Jeremiah 49:16-26

16 Edom, you frightened other nations, but your pride has fooled you. You live in the hollow places of the cliff and control the high places of the hills. Even if you build your home as high as an eagle's nest, I will bring you down from there," says the Lord.
17 "Edom will be destroyed. People who pass by will be shocked to see the destroyed cities, and they will be amazed at all her injuries.
18 Edom will be destroyed like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them," says the Lord. "No one will live there! No one will stay in Edom."
19 "Like a lion coming up from the thick bushes near the Jordan River to attack a strong pen for sheep, I will suddenly chase Edom from its land. Who is the one I have chosen to do this? There is no one like me, no one who can take me to court. None of their leaders can stand up against me."
20 So listen to what the Lord has planned to do against Edom. Listen to what he has decided to do to the people in the town of Teman. He will surely drag away the young ones of Edom. Their hometowns will surely be shocked at what happens to them.
21 At the sound of Edom's fall, the earth will shake. Their cry will be heard all the way to the Red Sea.
22 The Lord is like an eagle swooping down and spreading its wings over the city of Bozrah. very frightened, like a woman having a baby.
23 This message is to the city of Damascus: "The towns of Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, because they have heard bad news. They are discouraged. They are troubled like the tossing sea.
24 The city of Damascus has become weak. The people want to run away; they are ready to panic. The people feel pain and suffering, like a woman giving birth to a baby.
25 Damascus was a city of my joy. Why have the people not left that famous city yet?
26 Surely the young men will die in the city squares, and all her soldiers will be killed at that time," says the Lord All-Powerful.

Jeremiah 49:16-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 49

This chapter contains prophecies concerning the judgments of God on several nations and kingdoms, chiefly bordering on the land of Israel; on the Ammonites, Jer 49:1-6; on the Edomites, Jer 49:7-22; on the kingdom of Damascus, or the Syrians, Jer 49:23-27; on the Kedarenes or Arabians, Jer 49:28-33; and on the Elamites or Persians, Jer 49:34-39.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.