Jeremiah 25

Prophecy of the Captivity

1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the ¹fourth year of ²Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the ³first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ),

2 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the ⁴people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,

3 "From the ⁵thirteenth * year of ⁶Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these ⁷twenty-three * years the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken to you ⁸again and again, but you have not listened.

4 "And the LORD has sent to you all His ⁹servants the prophets again and again, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear,

5 saying, '¹⁰Turn now everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your deeds, and dwell on the land which the LORD has given to you and your forefathers ¹¹forever * and ever;

6 and ¹²do not go after other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands, and I will do you no harm.'

7 "Yet you have not listened to Me," declares the LORD, "in order that you might ¹³provoke Me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm.

8 "Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Because * you have not obeyed My words,

9 behold, I will ¹⁴send and take all the families of the north,' declares the LORD, 'and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, ¹⁵My servant, and will bring them against this land and against its inhabitants and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them and ¹⁶make them a horror and a hissing, and an everlasting desolation.

10 'Moreover, I will ¹⁷take from them the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the ¹⁸sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.

11 '¹⁹This whole land will be a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon ²⁰seventy years.

Babylon Will Be Judged

12 'Then it will be ²¹when seventy years are completed I will ²²punish the king of Babylon and that nation,' declares the LORD, 'for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and ²³I will make it an everlasting desolation.

13 'I will bring upon that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in ²⁴this book which Jeremiah has prophesied against ²⁵all the nations.

14 '(For ²⁶many nations and great kings will make slaves of them, even them; and I will ²⁷recompense them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.)' "

15 For thus the LORD, the God of Israel, says to me, "Take this ²⁸cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.

16 "They will ²⁹drink and stagger and go mad because * of the sword that I will send among them."

17 Then I took the cup from the LORD'S hand and ³⁰made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink it:

18 ³¹Jerusalem and the cities of Judah and its kings and its princes, to make them a ruin, a horror, a hissing and a curse, as it is this day;

19 ³²Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes and all his people;

20 and all the ³³foreign people, all the kings of the ³⁴land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the ³⁵Philistines (even Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of ³⁶Ashdod );

21 ³⁷Edom, ³⁸Moab and the sons of ³⁹Ammon;

22 and all the kings of ⁴⁰Tyre, all the kings of Sidon and the kings of ⁴¹the coastlands which are beyond the sea;

23 and ⁴²Dedan, Tema, ⁴³Buz and all who ⁴⁴cut the corners of their hair;

24 and all the kings of ⁴⁵Arabia and all the kings of the ⁴⁶foreign people who dwell in the desert;

25 and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of ⁴⁷Elam and all the kings of ⁴⁸Media;

26 and all the kings of the north, near and far, one with another; and ⁴⁹all the kingdoms of the earth which are upon the face of the ground, and the king of ⁵⁰Sheshach shall drink after them.

27 "You shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "⁵¹Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall and rise no more because * of the ⁵²sword which I will send among you."'

28 "And it will be, if they ⁵³refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you will say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "⁵⁴You shall surely drink!

29 "For behold, I am ⁵⁵beginning to work calamity in this city which is ⁵⁶called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for ⁵⁷I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth," declares the LORD of hosts.'

30 "Therefore you shall prophesy against them all these words, and you shall say to them, 'The ⁵⁸LORD will ⁵⁹roar from on high And utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, Against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31 'A clamor has come to the end of the earth, Because the LORD has ⁶⁰a controversy with the nations. He is entering into ⁶¹judgment with all flesh; As for the wicked, He has given them to the sword,' declares the LORD."

32 Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, evil is going forth From ⁶²nation to nation, And a great ⁶³storm is being stirred up From the remotest parts of the earth.

33 "Those ⁶⁴slain by the LORD on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other *. They will ⁶⁵not be lamented, gathered or buried; they will be like ⁶⁶dung on the face of the ground.

34 "Wail, you shepherds, and cry; And ⁶⁷wallow in ashes, you masters of the flock; For the days of your ⁶⁸slaughter and your dispersions have come, And you will fall like a choice vessel.

35 "⁶⁹Flight will perish from the shepherds, And escape from the masters of the flock.

36 "Hear the sound of the cry of the shepherds, And the wailing of the masters of the flock! For the LORD is destroying their pasture,

37 "And the peaceful ⁷⁰folds are made silent Because * of the ⁷¹fierce anger of the LORD.

38 "He has left His hiding place ⁷²like the lion; For their land has become a horror Because * of the fierceness of the oppressing sword And because * of His fierce anger."

Jeremiah 25 Commentary

Chapter 25

The Jews rebuked for not obeying calls to repentance. (1-7) Their captivity during seventy years is expressly foretold. (8-14) Desolations upon the nations shown by the emblem of a cup of wrath. (15-29) The judgments again declared. (30-38)

Verses 1-7 The call to turn from evil ways to the worship and service of God, and for sinners to trust in Christ, and partake of his salvation, concerns all men. God keeps an account how long we possess the means of grace; and the longer we have them, the heavier will our account be if we have not improved them. Rising early, points out the earnest desire that this people should turn and live. Personal and particular reformation must be insisted on as necessary to a national deliverance; and every one must turn from his own evil way. Yet all was to no purpose. They would not take the right and only method to turn away the wrath of God.

Verses 8-14 The fixing of the time during which the Jewish captivity should last, would not only confirm the prophecy, but also comfort the people of God, and encourage faith and prayer. The ruin of Babylon is foretold: the rod will be thrown into the fire when the correcting work is done. When the set time to favour Zion is come, Babylon shall be punished for their iniquity, as other nations have been punished for their sins. Every threatening of the Scripture will certainly be accomplished.

Verses 15-29 The evil and the good events of life are often represented in Scripture as cups. Under this figure is represented the desolation then coming upon that part of the world, of which Nebuchadnezzar, who had just began to reign and act, was to be the instrument; but this destroying sword would come from the hand of God. The desolations the sword should make in all these kingdoms, are represented by the consequences of excessive drinking. This may make us loathe the sin of drunkenness, that the consequences of it are used to set forth such a woful condition. Drunkenness deprives men of the use of their reason, makes men as mad. It takes from them the valuable blessing, health; and is a sin which is its own punishment. This may also make us dread the judgments of war. It soon fills a nation with confusion. They will refuse to take the cup at thy hand. They will not believe Jeremiah; but he must tell them it is the word of the Lord of hosts, and it is in vain for them to struggle against Almighty power. And if God's judgments begin with backsliding professors, let not the wicked expect to escape.

Verses 30-38 The Lord has just ground of controversy with every nation and every person; and he will execute judgment on all the wicked. Who can avoid trembling when God speaks in displeasure? The days are fully come; the time fixed in the Divine counsels, which will make the nations wholly desolate. The tender and delicate shall share the common calamity. Even those who used to live in peace, and did nothing to provoke, shall not escape. Blessed be God, there is a peaceable habitation above, for all the sons of peace. The Lord will preserve his church and all believers in all changes; for nothing can separate them from his love.

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 36:1; Jeremiah 46:2
• 2. 2 Kings 24:1, 2; 2 Chronicles 36:4-6; Daniel 1:1, 2
• 3. Jeremiah 32:1
• 4. Jeremiah 18:11
• 5. Jeremiah 1:2
• 6. 2 Chr 34:1-3, 8
• 7. Jeremiah 36:2
• 8. Jeremiah 7:25; Jeremiah 11:7; Jeremiah 26:5
• 9. 2 Chronicles 36:15; Jeremiah 26:5
• 10. 2 Kings 17:13; Isaiah 55:6, 7; Jeremiah 4:1; Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 18:30; Jonah 3:8-10
• 11. Genesis 17:8; Jeremiah 7:7; Jeremiah 17:25
• 12. Deuteronomy 6:14; Deuteronomy 8:19; 2 Kings 17:35; Jeremiah 35:15
• 13. 2 Kings 17:17; 2 Kings 21:15; Jeremiah 7:19; Jeremiah 32:30-33
• 14. Jeremiah 1:15; Jeremiah 6:22, 23
• 15. Isaiah 13:3; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10
• 16. 1 Kings 9:7, 8; Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 25:18
• 17. Isaiah 24:8-11; Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9; Ezekiel 26:13; Revelation 18:23
• 18. Ecclesiastes 12:4; Isaiah 47:2
• 19. Jeremiah 4:27; Jeremiah 12:11, 12
• 20. 2 Chronicles 36:21; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 7:5
• 21. Ezra 1:1; Jeremiah 29:10; Daniel 9:2
• 22. Isaiah 13:14; Jeremiah 50, 51
• 23. Isaiah 13:19
• 24. Jer 36:4, 29, 32
• 25. Jeremiah 1:5, 10; Jeremiah 36:2
• 26. Jeremiah 27:7; Jeremiah 50:9, 41; Jeremiah 51:27, 28
• 27. Jer 51:6, 24, 56
• 28. Job 21:20; Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17, 22; Jeremiah 51:7
• 29. Nahum 3:11
• 30. Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 25:28
• 31. Psalms 60:3; Isaiah 51:17
• 32. Jeremiah 46:2-28; Nahum 3:8-10
• 33. Jeremiah 25:24; Jeremiah 50:37; Ezekiel 30:5
• 34. Job 1:1; Lamentations 4:21
• 35. Jeremiah 47:1-7
• 36. Isaiah 20:1
• 37. Psalms 137:7; Jeremiah 49:7-22
• 38. Jeremiah 48:1-47; Amos 2:1-3
• 39. Jeremiah 49:1-6; Amos 1:13-15
• 40. Jeremiah 47:4; Zechariah 9:2-4
• 41. Jeremiah 31:10
• 42. Isaiah 21:13; Jeremiah 49:7, 8
• 43. Genesis 22:21
• 44. Jeremiah 9:26; Jeremiah 49:32
• 45. 2 Chronicles 9:14
• 46. Jeremiah 25:20; Jeremiah 50:37; Ezekiel 30:5
• 47. Genesis 10:22; Isaiah 11:11; Jeremiah 49:34
• 48. Isaiah 13:17; Jeremiah 51:11, 28
• 49. Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 50:9
• 50. Jeremiah 51:41
• 51. Jeremiah 25:16; Habakkuk 2:16
• 52. Ezekiel 21:4, 5
• 53. Job 34:33
• 54. Jeremiah 49:12
• 55. Proverbs 11:31; Isaiah 10:12; Jeremiah 13:13; Ezekiel 9:6; 1 Peter 4:17
• 56. 1 Kings 8:43
• 57. Ezekiel 38:21
• 58. Isaiah 42:13; Jeremiah 25:38
• 59. Joel 2:11; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2
• 60. Hosea 4:1; Micah 6:2
• 61. Isaiah 66:16; Ezekiel 20:35, 36; Joel 3:2
• 62. 2 Chronicles 15:6; Isaiah 34:2
• 63. Isaiah 30:30; Jeremiah 23:19
• 64. Isaiah 34:2, 3; Isaiah 66:16
• 65. Psalms 79:3; Jeremiah 16:4; Ezekiel 39:4, 17
• 66. Isaiah 5:25
• 67. Jeremiah 6:26; Ezekiel 27:30
• 68. Isaiah 34:6, 7; Jeremiah 50:27
• 69. Job 11:20; Jeremiah 11:11; Amos 2:14
• 70. Isaiah 27:10, 11; Jeremiah 5:17; Jeremiah 13:20
• 71. Psalms 97:1-3; Isaiah 66:15; Hebrews 12:29
• 72. Jeremiah 4:7; Jeremiah 5:6; Hosea 5:14; Hosea 13:7, 8

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "this"
• [b]. Lit "rising early and speaking"
• [c]. Lit "rising early and sending"
• [d]. Or "worship"
• [e]. Or "bow down to"
• [f]. Or "put them under the ban"
• [g]. Lit "cause to perish"
• [h]. Or "For they have served many nations and great kings"
• [i]. Or "mixed multitude"
• [j]. Or "mixed multitude"
• [k]. Cryptic name for Babylon
• [l]. Or "pasture"
• [m]. Lit "other end of the earth"
• [n]. Lit "are full"
• [o]. Or "pastures"
• [p]. Or "oppressor"

Chapter Summary

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.