Jeremiah 25:14

14 They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings; I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”

Jeremiah 25:14 in Other Translations

KJV
14 For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.
ESV
14 For many nations and great kings shall make slaves even of them, and I will recompense them according to their deeds and the work of their hands."
NLT
14 Many nations and great kings will enslave the Babylonians, just as they enslaved my people. I will punish them in proportion to the suffering they cause my people.”
MSG
14 Many nations and great kings will make slaves of the Babylonians, paying them back for everything they've done to others. They won't get by with anything." God's Decree. God Puts the Human Race on Trial
CSB
14 For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.' "

Jeremiah 25:14 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 25:14

For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of
them also
Take their cities, seize upon the kingdoms, spoil them of their wealth and riches, and bring them into servitude to them: these "many nations", which should and did do all this, were the Medes and Persians, and those that were subject to them, or were their allies and auxiliaries in this expedition; and the "great kings" were Cyrus and Darius, and those that were confederate with them: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to
the works of their own hands;
as they have done to others, it shall be done to them; as they have served themselves of other nations, other nations shall serve themselves of them; as they have cruelly used others, they shall be used with cruelty themselves; and as they have made other countries desolate, their land shall become desolate also; not only their tyranny and cruelty, but all their other sins, shall receive a just recompence of reward.

Jeremiah 25:14 In-Context

12 “But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt,” declares the LORD, “and will make it desolate forever.
13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations.
14 They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings; I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”
15 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.
16 When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.”

Cross References 3

  • 1. Isaiah 14:6; Jeremiah 27:7
  • 2. Jeremiah 50:9; Jeremiah 51:27-28
  • 3. S Deuteronomy 32:41; S Job 21:19; S Jeremiah 51:6
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.