ירמיהו, פרק מ״ח, פסוק כ״ט

The people of Moab view themselves as incredibly great and important [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This deep-seated self-image dictates exactly how they react when faced with the threat of total destruction. Speaking on behalf of the surrounding nations, the prophet declares that the entire world has heard of Moab's immense pride, an arrogance that was especially obvious during their periods of peace and security [רד״ק, אברבנאל, מצודת דוד].

Highlighting this pride is not merely a passing detail; it is the very flaw that prevents Moab from surviving. Instead of escaping to the desert to avoid the coming danger, the people are blinded by their own ego, clinging to the illusion that no enemy could ever defeat them [מלבי״ם].

To capture this fatal flaw, a variety of similar expressions for arrogance are used. The primary approach among commentators is that this repetition simply serves to emphasize the sheer magnitude of the nation's conceit [מצודת ציון]. However, others see a specific, step-by-step process of arrogance hidden within these descriptions. One form of pride is based on a genuine advantage, where a person truly holds a higher status than others. Another form is entirely internal and imagined, an artificial sense of superiority. In this progression, actual physical or social standing gives birth to real pride, while the imagined, internal arrogance ultimately leads to a completely haughty heart [מלבי״ם].