King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 48:44 Mean?

Jeremiah 48:44 in the King James Version says “He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare:...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 48 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.”

Jeremiah 48:44 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

42

And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD.

43

Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.

44

He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.

45

They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones. tumultuous: Heb. children of noise

46

Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives. captives, and: Heb. in captivity, etc

Read Jeremiah 48 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare—this verse expands the threefold trap of verse 43, emphasizing the futility of escape attempts. The verbs describe desperate motion: fleeing (nas, נָס, running away), falling (naphal, נָפַל, stumbling into), getting up ('alah, עָלָה, climbing out), and being taken (lakad, לָכַד, captured). Each escape attempt leads to the next phase of judgment.

For I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation—the Hebrew pekuddah (פְּקֻדָּה, visitation, reckoning) indicates God's appointed time of judgment. The phrase 'year of visitation' suggests a specific, predetermined period when God settles accounts. This term appears throughout Jeremiah (6:15, 10:15, 11:23) for divine judgment. The sovereignty is explicit: 'I will bring'—not chance, not merely Babylon's ambition, but Yahweh's direct action. Romans 2:5 warns of 'the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,' the ultimate 'visitation' when all accounts are settled.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The 'year of their visitation' was fulfilled c. 582 BC when Nebuchadnezzar systematically destroyed Moabite strongholds. Josephus (Antiquities 10.9.7) records this Babylonian campaign five years after Jerusalem's fall. The precision of 'year' (not merely 'day' or 'time') suggests the judgment process was neither instantaneous nor indefinite—it had a set duration during which God's wrath was executed. This accords with prophetic patterns: Egypt's seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11), Babylon's own 'visitation' (Jeremiah 50:27, 51:18), and the Great Tribulation's defined period (Revelation 11:2-3). The principle endures: God's judgments occur on His schedule, neither hurried nor delayed by human preference.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the concept of a divinely appointed 'year of visitation' challenge modern notions that judgment is arbitrary or impulsive?
  2. What does the exhaustive nature of this judgment teach about the thoroughness of God's justice?
  3. How should certainty of final judgment affect our priorities and proclamation today?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
הַנָּ֞יס1 of 20
H5211

fugitive

מִפְּנֵ֤י2 of 20

“from”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַפַּ֙חַד֙3 of 20

“the fear”

H6343

a (sudden) alarm (properly, the object feared, by implication, the feeling)

יִפֹּ֣ל4 of 20

“shall fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

אֶל5 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַפַּ֔חַת6 of 20

“into the pit”

H6354

a pit, especially for catching animals

וְהָֽעֹלֶה֙7 of 20

“and he that getteth up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

מִן8 of 20
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַפַּ֔חַת9 of 20

“into the pit”

H6354

a pit, especially for catching animals

יִלָּכֵ֖ד10 of 20

“shall be taken”

H3920

to catch (in a net, trap or pit); generally, to capture or occupy; also to choose (by lot); figuratively, to cohere

בַּפָּ֑ח11 of 20

“in the snare”

H6341

a (metallic) sheet (as pounded thin)

כִּֽי12 of 20
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אָבִ֨יא13 of 20

“for I will bring”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֵלֶ֧יהָ14 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אֶל15 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מוֹאָ֛ב16 of 20

“upon it even upon Moab”

H4124

moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants

שְׁנַ֥ת17 of 20

“the year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

פְּקֻדָּתָ֖ם18 of 20

“of their visitation”

H6486

visitation (in many senses, chiefly official)

נְאֻם19 of 20

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָֽה׃20 of 20

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 48:44 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 48:44 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 11:231 Kings 19:17Amos 5:19Jeremiah 46:21Isaiah 37:36-38Jeremiah 16:16

Places in This Verse

Moab 1Region · Modern: Kerak · 31.18°N, 35.70°E162 verses across 22 books
View all places in Jeremiah 48 →

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