Jeremiah 48:40 Study Bible: For thus says the LORD: 'Look, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread out his wings against Moab.

Bible > Jeremiah > Chapter 48 > Verse 40

◄ Jeremiah 48:40 ►

For this is what the LORD says: "Behold, an eagle swoops down and spreads his wings against Moab.

For this is what the LORD says:
This phrase introduces a divine pronouncement, emphasizing the authority and certainty of the message. In the prophetic books, such declarations often precede a message of judgment or salvation. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) underscores the covenant relationship between God and His people, highlighting that the message is not from human origin but from the Creator Himself.

Behold, an eagle swoops down:
The imagery of an eagle is significant in biblical literature, often symbolizing swiftness and power. In Deuteronomy 28:49, an eagle represents a nation coming swiftly against Israel as a form of judgment. Here, the eagle likely symbolizes the Babylonian empire, known for its military might and rapid conquests. The eagle's swooping action suggests an imminent and unavoidable attack, reflecting the suddenness of divine judgment.

and spreads his wings against Moab:
Moab was a nation located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. The spreading of wings indicates a comprehensive and overwhelming assault, leaving no escape for Moab. Historically, Moab had a tumultuous relationship with Israel, sometimes allying with them and other times opposing them. This judgment against Moab fulfills earlier prophecies and reflects God's sovereignty over all nations. The imagery also connects to the broader biblical theme of God's justice against nations that oppose His will, as seen in other prophetic books like Isaiah and Ezekiel.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah.

2. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the judgment and restoration of Israel and the surrounding nations.

3. Moab
A nation located east of the Dead Sea, often in conflict with Israel. Moab is the subject of God's judgment in this passage.

4. The Eagle
Symbolic imagery used to represent swiftness and power, often associated with nations or armies executing judgment.

5. Judgment
The event being described, where God is pronouncing His judgment against Moab for their sins and rebellion.

Teaching Points

God's Sovereignty in Judgment
The imagery of the eagle signifies God's control over nations and His ability to execute judgment swiftly and powerfully. Believers should recognize God's sovereignty in world events and trust in His ultimate justice.

The Consequences of Pride and Rebellion
Moab's judgment serves as a warning against pride and rebellion against God. Christians are called to humility and obedience, understanding that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

The Certainty of God's Word
Just as God declared judgment against Moab, His words are sure and will come to pass. Believers can have confidence in the promises and warnings found in Scripture.

The Call to Repentance
While this passage focuses on judgment, it also serves as a reminder of the opportunity for repentance. God's warnings are often accompanied by a call to turn back to Him, emphasizing His desire for restoration.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the imagery of the eagle in Jeremiah 48:40 enhance our understanding of God's judgment against Moab?

2. In what ways can the judgment of Moab serve as a warning to modern nations and individuals?

3. How does the theme of God's sovereignty in judgment, as seen in Jeremiah 48:40, provide comfort or challenge to believers today?

4. What parallels can be drawn between the judgment of Moab and other biblical accounts of divine retribution, such as those found in Deuteronomy 28:49 and Obadiah 1:4?

5. How can Christians apply the lessons from Moab's judgment to their personal lives, particularly in areas of pride and obedience to God?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 28:49
This verse also uses the imagery of an eagle to describe a nation coming swiftly against Israel as a form of judgment, highlighting the consistency of this metaphor in Scripture.

Isaiah 46:11
The imagery of a bird of prey is used to describe God's sovereign ability to call forth nations to execute His plans, reinforcing the theme of divine control over historical events.

Obadiah 1:4
The eagle imagery is used to describe the pride and eventual downfall of Edom, similar to Moab's situation, emphasizing the theme of divine retribution against prideful nations.

Sermons

The Broken Vessel

D. Young

People

Chemosh, Gamul, Jeremiah, Sihon, Zoar

Places

Arnon, Aroer, Beth-diblathaim, Bethel, Beth-gamul, Beth-meon, Bozrah, Dibon, Elealeh, Heshbon, Holon, Horonaim, Jahaz, Jahzah, Jazer, Kerioth, Kir-hareseth, Kiriathaim, Luhith, Madmen, Mephaath, Moab, Nebo, Nimrim, Sea of Jazer, Sibmah, Zoar

Topics

Behold, Eagle, Flee, Flight, Fly, Forth, Moab, Says, Spread, Spreading, Stretching, Swiftly, Swoop, Swooping, Thus, Vulture, Wings

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Jeremiah 48:40

4690 wings

Library

August 8. "Be Like the Dove" (Jer. Xlviii. 28).
"Be like the dove" (Jer. xlviii. 28). Harmless as a dove, is Christ's interpretation of the beautiful emblem. And so the Spirit of God is purity itself. He cannot dwell in an unclean heart. He cannot abide in the natural mind. It was said of the anointing of old, "On man's flesh it shall not be poured." The purity which the Holy Spirit brings is like the white and spotless little plant which grows up out of the heap of manure, or the black soil, without one grain of impurity adhering to its crystalline …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

How those are to be Admonished who Decline the Office of Preaching Out of Too Great Humility, and those who Seize on it with Precipitate Haste.
(Admonition 26.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though able to preach worthily, are afraid by reason of excessive humility, and those whom imperfection or age forbids to preach, and yet precipitancy impells. For those who, though able to preach with profit, still shrink back through excessive humility are to be admonished to gather from consideration of a lesser matter how faulty they are in a greater one. For, if they were to hide from their indigent neighbours money which they possessed …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Meditations for the Sick.
Whilst thy sickness remains, use often, for thy comfort, these few meditations, taken from the ends wherefore God sendeth afflictions to his children. Those are ten. 1. That by afflictions God may not only correct our sins past, but also work in us a deeper loathing of our natural corruptions, and so prevent us from falling into many other sins, which otherwise we would commit; like a good father, who suffers his tender babe to scorch his finger in a candle, that he may the rather learn to beware …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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