Jeremiah 49:22

22 Behold, He will mount up and ¹swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the ²hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

Jeremiah 49:22 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 49:22

Behold, he shall come up, and fly as the eagle
The Targum is,

``behold, as an eagle comes up and flies, so shall a king come up with his army;''

the king of Babylon with his army, compared to an eagle for his swiftness and voraciousness, as before to a lion for his strength and fierceness: and spread his wings over Bozrah;
besiege that city, invest it, and seize upon it; very fitly are the wings of an army expressed by the wings of this bird, denoting both their extent and force; the same is said concerning Moab, ( Jeremiah 48:40 ) ; and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Moab be as the
heart of a woman in her pangs;
when just ready to be delivered; not only weak and timorous, but full of anguish, and: quite dispirited; (See Gill on Jeremiah 48:41).

Jeremiah 49:22 In-Context

20 Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has planned against Edom, and His purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: surely they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them.

21 The earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry! The noise of it has been heard at the Red Sea.

22 Behold, He will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor.

23 Concerning Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, It cannot be calmed.

24 "Damascus has become helpless; She has turned away to flee, And panic has gripped her; Distress and pangs have taken hold of her Like a woman in childbirth.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 4:13; Jeremiah 48:40; Hosea 8:1
• 2. Isaiah 13:8; Jeremiah 30:6; Jeremiah 48:41

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "one"
• [b]. Or "over"