Jeremiah 23:19

19 His anger is a storm, a furious wind that will rage over the heads of the wicked

Jeremiah 23:19 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 23:19

Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury
Or, "behold, a whirlwind of the Lord, of the fury is gone forth" F2; which latter clause explains the former; and, hews, that by "the whirlwind of the Lord" is meant his "fury" or "wrath"; which, like a whirlwind, would come suddenly, and at an unawares, and be very boisterous and powerful, and carry all before it; and which was gone forth from the Lord in the decree and commission; and would quickly break out and appear in the Chaldean army that would invade Judea and besiege Jerusalem, compared to a full and fanning wind, and its chariots to a whirlwind, ( Jeremiah 4:11-13 ) ; from whence it would appear, that these men, the false prophets, were not in the counsel of God; had seen no vision from him, nor had marked his word: since they prophesied of peace and prosperity, when a blustering storm was coming: even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of
the wicked;
or "rest" F3 thereon; even on the head of the wicked prophets, and all such wicked persons as give heed unto them; on them it would fall with its full weight, and give excessive pain, and there continue to their utter ruin. Kimchi says this refers to the days of the Messiah, when all the wicked shall be consumed. It may refer to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, at least include it; which was a grievous whirlwind indeed.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 (hauy hmh hwhy treo hnh) "ecce turbo Domini exandescentia", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius; "en procella Jehovae! ira exivit", Schmidt.
F3 (lwxy) "manebit", Montanus, Cocceius; "permanebit", Junius & Tremellius; "residebit", Targ. "requiescet", Syr.

Jeremiah 23:19 In-Context

17 To the people who refuse to listen to what I have said, they keep saying that all will go well with them. And they tell everyone who is stubborn that disaster will never touch them."
18 I said, "None of these prophets has ever known the Lord's secret thoughts. None of them has ever heard or understood his message, or ever listened or paid attention to what he said.
19 His anger is a storm, a furious wind that will rage over the heads of the wicked
20 and it will not end until he has done everything he intends to do. In days to come his people will understand this clearly."
21 The Lord said, "I did not send these prophets, but even so they went. I did not give them any message, but still they spoke in my name
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.