the nations have trampled its choicest vines, which had reached as far as Jazer and spread toward the desert. Their shoots had spread out and passed over the sea. ...

Amos 2:1-3
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Moab, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because he burned to lime the bones of Edom’s king. / So I will send fire against Moab to consume the citadels of Kerioth. Moab will die in tumult, amid war cries and the sound of the ram’s horn. / I will cut off the ruler of Moab and kill all the officials with him,” says the LORD.

Zephaniah 2:8-11
“I have heard the reproach of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, who have taunted My people and threatened their borders. / Therefore, as surely as I live,” declares the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, “surely Moab will be like Sodom and the Ammonites like Gomorrah—a place of weeds and salt pits, a perpetual wasteland. The remnant of My people will plunder them; the remainder of My nation will dispossess them.” / This they shall have in return for their pride, for taunting and mocking the people of the LORD of Hosts. ...

Psalm 83:6-8
the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the Hagrites, / of Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, of Philistia with the people of Tyre. / Even Assyria has joined them, lending strength to the sons of Lot. Selah

Ezekiel 25:8-11
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because Moab and Seir said, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations,” / therefore I will indeed expose the flank of Moab beginning with its frontier cities—Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim—the glory of the land. / I will give it along with the Ammonites as a possession to the people of the East, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. ...

Isaiah 25:10-12
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. But Moab will be trampled in his place as straw is trodden into the dung pile. / He will spread out his hands within it, as a swimmer spreads his arms to swim. His pride will be brought low, despite the skill of his hands. / The high-walled fortress will be brought down, cast to the ground, into the dust.

Isaiah 34:8-10
For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. / Edom’s streams will be turned to tar, and her soil to sulfur; her land will become a blazing pitch. / It will not be quenched—day or night. Its smoke will ascend forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever again pass through it.

Isaiah 11:14
They will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines to the west; together they will plunder the sons of the east. They will lay their hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah 14:29-31
Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg. / Then the firstborn of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety, but I will kill your root by famine, and your remnant will be slain. / Wail, O gate! Cry out, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! For a cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there are no stragglers in its ranks.

Isaiah 26:5-6
For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust. / Feet trample it down—the feet of the oppressed, the steps of the poor.

Isaiah 63:1-6
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.” / Why are Your clothes red, and Your garments like one who treads the winepress? / “I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained. ...


Treasury of Scripture

They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the middle of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

a fire

Numbers 21:28
For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon: it hath consumed Ar of Moab, and the lords of the high places of Arnon.

Amos 2:2
But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:

devour

Numbers 24:17
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.

Zechariah 10:4
Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

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Jeremiah 48
1. The judgment of Moab
7. for their pride
11. for their security
14. for their carnal confidence
26. and for their contempt of God and his people
47. The restoration of Moab














Those who flee
This phrase refers to the Moabites who are attempting to escape the impending judgment and destruction. In the Hebrew context, the word for "flee" (נָס) often implies a sense of urgency and desperation. Historically, Moab was a nation often in conflict with Israel, and their attempts to escape divine judgment reflect the futility of running from God's decrees. This serves as a reminder that no one can escape the reach of God's justice.

will stand helpless
The Hebrew root here conveys a sense of being paralyzed or unable to act. The imagery is powerful, suggesting that despite their efforts to escape, the Moabites find themselves in a position of vulnerability and impotence. This helplessness is a direct result of their reliance on their own strength and false gods, rather than turning to the one true God.

in Heshbon’s shadow
Heshbon was a significant city in Moab, known for its strategic location and strength. The "shadow" implies a false sense of security, as shadows can be fleeting and insubstantial. Historically, Heshbon was a city of refuge and strength, but in this context, it becomes a place of false hope. This serves as a metaphor for trusting in worldly powers rather than in God.

for a fire has gone out from Heshbon
Fire in biblical terms often symbolizes judgment and purification. The fire originating from Heshbon indicates that the very place the Moabites trusted for safety becomes the source of their destruction. This reflects the biblical principle that what is relied upon apart from God can become a source of downfall.

a flame from the midst of Sihon
Sihon was an Amorite king whose territory included Heshbon. The mention of Sihon evokes historical memories of past judgments and victories of Israel over its enemies. The flame symbolizes the consuming nature of God's judgment, which is thorough and inescapable. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty over all nations and His ability to use historical events to fulfill His purposes.

It devours the foreheads of Moab
The forehead is often symbolic of identity and pride. The devouring of the foreheads signifies the complete humiliation and destruction of Moab's pride and identity. In biblical terms, this is a vivid depiction of the consequences of pride and rebellion against God.

the skulls of the sons of tumult
The "sons of tumult" refers to the Moabites known for their arrogance and disorder. The skull, being the seat of thought and decision-making, represents the totality of their being and leadership. The destruction of the skulls indicates the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, leaving no aspect of their rebellion unaddressed. This serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of opposing God's will and the ultimate futility of human pride against divine authority.

(45) Because of the force.--Better, without strength. What is meant is that the fugitives of Moab seek shelter in Heshbon, the capital of the Ammonites (Jeremiah 49:3), and find no protection there.

A fire shall come forth out of Heshbon . . .--The words are interesting as being a quotation from a fragment of an old poem, probably from the "Book of the Wars of the Lord," which is also to be found in Numbers 21:28. Heshbon, at the time of the Exodus the capital of the Amorites, is here identified with Sihon as their king. In the prophet's application of the words, the Moabites are represented as taking refuge under the walls of Heshbon, but, instead of finding shelter, fire bursts out from walls and gates. They have come to look on its conflagration. The flames spread far and near. They devour the "corner" as of the beard, the hair on the crown of the head. The symbolism of destruction is the same as in Isaiah 7:20. In the "tumultuous ones" (literally, children of tumult) we have the panic-stricken clamorous crowds of the Moabite fugitives. The phrase in the Hebrew is nearly the same as "the children of Seth" in Numbers 24:17.

Verse 45. - Apparently quoted from memory from Numbers 21:28; Numbers 24:17, except the first clause; the application, however, is peculiar to this passage. They that fled, etc.; rather, The fugitives stand without strength in the shadow of Heshbon. There is a difficulty here, for, according to ver. 2, the hostile raid into Moab started from Heshbon. Surely the fugitives would not think of escaping northwards, much less would they be able to elude the vigilance of the foe and reach Heshbon. But it is not surprising that the author of so long a poem should now and then make a slip; the author of the Book of Job is sometimes inconsistent with the Prologue, and ver. 2 is as far away from the passage before us as the Prologue of Job is from Job 19:18. Nor can we be absolutely certain that our prophecy is exactly as Jeremiah wrote it. Shall come forth; rather, hath come forth (or, cometh forth). From the midst of Sihon. Sihon being, perhaps, regarded as the leader and representative of his warriors. The corner of Moab; rather, the sides (literally, side, used collectively) of Moab. The tumultuous ones; literally, sons of tumult, a poetical phrase for warriors. The prophet has substituted the more common word shaon for its synonym sheth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Those who flee
נָסִ֑ים (nā·sîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5127: To flit, vanish away

will stand
עָמְד֖וּ (‘ā·mə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5975: To stand, in various relations

helpless
מִכֹּ֣חַ (mik·kō·aḥ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)

in Heshbon’s
חֶשְׁבּ֛וֹן (ḥeš·bō·wn)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2809: Heshbon -- a place East of the Jordan

shadow,
בְּצֵ֥ל (bə·ṣêl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6738: A shadow

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

fire
אֵ֞שׁ (’êš)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire

has gone forth
יָצָ֣א (yā·ṣā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

from Heshbon
מֵחֶשְׁבּ֗וֹן (mê·ḥeš·bō·wn)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2809: Heshbon -- a place East of the Jordan

and a flame
וְלֶֽהָבָה֙ (wə·le·hā·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3852: A flash, a sharply polished blade, point of a, weapon

from within
מִבֵּ֣ין (mib·bên)
Preposition-m
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

Sihon.
סִיח֔וֹן (sî·ḥō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5511: Sihon -- a king of the Amorites

It will devour
וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ (wat·tō·ḵal)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

the foreheads
פְּאַ֣ת (pə·’aṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6285: Mouth, direction, region, extremity

of Moab
מוֹאָ֔ב (mō·w·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4124: Moab -- a son of Lot,also his descendants and the territory where they settled

and the skulls
וְקָדְקֹ֖ד (wə·qā·ḏə·qōḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6936: Head, crown of the head

of the noisemakers.
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 48:45 Those who fled stand without strength under (Jer.)
Jeremiah 48:44
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