Jeremiah 48:5 For on the ascent to Luhith they weep bitterly as they go, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of distress resound over the destruction:

◄ Jeremiah 48:5 ►

New International Version
They go up the hill to Luhith, weeping bitterly as they go; on the road down to Horonaim anguished cries over the destruction are heard.

New Living Translation
Her refugees weep bitterly, climbing the slope to Luhith. They cry out in terror, descending the slope to Horonaim.

English Standard Version
For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distressed cry of destruction.

Berean Standard Bible
For on the ascent to Luhith they weep bitterly as they go, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of distress resound over the destruction:

King James Bible
For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.

New King James Version
For in the Ascent of Luhith they ascend with continual weeping; For in the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.

New American Standard Bible
“For they will go up by the ascent of Luhith With continual weeping; For at the descent of Horonaim They have heard the anguished cry of destruction.

NASB 1995
“For by the ascent of Luhith They will ascend with continual weeping; For at the descent of Horonaim They have heard the anguished cry of destruction.

NASB 1977
“For by the ascent of Luhith They will ascend with continual weeping; For at the descent of Horonaim They have heard the anguished cry of destruction.

Legacy Standard Bible
For by the ascent of Luhith They will ascend with continual weeping; For at the descent of Horonaim They have heard the distressed cry of destruction.

Amplified Bible
“For the Ascent of Luhith Will be climbed by [successive groups of] fugitives with continual weeping; For on the descent of Horonaim They have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

Christian Standard Bible
For on the Ascent to Luhith they will be weeping continually, and on the descent to Horonaim will be heard cries of distress over the destruction:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For on the Ascent to Luhith they will be weeping continually, and on the descent to Horonaim will be heard cries of distress over the destruction:

American Standard Version
For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

Contemporary English Version
and cry on their way up to the town of Luhith; on the road to Horonaim they will tell of disasters.

English Revised Version
For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for in the going down of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
People go up the pass of Luhith, crying bitterly as they go. On the road down to Horonaim they have heard the distressful cry of destruction.

Good News Translation
Hear the sound of their sobs along the road up to Luhith, the cries of distress on the way down to Horonaim.

International Standard Version
Indeed, at the ascent of Luhith people will go up with bitter weeping. At the descent of Horonaim the anguished cries over the destruction will be heard.

Majority Standard Bible
For on the ascent to Luhith they weep bitterly as they go, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of distress resound over the destruction:

NET Bible
Indeed they will climb the slopes of Luhith, weeping continually as they go. For on the road down to Horonaim they will hear the cries of distress over the destruction.

New Heart English Bible
For by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping shall they go up; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

Webster's Bible Translation
For in the ascent of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the descent of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.

World English Bible
For they will go up by the ascent of Luhith with continual weeping. For at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distress of the cry of destruction.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
For the ascent of Luhith with weeping, "" Weeping goes up, "" For in the descent of Horonaim "" Adversaries have heard a cry of desolation.

Young's Literal Translation
For the ascent of Luhith with weeping, Go up doth weeping, For in the descent of Horonaim Adversaries a cry of desolation have heard.

Smith's Literal Translation
For the going up of Luhith weeping shall go up with weeping; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies heard a cry of breaking.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
For by the ascent of Luith shall the mourner go up with weeping: for in the descent of Oronaim the enemies have heard a howling of destruction.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For, along the ascent of Luhith, the mourner will ascend with weeping. For, on the descent of Horonaim, the enemies have heard the wailing of devastation.

New American Bible
Up the ascent of Luhith they go weeping; At the descent to Horonaim they hear cries of anguish:

New Revised Standard Version
For at the ascent of Luhith they go up weeping bitterly; for at the descent of Horonaim they have heard the distressing cry of anguish.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
For at the ascent of Luhith they shall go up weeping: and in the going down of Horonaim they shall raise a cry of tribulation and of destruction.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
While weeping at the ascent of Lukhith, they shall go up, and in the descent of Khornim they shall cause suffering and the crying of brokenness

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
For by the ascent of Luhith With continual weeping shall they go up; For in the going down of Horonaim They have heard the distressing cry of destruction.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
for Aloth is filled with weeping: one shall go up weeping by the way of Oronaim; ye have heard a cry of destruction.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Judgment on Moab
…4Moab will be shattered; her little ones will cry out. 5For on the ascent to Luhith they weep bitterly as they go, and on the descent to Horonaim cries of distress resound over the destruction: 6‘Flee! Run for your lives! Become like a juniper in the desert.’…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 15:5
My heart cries out over Moab; her fugitives flee as far as Zoar, as far as Eglath-shelishiyah. With weeping they ascend the slope of Luhith; they lament their destruction on the road to Horonaim.

Isaiah 16:9
So I weep with Jazer for the vines of Sibmah; I drench Heshbon and Elealeh with my tears. Triumphant shouts have fallen silent over your summer fruit and your harvest.

Isaiah 16:11
Therefore my heart laments for Moab like a harp, my inmost being for Kir-heres.

Zephaniah 2:9
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.”

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.”

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.

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 15:2-3
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 16:7
Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken.

Lamentations 2:18-19
The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. O wall of the Daughter of Zion, let your tears run down like a river day and night. Give yourself no relief, and your eyes no rest. / Arise, cry out in the night from the first watch of the night. Pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to Him for the lives of your children who are fainting from hunger on the corner of every street.

2 Kings 3:21-27
Now all the Moabites had heard that the kings had come up to fight against them. So all who could bear arms, young and old, were summoned and stationed at the border. / When they got up early in the morning, the sun was shining on the water, and it looked as red as blood to the Moabites across the way. / “This is blood!” they exclaimed. “The kings have clashed swords and slaughtered one another. Now to the plunder, Moab!” ...

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 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. ...

Revelation 18:9-11
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” / And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—

Treasury of Scripture

For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.

Isaiah 15:5
My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.

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Adversaries Anguish Anguished Ascend Ascent Bitterly Continual Cries Cry Descent Desolation Destruction Distress Distressing Enemies Heard Horonaim Horona'im Luhith Road Slope Way Weeping

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Adversaries Anguish Anguished Ascend Ascent Bitterly Continual Cries Cry Descent Desolation Destruction Distress Distressing Enemies Heard Horonaim Horona'im Luhith Road Slope Way Weeping

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

Berean Study Bible

For on the ascent to Luhith
The phrase "on the ascent to Luhith" refers to a specific geographical location in Moab, a region east of the Jordan River. The ascent indicates a steep climb, suggesting a difficult journey. Historically, Luhith was a town in Moab, and its mention here signifies a place of distress and hardship. The Hebrew root for "ascent" (עֲלִיָּה, aliyah) often implies a journey towards something significant, yet here it is marked by sorrow. This ascent symbolizes the spiritual and emotional struggles faced by the people, as they are forced to confront the consequences of their actions and the impending judgment of God.

they will go up with weeping
The act of going up "with weeping" underscores the deep sorrow and lamentation of the Moabites. The Hebrew word for "weeping" (בְּכִי, bechi) conveys a profound sense of mourning and despair. This imagery of tears and sorrow is a powerful reminder of the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. In a broader spiritual context, it serves as a call to repentance, urging believers to turn back to God with contrite hearts. The weeping also reflects the loss of hope and the realization of the impending doom that awaits those who have turned away from God's commandments.

surely on the road to Horonaim
The "road to Horonaim" is another significant location in Moab, often associated with destruction and calamity. The certainty implied by "surely" (כִּי, ki) emphasizes the inevitability of the coming judgment. Horonaim, meaning "two caves" in Hebrew, suggests a place of refuge that has become a place of distress. This road symbolizes the path of life choices that lead away from God's protection and towards destruction. It serves as a warning to all believers about the dangers of straying from the righteous path and the importance of seeking God's guidance in all aspects of life.

they will raise a cry of destruction
The "cry of destruction" is a vivid expression of the impending doom that the Moabites face. The Hebrew word for "cry" (זְעָקָה, zeakah) is often used in the context of a loud, desperate plea for help. This cry is not just a response to physical destruction but also a spiritual acknowledgment of the consequences of sin. The destruction (שֶׁבֶר, shever) signifies a complete breaking down, both physically and spiritually. For the conservative Christian, this serves as a sobering reminder of the reality of divine judgment and the need for sincere repentance. It calls believers to raise their own cries to God, not in despair, but in faith and hope for His mercy and redemption.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) In the going up of Luhith.--Here again we have an echo from Isaiah 15:5. Jerome (Onomast. s.v. Luith) describes it as between Zoar and Areopolis (= Rabbath-Moab). The ascent was probably to a local sanctuary. A various reading, Laboth, followed by the LXX., gives the meaning "the ascent of planks," as though it were a wooden staircase. Alike in that and in the descent from Horonaim (possibly the fugitives who came down from the heights of the one city are represented as going up with wailing to the other) the enemies of Moab would hear the cry that proclaimed its downfall.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - For in the going up of Luhith, etc. The verse is substantially taken from Isaiah (Isaiah 15:5), but with variations peculiar to this chapter. The most peculiar of these is that in the first verse half, which is literally, weeping goeth up (not, shall go up) with weeping, which is explained by Dr. Payne Smith to mean "one set of weeping fugitives pressing close upon another." To the present commentator (as also to Delitzsch - see his note on Isaiah 15:5) there seems no reasonable doubt that b'ki, the word rendered "weeping," should rather be bo, "upon it," so that the passage will run, as in Isaiah, "for the going up of Luhith with weeping doth one go up if," Hitzig (whom for once we find agreeing with Delitzsch) remarks that the miswriting b'ki for bo may be easily accounted for by the fact that ki, "for," is the word which follows next. We have no right to ascribe to Jeremiah such an artificial and un-Hebraic an expression as that of the received text. Small as the matter may be in itself, it is not unimportant as suggesting to the Old Testament student a caution against the too unreserved adoption of the canon Lectioni faciliori praestat ardua. In the going down of Horonaim. An interesting variation from Isaiah. The older poet, less attentive to minutiae, had said vaguely, "in the road to Horonaim;" by a slight change of expression, the younger and more reflective writer produces a striking antithesis between the ascent to the hill-town, and the descent to the hollow in which Horonaim ("double cavern") appears to have been situated. It is possible, however, that Jeremiah has preserved the original reading, and that "the road" in Isaiah, l.c., is due to the carelessness of a scribe. The enemies have heard a cry of destruction. But why this reference to the enemies? The rendering, however, is ungrammatical. The text is, literally, the enemies of the cry of destruction have they heard. The prophecy in Isaiah omits "the enemies of," and has a different verb for "have they heard." Can the inserted words be an intrusion from the margin? The later scribes were accustomed to insert glosses in the margin on occasions where we should have thought them entirely unnecessary for the purpose of explanation. But then why "the enemies of"? It is an insoluble enigma.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

For
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

on the Ascent
מַעֲלֵ֣ה (ma·‘ă·lêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4608: An elevation, acclivity, platform, a rise, priority

to Luhith
הַלּוּחִ֔ית‪‬ (hal·lū·ḥîṯ)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3872: Luhith -- a place in Moab

they weep
בֶּ֑כִי (be·ḵî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1065: A weeping, a dripping

bitterly
בִּבְכִ֖י (biḇ·ḵî)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1065: A weeping, a dripping

as they go,
יַֽעֲלֶה־ (ya·‘ă·leh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

and
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

on the descent
בְּמוֹרַ֣ד (bə·mō·w·raḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4174: A descent, an ornamental appendage, a festoon

to Horonaim
חוֹרֹנַ֔יִם (ḥō·w·rō·na·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2773: Horonaim -- 'two hollows', a place in Moab

cries
צַֽעֲקַת־ (ṣa·‘ă·qaṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6818: A cry, outcry

of distress
צָרֵ֥י (ṣā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 6862: Narrow, a tight place, a pebble, an opponent

resound
שָׁמֵֽעוּ׃ (šā·mê·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

over the destruction:
שֶׁ֖בֶר (še·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7667: A breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 48:5 For by the ascent of Luhith (Jer.)