Jeremiah 48:11 - “Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.

Generated Verse: Jeremiah 48:11

What does "Jeremiah 48:11" mean?


Jeremiah 48:11, "Moab has been at ease from his youth, and he has settled on his lees, and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither has he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed," is a metaphor using the analogy of winemaking to describe Moab's long-term stability and its negative consequences. Here's a breakdown:

"Moab has been at ease from his youth...": This highlights Moab's historical prosperity and lack of major disruptions or challenges. They haven't experienced significant upheaval since their beginnings.

"...and he has settled on his lees...": In winemaking, "lees" are the sediment that settles at the bottom of a wine vessel during fermentation. Leaving wine on its lees can make it cloudy and give it an undesirable taste. In this context, it means Moab has remained stagnant and complacent, never being stirred up or refined. They haven't been forced to deal with hardship.

"...and has not been emptied from vessel to vessel...": The process of "emptying from vessel to vessel" is a traditional winemaking technique used to clarify wine by removing it from the sediment. This process refines the wine, improving its taste and quality. Moab, however, has never undergone this refining process of being challenged and changed. They've remained in their same state.

"...neither has he gone into captivity...": Captivity is a major upheaval that forces a nation to change. Moab hasn't experienced this either.

"...therefore his taste remains in him, and his scent is not changed.": Because Moab has never been challenged or refined, they remain unchanged in their character and values, for better or worse. This is not a compliment. In the context of Jeremiah's prophecy, it's a criticism. It suggests:

Moral and Spiritual Stagnation: Moab's lack of hardship has led to complacency and a refusal to change or repent from their wickedness (which Jeremiah details elsewhere in the chapter). They're stuck in their old ways, unrefined and unchanged.
Arrogance and Pride: Their uninterrupted prosperity has likely fostered a sense of arrogance and self-reliance, making them resistant to God's warnings.
False Sense of Security: They believe their stability is permanent and fail to recognize their vulnerability to judgment.

In essence, the verse is saying that Moab's long period of ease and stability has made them spiritually and morally stagnant, leading to their impending downfall. The prophecy in Jeremiah 48 goes on to detail the judgment that will come upon Moab for their wickedness and pride.

What categories does "Jeremiah 48:11" have?