Jeremiah 48:3 — Word Study
WLCק֥וֹל צְעָקָ֖ה מֵחֹֽרוֹנָ֑יִם שֹׁ֖ד וָשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃
BSAA voiceqôwl [sound of a cry] cries outtsaʻăqâh from HoronaimChôrônayim [two caves, a place in Moab] Devastationshôd [desolation, violence] and greatgâdôwl [significant, of large importance] destructionsheber [shattering, breaking]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| ק֥וֹל | [the] sound of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| צְעָקָ֖ה | a cry of distress | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
| מֵחֹֽרוֹנָ֑יִם | from Horonaim | Preposition, noun proper |
| שֹׁ֖ד | devastation | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וָשֶׁ֥בֶר | and destruction | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| גָּדֽוֹל׃ | great | Adj |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’ |
| KJV | A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction. |
| ASV | The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction! |
| YLT | A voice of a cry [is] from Horonaim, Spoiling and great destruction. |
| WEB | The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction! |
| BBE | There is the sound of crying from Horonaim, wasting and great destruction; |
Where they part company is in the rendering of שֹׁד — see How Translations Differ.
The main clause is straightforward, with a clear subject and predicate, followed by a prepositional phrase that adds context.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Jeremiah 48:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Prophecy Against Moabgenerated
Jeremiah 48:3 presents a dire message about Moab, a nation facing judgment. The cry from Horonaim signifies a call to attention regarding the devastation that is to come. This passage reflects the broader theme of God's judgment against nations that oppose Him, as seen in other prophetic texts like Jeremiah 4:20-21 and Isaiah 15:2-8.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremiah 4:20–21 | Disaster after disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant, my curtains in a moment. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 47:2 | This is what the LORD says: “See how the waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and its fullness, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and all who dwell in the land will wail |
| 3 | Isaiah 15:2–8 | 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. |
| 4 | Isaiah 16:7–11 | Therefore let Moab wail; let them wail together for Moab. Moan for the raisin cakes of Kir-hareseth, you who are utterly stricken. |
| 5 | Isaiah 22:4 | Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קוֹל, Kolgenerated
The noun קוֹל (Kol) means 'voice' or 'sound', derived from a root meaning to call aloud. It can refer to any sound, including speech, music, or even the sound of nature. In this context, it emphasizes the urgency and importance of the message being delivered.
This word is often used in the Bible to describe God's voice or the sound of distress, highlighting its significance in prophetic literature. The parsing as a masculine singular construct indicates that it is functioning as a subject in the sentence.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which has cries out for קוֹל, while the KJV and ASV also use cries out.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The structure of the verse revolves around the main clause introduced by ק֥וֹל, voice, which serves as the subject. The phrase מֵחֹֽרוֹנָ֑יִם (from Horonaim) acts as a prepositional phrase indicating the source of the voice, while the following phrases describe the nature of the devastation.
The Hebrew word order emphasizes the voice and its message of destruction, placing it at the forefront of the announcement.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates קוֹל as φωνὴ, which also means 'voice' and carries a similar sense of urgency. This choice reflects the translators' intent to convey the emotional weight of the message.
The use of κεκραγότων for צְעָקָה indicates a strong outcry, reinforcing the distress associated with the announcement of destruction.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Jeremiah 48:3 speaks of a voice from Horonaim announcing destruction for Moab. The message emphasizes the severity of the devastation and the great destruction that is to come, reflecting God's judgment on the nation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The voice signifies an urgent message of impending destruction for Moab, calling attention to the severity of the situation.
Horonaim is a significant location in Moab, and its mention emphasizes the geographic context of the prophecy.
This phrase indicates a total and severe ruin, suggesting that Moab will face complete desolation.
This verse aligns with other prophetic warnings in Jeremiah and Isaiah that highlight God's judgment on nations that oppose Him.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this passage teach about God's judgment on nations?
- How can we understand the significance of the locations mentioned in prophetic texts?
- In what ways can we respond to messages of warning in our own lives?
- What do the terms 'devastation' and 'great destruction' reveal about the seriousness of sin?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Jeremiah 48:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleA voice of crying [shall be] from Horonaim,.... Another city of Moab.
Read John Gill on Jeremiah 48 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryA voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction. Horonaim - the same as the city Avara, mentioned by Ptolemy.
Read Robert Jamieson on Jeremiah 48 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleAnother city of Moab, mentioned only in this place, and in . Some think it the same with Horon, where Sanballat was born, 13:28. The prophet threatens also ruin and destruction to this city.
Read Matthew Poole on Jeremiah 48 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsJeremiah 48:3 A voice of crying [shall be] from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.Ver. 3. A voice of crying.] They would not cry for their sins: they shall therefore cry for their miseries with desperate and bootless tears, and yet worse one day.
Read John Trapp on Jeremiah 48 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) Horonaim—literally, the two caverns, or the two Horons—may imply, like other dual names of towns, that there was an upper and a lower city. It is mentioned in Isaiah 15:5, but has not been identified.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Jeremiah 48 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. Horonaim] Another city of Moab, near to Luhith. At this latter place the hill country of Moab commenced. "It is a place," says Dahler, "situated upon a height between Areopolis and Zoar."
Read AdamClarke on Jeremiah 48 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleOmit shall be. “Spoiling and great destruction,” literally breaking, is the cry heard from Horonaim Isaiah 15:5.
Read Albert Barnes on Jeremiah 48 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible3. Horonaim — Literally, two caves; a place mentioned both here and in Isaiah 15:5 in connexion with Luhith, and hence may be inferred to be near it. Of its precise location, however, we have no knowledge.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Jeremiah 48 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’
The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction!
A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and great destruction!’
Cries of anguish will arise in Horonaim, ‘Oh, the ruin and great destruction!’
Tyndale line
A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.
The sound of a cry from Horonaim, desolation and great destruction!
The sound of a cry from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction!
A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, devastation and great destruction.
A voyce of crying shall be from Horonaim with desolation and great destruction.
Strictly literal
A voice of crying from Horonaim; wasting and great destruction!
A voice of a cry [is] from Horonaim, Spoiling and great destruction.
A voice of a cry [is] from Horonaim, || Spoiling and great destruction.
There is a voice of crying from Choronayim, destruction and a great breach.
Listen! A sound of screaming is coming from Horonaim, where there is ruin and great destruction.
From the Latin
A voice of crying from Oronaim: waste, and great destruction.
Simplified
Listen to the cries from Horonaim: “Violence and terrible destruction!”
There is the sound of crying from Horonaim, wasting and great destruction;
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of the verse, with all six words matched in the translation. This consistency underscores the importance of the message being conveyed regarding Moab's impending devastation.
ק֥וֹל צְעָקָ֖ה מֵחֹֽרוֹנָ֑יִם שֹׁ֖ד וָשֶׁ֥בֶר גָּדֽוֹל׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Jeremiah 48:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
קוֹל (qol) primarily means 'voice' or 'sound,' encompassing various contexts such as music, noise, and even thunder. It can also denote lightness or frivolity. The word is built from a root meaning to call aloud and appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including a reference in Jeremiah 3:9.
ref
H6963a קוֹל sound, voice H6963b קֹל lightness, frivolity
6963 qowl kole
or qol {kole}; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a
voice or sound:--+ aloud, bleating, crackling, cry (+ out),
fame, lightness, lowing, noise, + hold peace, (pro-)claim,
proclamation, + sing, sound, + spark, thunder(-ing), voice, +
yell.
קוֹל (qol) — voice.
: voice/shout/loud
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קֹל (qol) — frivolity.
lightness, frivolity
קוֹל (qol) — voice: sound.
: sound/noise
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: thunder.
: thunder
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: message.
: message/proclaim
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: [sound of].
: [sound_of](THING)
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
קוֹל (qol) — voice: listen.
: listen
1) voice, sound, noise
1a) voice
1b) sound (of instrument)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
צְעָקָה (tsa`aqah) refers to a cry or outcry, often associated with distress. It is derived from the root word for a shriek, indicating a strong emotional expression. The term encompasses both general cries and specific outcries against injustice, particularly those that are heard by God.
צְעָקָה n.f. cry, outcry
base
H6818 צְעָקָה, צַעֲקָה
6818 tsa`aqah tsah-ak-aw'
from 6817; a shriek:--cry(-ing).
see HEBREW for 06817
צְעָקָה (tsa.a.qah) — cry.
1) cry, outcry
1a) outcry (against)
1b) cry of distress (especially as heard by God)
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
חֹרוֹנַיִם, transliterated as Choronayim, refers to a location in Moab, possibly meaning 'two caves' or 'double cave-town.' The entries indicate it is a proper noun and specifically identify it as a city. The term is derived from a root related to hollows or caves.
חֹרוֹנַיִם, חֹרֹנַיִם n.pr.loc. (poss. two hollows, caves, ravines) city of Moab
base
H2773 חֹרוֹנַיִם, חֹרֹנַיִם (poss. two hollows, caves, ravines) city of Moab
2773 Choronayim kho-ro-nah'-yim
dual of a derivative from 2356; double cave-town; Choronajim,
a place in Moab:--Horonaim.
see HEBREW for 02356
חֹרֹנַיִם (cho.ro.na.yim) — Horonaim.
§ Horonaim = "two caves"
a town of Moab
Prep | N-proper — Preposition · noun properHR/Npl
hor-o-na'-im (~choronayim]; Aronieim; in Jeremiah Oronaim, "the two hollows"): an unidentified place in the South of Moab. It is named in Jer 48:5. Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (48:3) speak of "the way to Horanaim"; and Jeremiah (48:5) of the , "descent," or "going down" of Horonaim. Mesha (MS) says he was bidden by Chemosh to "go down" and fight against Choronem. Probably, therefore, it lay on one of the roads leading down from the Moabite plateau to the Arabah. It is mentioned by Josephus as having been taken by Alexander Janneus (Ant., XIII, xv, 4). Hyrcanus promised to restore it and the rest to Aretas (XIV, i, 4). There is no indication that in early times it was ever possessed by Israel. Buhl (GAP 272 f) thinks it may be represented by some significant ruins near Wady ed-Dera`a (Wady Kerak).
W. Ewing
(two caverns), a town of Moab, possibly a sanctuary, named with Zoar and Luhith. (Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:3,5,34)
angers; ragings
שֹׁד (shod) refers to concepts of violence and destruction, encompassing havoc, devastation, and ruin. It is derived from a root that suggests oppression and robbery. The term appears in contexts related to social sin and the consequences of violence, as noted in Job 5:21.
שֹׁד, שׁוֹד n.m. violence, havoc, devastation, ruin
base
H7701 שֹׁד, שׁוֹד violence, havoc, devastation, ruin
7701 shod shode
or showd (Job 5:21) {shode}; from 7736; violence,
ravage:--desolation, destruction, oppression, robbery,
spoil(-ed, -er, - ing), wasting.
see HEBREW for 07736
שֹׁד (shod) — violence.
1) havoc, violence, destruction, devastation, ruin
1a) violence, havoc (as social sin)
1b) devastation, ruin
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
שֶׁ֫בֶר (sheber) refers to breaking or fracturing, encompassing meanings like crash, ruin, and destruction. It can also denote the breaking of a dream and its interpretation. The term appears in various contexts, including physical damage and emotional distress.
שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר n.m. breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
base
H7667 שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
7667 sheber sheh'-ber
or sheber {shay'-ber}; from 7665; a fracture, figuratively,
ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream):--affliction,
breach, breaking, broken(-footed, -handed), bruise, crashing,
destruction, hurt, interpretation, vexation.
see HEBREW for 07665
שֶׁ֫בֶר (she.ver) — breaking.
1) breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering
1a) breaking, fracture, shattering, crushing
1b) crashing
1c) breaking (of a dream), interpretation
1d) quarries
Conj | N-ms — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular absoluteHC/Ncmsa
de-struk'-shun: In the King James Version this word translates over 30 Hebrew words in the Old Testament, and 4 words in the New Testament. Of these the most interesting, as having a technical sense, is 'abhaddon (from verb 'abhadh, "to be lost," "to perish"). It is found 6 times in the Wisdom Literature, and nowhere else in the Old Testament; compare Re 9:11. See ABADDON.
Destruction
In Job 26:6, 28:22 (Heb. abaddon) is sheol, the realm of the dead.
גָּדוֹל (gadol) means 'great' and covers a wide range of meanings, including large in size, number, intensity, sound, age, and importance. It can also refer to notable individuals or even God. Additionally, it appears as a proper noun in reference to a person named in Nehemiah 11:14. The lexicons note its use in various contexts, but do not present significant disagreement.
גָּדוֹל 622 adj. great
in magnitude and extent
in number
in intensity
in sound, loud
in age
in importance
in phrases
cstr.
as subst. concr. do great things
† as subst. neut. greatness of arm
H1419a גָּדוֹל great . in magnitude and extent
. in number
. in intensity
. in sound, loud
. in age
. in importance
. in phrases
. cstr.
. as subst. concr. do great things
. † as subst. neut. greatness of arm
H1419b הַגְּדוֹלִים father of Zabdiel
1419 gadowl gaw-dole'
or (shortened) gadol {gaw-dole'}; from 1431; great (in any
sense); hence, older; also insolent:--+ aloud, elder(-est), +
exceeding(-ly), + far, (man of) great (man, matter,
thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble,
proud thing, X sore, (X ) very.
see HEBREW for 01431
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: large.
adj
1) great
1a) large (in magnitude and extent)
1b) in number
1c) in intensity
1d) loud (in sound)
1e) older (in age)
1f) in importance
1f1) important things
1f2) great, distinguished (of men)
1f3) God Himself (of God)
subst
1g) great things
1h) haughty things
1i) greatness
Also means: ga.dol (גָּדוֹל ": old" H1419K)
§ Haggedolim = "the great one"
(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Haggedolim.
A man living at the time of Exile and Return, only mentioned at Neh.11.14
§ Haggedolim = "the great one"
(CLBL) Haggedolim, the great man?, father of Zabdiel
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — Great (Sea).
adj
great
Also named: pe.lish.ti (פְּלִשְׁתִּי "(Sea of the )Philistines" H6430I)
גָּדוֹל (ga.dol) — great: old.
adj
1) great
1a) large (in magnitude and extent)
1b) in number
1c) in intensity
1d) loud (in sound)
Adj — AdjHAamsa