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Jeremiah 25

1

The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;

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The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,

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From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the Lord hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

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And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

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They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:

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And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.

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Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

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Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,

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Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

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Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

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And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

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And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

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And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

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For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

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For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

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And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

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Then took I the cup at the Lord’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me:

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To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

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Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;

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And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,

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Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,

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And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,

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Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,

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And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,

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And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,

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And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

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Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

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And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

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For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.

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Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

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A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.

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Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

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And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

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Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

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And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

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A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture.

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And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

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He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

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Jeremiah 25

Jeremiah summarizes his twenty-year ministry of announcing judgment, declaring that Judah has not obeyed the prophetic voice calling for repentance and return to covenant, and YHWH now will bring the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar to execute judgment and establish Babylonian suzerainty over all nations for seventy years. The extended prophecy against the nations (beginning with Jerusalem, continuing through Syria, Egypt, Arabia, and culminating with Babylon itself) establishes that YHWH's judgment is not limited to Judah but extends to all nations in a comprehensive reorganization of the international order according to YHWH's covenant purposes. The divine wine cup of wrath that all nations must drink establishes YHWH's universal sovereignty and judgment against all idolatry and covenant violation, with even Babylon ultimately subject to the same divine judgment it executes against other nations, illustrating the principle that agents of judgment are themselves judged. This chapter serves as a pivotal conclusion to the first collection of Jeremiah's oracles (chapters 1-25) and provides transition to the oracles of restoration (chapters 26-35) by establishing the outer boundary of judgment (seventy years of Babylonian exile) beyond which restoration becomes possible when judgment has accomplished its purpose of purging covenant violation.

Jeremiah 25:1

The dating of the prophecy to the fourth year of Jehoiakim and the first year of Nebuchadnezzar establishes the historical moment: Babylon is rising while Judah is declining. The prophecy addressed to all Judah represents the broadest proclamation yet. The specific dating emphasizes that the prophecy is not vague but refers to concrete historical events and their theological meaning. The timing connects Jeremiah's long prophetic ministry with the beginning of Babylon's dominance.

Jeremiah 25:2

Jeremiah's statement that he has spoken to them repeatedly from the earliest years without their listening shows the persistence of prophetic effort despite persistent rejection. The appeal to the length of the ministry establishes that the people have had ample opportunity to repent. The failure to listen despite repeated word represents stubborn refusal. The historical retrospective establishes the people's culpability for the coming judgment.

Jeremiah 25:3

The explicit statement that God sent prophets repeatedly and rising early shows God's patient effort to reach the people. The rising early suggests urgency and determination on God's part. The repeated sending of prophets demonstrates God's commitment to calling the people to repentance. The people's failure to respond to this patient, repeated call justifies the execution of judgment.

Jeremiah 25:4

The statement that the prophets said "Turn back each of you from your evil way," abandoning pursuit of other gods—presents the consistent message of all prophets. The message combines negative (turn from evil) and positive (abandon idolatry) components. The consistency of prophetic message across generations shows that the people's rejection is not based on confusion about the message but on willful resistance. The clarity of the call condemns the people's refusal.

Jeremiah 25:5

The promise that if they listen and turn from evil ways, God will let them dwell in the land forever presents the conditional mercy available to all generations. The continued offer of restoration shows that judgment is not yet irrevocable. The promise of eternal dwelling in the land offers security and blessing for those who genuinely repent. The verse emphasizes that God's mercy remains available even as judgment approaches.

Jeremiah 25:6

The warning not to go after other gods or to serve them represents the core issue—idolatry as the fundamental violation. The phrase "provoke me to anger" shows that idolatry is not merely wrong but an affront to God's person and honor. The consequences for idolatry are threatened. The verse emphasizes that rejection of idolatry is the condition for avoiding judgment.

Jeremiah 25:7

The statement that the people have not listened represents the ultimate verdict: despite all the opportunity and warning, the people have chosen rebellion. The judgment is not arbitrary but the inevitable consequence of sustained refusal to respond to God's word. The historical catalog of patience followed by persistent rejection justifies what follows. The verse establishes the grounds for irreversible judgment.

Jeremiah 25:8

The therefore that announces judgment shows that the logical connection between rejection and destruction is complete. God will send for all the families of the north and the king of Babylon to devastate the land. The identification of Babylon as the instrument of God's judgment shows that Babylon's military activity serves God's purposes. The prophecy announces that Babylon's dominance is not mere historical accident but divine appointment.

Jeremiah 25:9

God's explicit identification of Nebuchadnezzar as His servant demonstrates that the foreign king is an agent of divine judgment. The characterization as servant shows that Babylon's role, though destructive, is authorized and limited by God's purposes. The king is brought to accomplish devastation, which is both military and judicial. The verse establishes that judgment will be executed through concrete historical means.

Jeremiah 25:10

The promise to banish from the land the voice of mirth, the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and bride, and the sound of the millstone represents the elimination of all ordinary life and joy. The specific enumeration of sounds shows that judgment will silence all the ordinary activities that make community possible. The taking away of the light of the lamp suggests the elimination of hope and guidance. The verse shows that judgment will affect not just political structures but the texture of daily life.

Jeremiah 25:11

The prophecy that the land will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years represents a specific time limit for exile and domination. The number seventy suggests both punishment and eventual restoration; it is long enough to be devastating but not infinite. The stated duration shows that judgment, though harsh, is not permanent. The seventy years will become a crucial expectation for those awaiting restoration.

Jeremiah 25:12

The promise that when seventy years are completed, God will punish the king of Babylon and make his land desolate forever shows that the instrument of judgment will itself face judgment. The punishment of Babylon ensures that no nation, even one serving God's purpose temporarily, escapes accountability for its wickedness. The perpetual desolation of Babylon contrasts with Judah's restoration, suggesting different fates for agent and victim. The verse establishes that all kingdoms ultimately face God's judgment.

Jeremiah 25:13

The summary statement that all Jeremiah's words written in the book will be brought to pass shows the permanence and reliability of prophetic word. The written format suggests that the prophecy will endure as a standard for testing fulfillment. The comprehensive nature of fulfillment (all the words) emphasizes that nothing will fail. The verse affirms the authority of the prophecy and Jeremiah's status as a true prophet.

Jeremiah 25:14

The promise that Judah and other nations will be enslaved by Babylon and afterward many nations and great kings will serve themselves of them represents a hierarchy of judgment. Just as Judah will suffer, so foreign nations that oppose God will suffer. The reversals in power and subjection show that God controls the course of history. The eventual judgment on Babylon and recovery of enslaved peoples shows that no oppression lasts forever.

Jeremiah 25:15

God's command to take from His hand the cup of the wine of wrath and make all the nations drink of it represents the beginning of the vision of universal judgment. The cup metaphor represents judgment that spreads from nation to nation. The command to Jeremiah to administer the cup symbolically shows the prophet's role in announcing judgment on all peoples. The vision expands from Judah's particular judgment to universal judgment.

Jeremiah 25:16

The statement that they will drink and reel and be crazed because of the sword God sends represents the effects of the cup—disorientation, loss of control, and vulnerability to destruction. The reeling suggests that judgment creates chaos and eliminates the ability to respond effectively. The crazed condition emphasizes the breakdown of normal rationality and capacity. The image shows that judgment incapacitates.

Jeremiah 25:17

Jeremiah's statement that he took the cup from God's hand and made all the nations drink enacts the prophetic command symbolically. The prophet becomes the agent of judgment, at least in representation. The enumeration of nations begins with Jerusalem and Judah (the home base) and extends outward. The systematic drinking of the cup by all nations emphasizes universality of judgment.

Jeremiah 25:18

The enumeration begins with Jerusalem and the cities of Judah and their kings and officials who will drink the cup and become a desolation, an object of horror, hissing, and curse. The specific identification of these as recipients ensures that the listener understands the prophecy applies directly to them. The multiple negative consequences (desolation, horror, hissing, curse) emphasize the totality of judgment. The verse brings the universal judgment down to the immediate context.

Jeremiah 25:19

The continuation of the enumeration—Pharaoh, his servants, and his people—shows that Egyptian power is not excepted from judgment. The inclusion of Egypt shows that even great powers face the cup. The enumeration suggests that the cup passes from nation to nation in an orderly succession. The verse expands the scope of judgment beyond the Near East.

Jeremiah 25:20

The enumeration continues with mixed groups and all the kings of foreign lands emphasizing the comprehensiveness of judgment. The inclusion of mixed groups and foreign lands shows that no category escapes. The vastness of the enumeration suggests that the cup eventually reaches all nations. The universal scope of judgment matches the universal scope of rebellion.

Jeremiah 25:21

The continued enumeration includes Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon, neighboring nations who had their own conflicts with Judah. The specific naming shows that ancient enemies will also face judgment. The inclusion of neighbors suggests that judgment falls on all humanity, not just distant powers. The enumeration emphasizes that proximity or enmity does not alter judgment.

Jeremiah 25:22

The enumeration continues with all the kings of Tyre and Sidon and the coast lands across the sea, representing maritime powers and distant peoples. The extension to distant lands shows that geography is no shield. The inclusion of maritime peoples shows that the cup's reach extends to all accessible lands. The verse shows that judgment is truly universal in scope.

Jeremiah 25:23

The enumeration of Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all those in the corners of their hair represents Arabian and desert peoples. The specific inclusion of corner-dwelling peoples suggests even the most remote populations are included. The variety of enumeration emphasizes that judgment covers all types of societies and geography. The verse shows that no location or people can escape.

Jeremiah 25:24

The continuation with all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed people dwelling in the desert represents additional coverage of peoples not previously mentioned. The enumeration leaves no region unaccounted for. The systematic completeness emphasizes the totality and inevitability of judgment. The verse shows that the cup's reach extends to all lands.

Jeremiah 25:25

The enumeration of all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media represents additional nations extending the geographic range further. The naming of specific kingdoms shows precise knowledge of the political geography. The continued exhaustive enumeration maintains the theme of universal judgment. The verse shows that remote kingdoms are not forgotten.

Jeremiah 25:26

The final enumeration—all the kings of the north far and near one another and all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth—represents the complete coverage previously implicit. The explicit statement that the cup reaches all kingdoms on earth confirms the universality. The comprehensiveness of the final statement closes the enumeration by making explicit what had been progressively demonstrated. The verse ensures that no one can claim exception from judgment.

Jeremiah 25:27

The command that after all the nations drink of the cup, the king of Babylon will drink after them shows that even the instrument of judgment will not escape. The order shows that though Babylon executes judgment now, it will face judgment in turn. The promise shows that the final judgment belongs to God, not to any human power. The verse maintains the theological principle that all powers ultimately answer to God.

Jeremiah 25:28

The statement that if they refuse to drink of the cup, Jeremiah is to tell them that God will not permit escape represents the unavoidability of judgment. The refusal is presented as futile; the cup cannot be avoided. The appeal to unwilling participation emphasizes that judgment is compulsory and all-encompassing. The verse shows that resistance to judgment is impossible.

Jeremiah 25:29

The declaration that judgment begins with the city that bears God's name emphasizes that the covenant city receives judgment first and most severely. The progression from covenant city to all others shows the order of judgment but also the comprehensiveness. The statement that they think they will escape is a denunciation of false hope. The verse emphasizes that proximity to God's presence does not exempt from judgment.

Jeremiah 25:30

God's roaring from on high and raising His voice from His holy dwelling represents the direct involvement of God in executing judgment. The roar and voice are metaphors for thunder and the sounds of divine power. The specific mention of the holy dwelling suggests that judgment flows from God's throne. The verse shows God as the ultimate source of destruction, not merely Babylon. The imagery emphasizes divine power and direct involvement.

Jeremiah 25:31

The roar reaches all inhabitants of the earth and the shepherds cannot escape as God comes to contend with the nations and execute judgment. The universal reach of the divine roar parallels the universal reach of the cup. The inability of shepherds (leaders) to escape shows that power and position do not shield from judgment. The verse shows God as the ultimate judge whose verdict cannot be avoided.

Jeremiah 25:32

The statement that evil will go forth from nation to nation and a great storm of God will arise from the uttermost parts of the earth represents the crescendo of judgment. The storm of God gathering shows divine judgment becoming active and visible. The movement from nation to nation shows the progression of judgment across all peoples. The verse describes the acceleration and manifestation of judgment.

Jeremiah 25:33

The final image of the slain of the LORD stretching from one end of the earth to the other, with none to lament or gather them, represents the magnitude and finality of judgment. The unlamented dead emphasize complete defeat and the absence of anyone to honor the fallen. The stretching from one end of the earth to the other shows the global scope of destruction. The verse presents a horrifying image of universal judgment and its consequences.

Jeremiah 25:34

The address to shepherds (leaders) to wail and cry for their flocks will be scattered and they will fall represents the collapse of leadership and protection. The wailing of shepherds acknowledges their powerlessness and the tragedy of their failure. The scattering of the flock shows that safety and community will be destroyed. The verse emphasizes the suffering of leadership confronted with their failure.

Jeremiah 25:35

The statement that the shepherds will have no way to escape and the flock will have no way to be saved represents the completeness of the disaster. The elimination of escape routes and safety emphasizes that the judgment is total. The combination of shepherd failure and flock vulnerability shows the comprehensive breakdown. The verse shows the desperation of the situation.

Jeremiah 25:36

The voice of the shepherds and the wailing of the leaders of the flock will be heard as the LORD lays waste their pasture represents the culmination and manifestation of judgment through audible expressions of loss. The wailing becomes the sound of judgment. The laying waste of pasture shows the destruction of the material basis of pastoral activity. The verse shows judgment becoming audibly manifest in the cries of the destroyed.

Jeremiah 25:37

The statement that the peaceful habitations will be laid waste because of the fierce anger of the LORD represents the destruction even of peaceful places that might have seemed safe. The specific mention of peaceful habitations suggests that no refuge exists. The fierce anger explains the severity and comprehensiveness. The verse shows that even tranquility is no shield.

Jeremiah 25:38

The final verse—that the lion has left his covert because the land has become a waste because of the burning anger of the LORD and because of His fierce anger—uses animal imagery to show nature responding to divine judgment. The lion, normally at rest, is forced out by the desolation. The burning and fierce anger emphasize the intensity of divine judgment. The verse ends the chapter by showing that the entire creation feels the effects of God's wrath.