Jeremiah 48:28 Meaning and Explanation
“O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Moabites must abandon cities and seek refuge in rocky wilderness.
The Context of Jeremiah 48:28
Call to flight: Moabites must become fugitives in wild, rocky terrain.
What Does Jeremiah 48:28 Mean?
The command to leave cities and dwell in rocks echoes verse 6, but now with a new image: refugees nesting like doves in cliff faces. This is both literal advice (finding shelter in caves and rocky terrain) and metaphorical language for desperate flight. The dove is vulnerable, hiding in remote places to survive.
'The sides of the hole's mouth' suggests precarious, hidden refuges—no comfort, no security, only bare survival in isolated terrain. From settled civilization to cave-dwelling represents the ultimate displacement, a near-return to primitive existence.
Jeremiah 48:28 in the Original Language
יוֹנָה (yonah, dove) — symbol of innocence and vulnerability, metaphor for the desperate refugees seeking shelter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 48:28
What does Jeremiah 48:28 mean?
Moabites must abandon cities and seek refuge in rocky wilderness.
What is the context of Jeremiah 48:28?
Call to flight: Moabites must become fugitives in wild, rocky terrain.