Jeremiah 48:34 Meaning and Explanation
“From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Cries of mourning resound across all Moab; even water sources fail.
The Context of Jeremiah 48:34
Mourning spreads geographically across Moab; nature fails alongside human civilization.
What Does Jeremiah 48:34 Mean?
The geographic sweep from Heshbon to Elealeh to Jahaz to Zoar to Horonaim covers Moab from north to south and east to west. The 'cry' (weeping, wailing) carries across all boundaries; no corner of the nation escapes the sound of grief. The metaphor of 'an heifer of three years old' suggests the anguish of a young animal separated from its mother—primal, urgent, unstoppable mourning.
'The waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate' extends judgment to nature itself. Streams dry up; water sources fail. Combined with failed harvests and silenced celebrations, Moab faces not just military defeat but environmental collapse—no water, no crops, no food. Life itself becomes impossible.
Jeremiah 48:34 in the Original Language
עֶגְלַת (eglat, heifer) — metaphor for the raw, primitive cry of grief like a separated calf.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 48:34
What does Jeremiah 48:34 mean?
Cries of mourning resound across all Moab; even water sources fail.
What is the context of Jeremiah 48:34?
Mourning spreads geographically across Moab; nature fails alongside human civilization.