Jeremiah 25:33-38

33 1"And those pierced by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. 2They shall not be lamented, 3or gathered, or buried; 4they shall be dung on the surface of the ground.
34 5"Wail, 6you shepherds, and cry out, 7and roll in ashes, you lords of the flock, for the days of your slaughter and dispersion have come, and you shall fall like a choice vessel.
35 No refuge will remain 8for the shepherds, nor escape for the lords of the flock.
36 A voice--the cry 9of the shepherds, 10and the wail of the lords of the flock! For the LORD is laying waste their pasture,
37 11and the peaceful folds are devastated 12because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
38 Like a lion 13he has left his lair, for their land has become a waste because of 14the sword of the oppressor, 15and because of his fierce anger."

Jeremiah 25:33-38 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 25

This chapter contains a prophecy of the destruction of Judea by the king of Babylon; and also of Babylon itself, after the Jews' captivity of seventy years; and likewise of all the nations round about. The date of this prophecy is in Jer 25:1; when the prophet puts the Jews in mind of the prophecies that had been delivered unto them by himself and others, for some years past, without effect, Jer 25:2-7; wherefore they are threatened with the king of Babylon, that he should come against them, and strip them of all their desirable things; make their land desolate, and them captives for seventy years, Jer 25:8-11; at the expiration of which he in his turn shall be punished, and the land of Chaldea laid waste, and become subject to other nations and kings, Jer 25:12-14; and by a cup of wine given to all the nations round about, is signified the utter ruin of them, and who are particularly mentioned by name, Jer 25:15-26; which is confirmed by beginning with the city of Jerusalem, and the destruction of that, Jer 25:27-29; wherefore the prophet is bid to prophesy against them, and to declare the Lord's controversy with them, and that there should be a slaughter of them from one end of the earth to the other, Jer 25:30-33; upon which the shepherds, kings, and rulers of them, are called to lamentation and howling, Jer 25:34-38.

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The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.