Jeremiah 49:21

21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble; their cry will resound to the Red Sea.[a]

Jeremiah 49:21 in Other Translations

KJV
21 The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.
ESV
21 At the sound of their fall the earth shall tremble; the sound of their cry shall be heard at the Red Sea.
NLT
21 The earth will shake with the noise of Edom’s fall, and its cry of despair will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.
MSG
21 The very earth will shudder because of their cries, cries of anguish heard at the distant Red Sea.
CSB
21 At the sound of their fall the earth will quake; the sound of her cry will be heard at the Red Sea.

Jeremiah 49:21 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 49:21

The earth is moved at the noise of their fall
Of the Edomites; whose fall was from the height of greatness and glory to a very low condition indeed; and as things, the higher they are from whence they fall, the greater noise they make, so it was with the Edomites; perhaps there may be some allusion to the falling of rocks and hills, with which Edom, abounded: this may respect either the noise and shout of the conquerors, when they fell; or the cry of the Edomites, when taken and destroyed; or the report of their destruction, when it came into the world; which struck the inhabitants of the whole earth with terror and amazement, so that they trembled at it; an hyperbolical expression, as Kimchi observes: at the cry, the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea,
or, "sea of Suph", or "weeds"; where weeds and rushes grew in great abundance, from whence it had its name. This is the Arabian gulf, which washed the shores of Edom, and was called the Red sea from thence, Edom signifying red. The meaning is, that the cry of the slain, or of the conquerors at the slaughter of them, should be heard to the borders of the land, to the sea shore, and by those in ships there; who should carry the report of it to each of the parts of the world.

Jeremiah 49:21 In-Context

19 “Like a lion coming up from Jordan’s thickets to a rich pastureland, I will chase Edom from its land in an instant. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? Who is like me and who can challenge me? And what shepherd can stand against me?”
20 Therefore, hear what the LORD has planned against Edom, what he has purposed against those who live in Teman: The young of the flock will be dragged away; their pasture will be appalled at their fate.
21 At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble; their cry will resound to the Red Sea.
22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down, spreading its wings over Bozrah. In that day the hearts of Edom’s warriors will be like the heart of a woman in labor.
23 Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are dismayed, for they have heard bad news. They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 114:7; Ezekiel 26:15; Ezekiel 27:28; Ezekiel 31:16
  • 2. Jeremiah 50:46; Jeremiah 51:29; Ezekiel 26:18

Footnotes 1

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