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I know his wrath,” says Yahweh, “that it is nothing; his boastings have worked nothing.
Jeremiah 48:30 · World English Bible
Parallel translations
  • KJV I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.
  • BSB I know his insolence,” declares the LORD, “but it is futile. His boasting is as empty as his deeds.
  • ESV I know his insolence, declares the LORD; his boasts are false, his deeds are false.
  • NKJV “I know his wrath,” says the Lord, “But it is not right; His lies have made nothing right.
  • NASB “I know his fury,” declares the Lord, “But it is futile; His idle boasts have accomplished nothing.
  • NLT I know about his insolence,” says the Lord, “but his boasts are empty— as empty as his deeds.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

The LORD knows Moab's insolence is empty, and her boasts have accomplished nothing.

Overview

God declares that Moab's arrogant boasting is hollow and powerless to achieve what it claims. Her self-confidence is exposed as futile before the One who sees all. This unmasking of empty boasting reminds us that only what is done in dependence on God endures, while human pride comes to nothing.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • Jer 50:36A sword is on the boasters, and they will become fools. A sword is on her mighty men, and they will be dismayed.
  • Ps 33:10Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
  • Isa 16:6We have heard of the pride of Moab, that he is very proud; even of his arrogance, his pride, and his wrath. His boastings are nothing.
  • Prov 21:30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
  • Job 9:12–13Behold, he snatches away. Who can hinder him? Who will ask him, ‘What are you doing?’
  • Isa 37:28–29But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me.

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Jeremiah videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Jeremiah 48:30YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on JeremiahMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.

How Jeremiah 48:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.