Jeremiah — Chapter 25

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1The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;

2The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,

3From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

4And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

5They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:

6And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.

7Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

8Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,

9Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

10Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

11And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

13And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

14For 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.

15For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

16And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

17Then took I the cup at the LORD’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:

18To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

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

20And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,

21Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,

22And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,

23Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,

24And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,

25And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,

26And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

27Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

28And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

29For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

30Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

32Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

33And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

34Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

35And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

36A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.

37And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD.

38He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

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

2which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:

3From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even unto this day, these three and twenty years, the word of Jehovah hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

4And Jehovah hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, (but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear,)

5saying, Return ye now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Jehovah hath given unto you and to your fathers, from of old and even for evermore;

6and go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the work of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.

7Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith Jehovah; that ye may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.

8Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Because ye have not heard my words,

9behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith Jehovah, and [I will send] unto Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.

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

11And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith Jehovah, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate for ever.

13And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

14For many nations and great kings shall make bondmen of them, even of them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.

15For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto me: take this cup of the wine of wrath at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

16And they shall drink, and reel to and fro, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

17Then took I the cup at Jehovah`s hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom Jehovah had sent me:

18[to wit], Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is this day;

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

20and all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of the Uz, and all the kings of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Gaza, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;

21Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon;

22and all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;

23Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that have the corners [of their hair] cut off;

24and all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the wilderness;

25and all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;

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

27And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink ye, and be drunken, and spew, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

28And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thy hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ye shall surely drink.

29For, lo, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith Jehovah of hosts.

30Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, Jehovah will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he will mightily roar against his fold; he will give a shout, as they that tread [the grapes], against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31A noise shall come even to the end of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh: as for the wicked, he will give them to the sword, saith Jehovah.

32Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest shall be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth.

33And the slain of Jehovah shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the face of the ground.

34Wail, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow [in ashes], ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are fully come, and ye shall fall like a goodly vessel.

35And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

36A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the principal of the flock! for Jehovah layeth waste their pasture.

37And the peaceable folds are brought to silence because of the fierce anger of Jehovah.

38He hath left his covert, as the lion; for their land is become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppressing [sword], and because of his fierce anger.

1In the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah. (That was the same as the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.)

2So the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the people who were living in Jerusalem.

3“For the last 23 years, from the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was ruling in Judah until now, the Lord’s messages have come to me, and I have told them to you over and over again. But you would not listen.

4Over and over again the Lord has sent his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention.

5He said through them, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and stop doing the evil things you are doing. If you do, I will allow you to continue to live here in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors as a lasting possession.

6Do not pay allegiance to other gods and worship and serve them. Do not make me angry by the things that you do. Then I will not cause you any harm.’

7So, now the Lord says, ‘You have not listened to me. But you have made me angry by the things that you have done. Thus you have brought harm on yourselves.’

8“Therefore, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘You have not listened to what I said.

9So I, the Lord, affirm that I will send for all the peoples of the north and my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and all the nations that surround it. I will utterly destroy the land, its inhabitants, and all the surrounding nations and make them everlasting ruins. I will make them objects of horror and hissing scorn.

10I will put an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and the glad celebration of brides and grooms in these lands. I will put an end to the sound of people grinding meal. I will put an end to lamps shining in their houses.

11This whole area will become a desolate wasteland. These nations will be subject to the king of Babylon for 70 years.’

12“‘But when the seventy years are over, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation for their sins. I will make the land of Babylon an everlasting ruin. I, the Lord, affirm it!

13I will bring on that land everything that I said I would. I will bring on it everything that is written in this book. I will bring on it everything that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.

14For many nations and great kings will make slaves of the king of Babylon and his nation too. I will repay them for all they have done.’”

15So the Lord, the God of Israel, spoke to me in a vision: “Take this cup from my hand. It is filled with the wine of my wrath. Take it and make the nations to whom I send you drink it.

16When they have drunk it, they will stagger to and fro and act insane. For I will send wars sweeping through them.”

17So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand. I made all the nations to whom he sent me drink the wine of his wrath.

18I made Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and its officials drink it. I did it so Judah would become a ruin. I did it so Judah, its kings, and its officials would become an object of horror and of hissing scorn, an example used in curses. Such is already becoming the case!

19I made all these other people drink it: Pharaoh, king of Egypt; his attendants, his officials, his people,

20the foreigners living in Egypt; all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the land of the Philistines, the people of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, the people who had been left alive from Ashdod;

21all the people of Edom, Moab, Ammon;

22all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon; all the kings of the coastlands along the sea;

23the people of Dedan, Tema, Buz, all the desert people who cut their hair short at the temples;

24all the kings of Arabia who live in the desert;

25all the kings of Zimri; all the kings of Elam; all the kings of Media;

26all the kings of the north, whether near or far from one another; and all the other kingdoms that are on the face of the earth. After all of them have drunk the wine of the Lord’s wrath, the king of Babylon must drink it.

27Then the Lord said to me, “Tell them that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘Drink this cup until you get drunk and vomit. Drink until you fall down and can’t get up. For I will send wars sweeping through you.’

28If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, tell them that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘You most certainly must drink it!

29For take note, I am already beginning to bring disaster on the city that I call my own. So how can you possibly avoid being punished? You will not go unpunished. For I am proclaiming war against all who live on the earth. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, affirm it!’

30“Then, Jeremiah, make the following prophecy against them: ‘Like a lion about to attack, the Lord will roar from the heights of heaven; from his holy dwelling on high he will roar loudly. He will roar mightily against his land. He will shout in triumph, like those stomping juice from the grapes, against all those who live on the earth.

31The sounds of battle will resound to the ends of the earth. For the Lord will bring charges against the nations. He will pass judgment on all humankind and will hand the wicked over to be killed in war.’ The Lord so affirms it!

32The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘Disaster will soon come on one nation after another. A mighty storm of military destruction is rising up from the distant parts of the earth.’

33Those who have been killed by the Lord at that time will be scattered from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned over, gathered up, or buried. Their dead bodies will lie scattered over the ground like manure.

34Wail and cry out in anguish, you rulers! Roll in the dust, you who shepherd flocks of people! The time for you to be slaughtered has come. You will lie scattered and fallen like broken pieces of fine pottery.

35The leaders will not be able to run away and hide. The shepherds of the flocks will not be able to escape.

36Listen to the cries of anguish of the leaders. Listen to the wails of the shepherds of the flocks. They are wailing because the Lord is about to destroy their lands.

37Their peaceful dwelling places will be laid waste by the fierce anger of the Lord.

38The Lord is like a lion who has left his lair. So their lands will certainly be laid waste by the warfare of the oppressive nation and by the fierce anger of the Lord.”

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

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

3From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened.

4Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear),

5saying, “Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forever more.

6Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no harm.”

7“Yet you have not listened to me,” says Yahweh; “that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.”

8Therefore Yahweh of Armies says: “Because you have not heard my words,

9behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,” says Yahweh, “and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around. I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.

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

11This whole land will be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12“It will happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,” says Yahweh, “for their iniquity. I will make the land of the Chaldeans desolate forever.

13I will bring on that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.

14For many nations and great kings will make bondservants of them, even of them. I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.”

15For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.

16They will drink, and reel back and forth, and be insane, because of the sword that I will send among them.”

17Then took I the cup at Yahweh’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Yahweh had sent me:

18Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, with its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is today;

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

20and all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;

21Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon;

22and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;

23Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have the corners of their beard cut off;

24and all the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness;

25and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;

26and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are on the surface of the earth. The king of Sheshach will drink after them.

27“You shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says: “Drink, and be drunk, vomit, fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.”’

28It shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then you shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “You shall surely drink.

29For, behold, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should you be utterly unpunished? You will not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says Yahweh of Armies.”’

30“Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and tell them, “‘Yahweh will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation. He will mightily roar against his fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31A noise will come even to the end of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with the nations. He will enter into judgment with all flesh. As for the wicked, he will give them to the sword,”’ says Yahweh.”

32Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, evil will go out from nation to nation, and a great storm will be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth.”

33The slain of Yahweh will be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They won’t be lamented. They won’t be gathered or buried. They will be dung on the surface of the ground.

34Wail, you shepherds, and cry. Wallow in dust, you leader of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions have fully come, and you will fall like fine pottery.

35The shepherds will have no way to flee. The leader of the flock will have no escape.

36A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leader of the flock, for Yahweh destroys their pasture.

37The peaceful folds are brought to silence because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.

38He has left his covert, as the lion; for their land has become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppression, and because of his fierce anger.

Summary
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
Commentary
Videos
Reflection

Summary

A summary of 23 years of rejected preaching: God sent prophets "rising early" but the people didn't listen. The 70-year exile to Babylon is declared. Then after 70 years, Babylon ITSELF will be judged. God's cup of wrath is passed to ALL nations — starting with Jerusalem and ending with "Sheshach" (Babylon). A cosmic storm of judgment engulfs the whole earth.

Authorship & Background

Author: Jeremiah son of Hilkiah (see Chapter 1 notes for full details).
Classification: Prophetic Summary Oracle — 23 Years Summarized + Cup of Wrath to Nations Key Themes: 23 years of rejected prophecy, the 70-year Babylon exile, Babylon's own judgment after 70 years, the cup of wrath passed to all nations, universal judgment
Historical Context: Dated precisely to Jehoiakim's 4th year / Nebuchadnezzar's 1st year (605 BC) — the year of the Battle of Carchemish when Babylon defeated Egypt and became the undisputed world power. This chapter is a SUMMARY of Jeremiah's ministry to date (23 years, from 627 BC). The message: 23 years of preaching, and nobody listened. Now the sentence is final: 70 years serving Babylon (v.11), then Babylon judged (v.12), then ALL nations drink God's wrath (vv.15-29). This is Jeremiah's most universal chapter — expanding from Judah to the entire known world.
Structure:
  • 23 Years of Rejected Preaching (vv.1-7)
  • The 70-Year Sentence: Serve Babylon (vv.8-14)
  • The Cup of Wrath to All Nations (vv.15-29)
  • The LORD Roars from on High (vv.30-38)

Map & Geography

  • Babylon (v.1, v.9, v.11): Capital of the Babylonian empire; place of Judah's exile (modern Iraq).
  • Jerusalem (v.2, v.18): Capital of Judah; the holy city where the Temple stood.
  • Egypt (v.19): Land to the southwest; place of Israel's bondage and exodus.
  • Edom (v.21): Land south of the Dead Sea; descendants of Esau.
  • Moab (v.21): Land east of the Dead Sea; often in conflict with Israel.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com
  • Charles Spurgeon: "23 years of preaching and no one listened. Jeremiah didn't quit after year 5, or year 15, or year 20. He kept going. Faithfulness is not measured by results but by PERSISTENCE. God asks you to be faithful, not successful."

Reflection

  • 1. 23 years of faithfulness without results (v.3). Jeremiah preached for over two decades and no one responded. If your ministry feels fruitless, you're in prophetic company. God measures FAITHFULNESS, not fruit count.
  • 2. "Rising early and sending" (v.4). God's persistence in warning: EAGER, EARLY, REPEATED. He doesn't casually mention judgment once and move on — He warns and warns and warns. If you've been warned repeatedly, take it seriously.
  • 3. Even God's instrument gets judged (v.12). Babylon served God's purposes — then was held accountable for its own cruelty. Being used by God doesn't make you immune from judgment for your character. Usefulness ≠ holiness.
  • 4. The cup starts at home (v.29). "I begin with MY city" — God judges His own people FIRST. Don't point at the world's sins while ignoring your own household. Judgment begins at the house of God.
  • 5. God has plans with TIMELINES (vv.11-12). 70 years — specific, measurable, fulfilled. Your trial has an end date in God's calendar. You may not know it, but it exists.