Jeremiah 6:22

A Cruel Nation from the North

22 This is what the Lord says: Look, an army is coming from a northern land; a great nation will be awakened from the remote regions of the earth.^[a]

Jeremiah 6:22 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 6:22

Thus saith the Lord, behold, a people cometh from the north
country
The Assyrians from Babylon, which lay north of Judea, as in ( Jeremiah 1:14 Jeremiah 1:15 ) ( 4:6 ) : and a great nation shall be raised;
that is, by the Lord, who would stir them up to this undertaking. The Targum is,

``many people shall come openly:''

from the sides of the earth;
afar off, as Babylon was, ( Jeremiah 5:15 ) .

Jeremiah 6:22 In-Context

20 What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please Me.

21 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am going to place stumbling blocks before these people; fathers and sons together will stumble over them; friends and neighbors will [also] perish.

22 This is what the Lord says: Look, an army is coming from a northern land; a great nation will be awakened from the remote regions of the earth.

23 They grasp bow and javelin. They are cruel and show no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, lined up like men in battle formation against you, Daughter Zion.

24 We have heard about it, and we are discouraged. Distress has seized us- pain like a woman in labor.

Footnotes

• [a]. Jr 25:32; 31:8; 50:41