Jeremiah 48:21-24 Meaning: Every City Named
21Judgment has come on the plain country— on Holon, on Jahzah, on Mephaath,
22on Dibon, on Nebo, on Beth Diblathaim,
23on Kiriathaim, on Beth Gamul, on Beth Meon,
24on Kerioth, on Bozrah, and on all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
21And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath,
22And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth–diblathaim,
23And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth–gamul, and upon Beth–meon,
24And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
21And judgment is come upon the plain country, upon Holon, and upon Jahzah, and upon Mephaath,
22and upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim,
23and upon Kiriathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon,
24and upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.
21And judgment hath come in unto the land of the plain--unto Holon, And unto Jahazah, and on Mephaath,
22And on Dibon, and on Nebo, And on Beth-Diblathaim, and on Kirathaim,
23And on Beth-Gamul, and on Beth-Meon,
24And on Kerioth, and on Bozrah, And on all cities of the land of Moab, The far off and the near.
21And judgment is come upon the country of the plateau; upon Holon, and upon Jahzah, and upon Mephaath;
22and upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Beth-diblathaim;
23and upon Kirjathaim, and upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon;
24and upon Kerijoth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near.
Meaning in one sentence
Jeremiah 48:21-24 lists Moabite cities to show God's judgment reaches every place. No city is too far or near to escape His notice.
Context
Jeremiah 48 is a long prophecy against Moab, a nation that had a long history of hostility toward Israel. Earlier verses describe Moab's pride and coming destruction. In verses 21 through 24, the prophet names city after city in Moab's tableland, the flat region north of the Arnon River. Many of these towns had once been given to the tribe of Reuben. Now they are listed like a roll call of judgment. The repetition drives home a single point: not a single place will be left untouched. The list includes towns we know from other parts of Scripture, such as Dibon and Nebo, as well as towns mentioned only here, like Beth Gamul. The accumulation of names makes the warning impossible to ignore.
Key Words
The word translated judgment is mishpat. It means more than punishment. It carries the sense of a just verdict, a decision that sets things right. Moab had acted in pride and cruelty, and now the judge of all the earth was giving what was due. The verb has come is ba, meaning to enter or arrive. It pictures judgment not as a distant threat but as something already on its way, stepping into every city gate. The phrase far or near uses rachoq (distant) and qarov (close). These two words together cover every possible location. No distance could hide a city from what was coming. God sees the farthest corner of the country and the closest village by the road. His knowledge and his justice reach everywhere.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have seen this list as a sobering reminder of God's sovereignty over all nations. The Geneva Bible notes that God brings judgment on both the strong and the weak, the famous and the forgotten. Matthew Henry used it to warn against pride, pointing out that Moab's prosperity did not protect it. Some readers in the Reformed tradition emphasize the certainty of God's justice, while Catholic interpreters have noted the historicity of these places, showing that God acts in real time and real geography. More recently, some see a foreshadowing of a final judgment where no one will escape. All agree that the list is not meant to satisfy curiosity but to impress on the reader that God's judgment is complete and personal.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to treat this list as a boring historical footnote with no meaning for today. In fact, the roll call of cities is meant to show that God's judgment is thorough and detailed. He knows each place by name. This is not a vague threat but a specific promise that every hidden corner will be accounted for. For the reader, it is a call to take God's justice seriously.
Living This Out
This week, you might look at the names of your own life. There are places you let others see and places you keep hidden: the private thought, the quiet resentment, the choice no one noticed. This passage says that God sees them all. That might feel frightening, but it is also freeing. You do not have to pretend. You can bring every part of your life into the open before God, trusting that the same God who judges also forgives. The list of cities is a promise that nothing escapes his sight. Let that truth lead you to honesty rather than hiding.
Main takeaway: God's judgment covers every place and every deed; not a single city or sin escapes His notice.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God knows every place we go and everything we do. He even knows the names of cities we have never heard of. Nothing is hidden from Him.
For ages 9, 12
Jeremiah lists a long list of cities to show that God's judgment is not random or limited. He is not just angry at one place; He sees all wrong in all places. That can be a little scary, but it also means that when something unfair happens to you, God sees that too. He will set everything right in the end.
Questions People Ask
Why does Jeremiah list so many cities in this passage?
The long list shows that God's judgment is thorough. Each name represents a real place with real people. By naming them one by one, Jeremiah makes it clear that no city will escape. It is not a random list; it is a careful account of every location that will face God's verdict.
What does 'the plain country' mean in Jeremiah 48:21?
The plain country is the Mishor, a flat tableland north of the Arnon River in Moab. It was fertile land that had once been given to the tribe of Reuben. The phrase emphasizes that even the level, prosperous land would not be spared from judgment.
Why is Bozrah mentioned both in Moab and in Edom?
Bozrah was a common name meaning 'sheepfold.' There was a Bozrah in Edom and another in Moab. In this passage, the location is in Moab, probably the same as Bezer mentioned in Joshua 21:36. It shows that many towns had similar names in the region.
Does this passage apply to people today?
Yes. While the judgment on Moab was a specific historical event, the principle remains: God sees all human actions and holds nations and individuals accountable. Christians read it as a reminder that no sin is hidden and that God's justice will eventually come. It also points to the need for repentance and trust in God's mercy.
What was Moab's main sin that led to this judgment?
The broader context of Jeremiah 48 mentions Moab's pride and arrogance (verse 29), their hostility toward Israel, and their false sense of security. They trusted in their wealth and military strength. The list of cities being judged is the consequence of a long history of rebellion against God.
For pastors & researchers
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