Jeremiah 1:15 kjv

For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 1:15 nkjv

For behold, I am calling All the families of the kingdoms of the north," says the LORD; "They shall come and each one set his throne At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, Against all its walls all around, And against all the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 1:15 niv

I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares the LORD. "Their kings will come and set up their thrones in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; they will come against all her surrounding walls and against all the towns of Judah.

Jeremiah 1:15 esv

For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 1:15 nlt

Listen! I am calling the armies of the kingdoms of the north to come to Jerusalem. I, the LORD, have spoken! "They will set their thrones
at the gates of the city.
They will attack its walls
and all the other towns of Judah.

Jeremiah 1 verses

Jeremiah 1 15 Meaning

Jeremiah 1:15 is a divine declaration of impending judgment upon the kingdom of Judah. It reveals that the Lord Himself will summon formidable enemy forces, referred to as "all the clans of the kingdoms of the north," to launch a full-scale invasion. This judgment will be comprehensive, resulting in these invaders symbolically asserting their rule and authority by setting up their "thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem," and laying siege against its walls and all the other cities throughout Judah. The verse underscores God's sovereignty and active orchestration of judgment against His rebellious people.

Jeremiah 1 15 Context

Jeremiah 1:15 is found within the prophetic call of Jeremiah. The preceding verses (Jer 1:11-12) recount God's vision of an "almond branch," symbolizing God's readiness to "watch over His word to perform it." Immediately following, verses 13-14 describe the vision of a "boiling pot, facing away from the north," signifying that disaster and judgment "shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land" from that direction. Jeremiah 1:15 then directly identifies who those agents of judgment are: "all the clans of the kingdoms of the north," thereby explicitly naming the source of the impending calamity and God's role in summoning them.

Historically, this period in Judah (late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE) was marked by political turmoil and religious apostasy. While King Josiah had initiated significant reforms, Judah quickly reverted to idolatry after his death. The rising power of the Babylonian Empire (referred to here as the "north" due to their common invasion route through Mesopotamia and Syria, down into Judah) posed an imminent threat to the existing regional powers, including Judah. Jeremiah's message here serves as a divine warning that this geopolitical shift is not accidental but orchestrated by God as a consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness to His covenant, their pervasive idolatry, and their social injustices.

Jeremiah 1 15 Word analysis

• For behold (כִּי הִנְנִי - ki hinneni): This emphatic opening serves as an interjection signaling the utmost importance and certainty of the following declaration. It's a divine "take notice" or "pay attention," indicating a solemn and unchangeable truth from God.
• I am calling (קֹרֵא אֲנִי - qōrē’ ʾănî): This highlights God's active agency and sovereignty. It's not a mere prediction of geopolitical forces but a declaration that God Himself is the initiator and orchestrator of these events. The invading armies are instruments in His hands.
• all the clans (מִשְׁפְּחוֹת - mishpachot): This Hebrew term often refers to families, tribes, or sub-divisions within a nation. Here, coupled with "kingdoms," it emphasizes the comprehensive and diverse nature of the attacking forces, implying a vast confederacy or the totality of various units within these northern nations.
• of the kingdoms of the north (מַמְלְכוֹת צָפוֹן - mamlekhot tzafon): "Kingdoms" (mamlekhot) points to organized political entities and military powers. "North" (tzafon) is highly significant; in prophetic geography for Israel, the north was consistently seen as the direction from which invasions and judgments came, notably from empires like Assyria and, in Jeremiah's time, Babylon, even though Babylon was geographically to the northeast. It represents a source of inevitable and overwhelming force.
• declares the LORD (נְאֻם יְהוָה - neum YHWH): This common prophetic phrase authenticates the message as a direct utterance from God (YHWH, the covenant name). It adds ultimate authority and underscores that this is a divine, not human, pronouncement.
• and they shall come (וּבָאוּ - uvaʾu): Conveys the absolute certainty and inevitability of the invasion. There is no escaping or thwarting God's purpose.
• and every one of them (וְנָתְנוּ אִישׁ כִּסְאוֹ - v’natnu ish kis'o): Literally "and each man shall set his throne." This specifies that each unit or leader within the invading force will participate directly in the subjugation.
• shall set his throne (נָתְנוּ אִישׁ כִּסְאוֹ - natnu ish kis'o): A highly symbolic action. The "throne" (kisse) represents authority, power, and the seat of judgment and governance. To set a throne implies establishing rule and administering justice (or imposing will).
• at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem (פֶּתַח שַׁעֲרֵי יְרוּשָׁלִָם - petach sha’are yerushalayim): The "gates" (sha'arim) were the strategic and administrative heart of ancient cities. They were where elders sat, justice was dispensed, business was conducted, and alliances were formed (e.g., Ruth 4:1-11). For invaders to set their "throne" at the gate signifies complete conquest, political and judicial humiliation, and the seizure of civic authority. It implies a public spectacle of triumph and total subjugation, mocking Judah's independence.
• against all its surrounding walls (עַל־חוֹמוֹתֶיהָ סָבִיב - al-homoteyha saviv): This refers to besieging the city's defenses, implying a sustained military action designed to cut off, wear down, and eventually breach Jerusalem's protective barriers.
• and against all the cities of Judah (וְעַל כָּל עָרֵי יְהוּדָה - v’al kol ʿare yehudah): This specifies the widespread nature of the judgment. It is not limited to the capital but extends throughout the entire kingdom, indicating total devastation.

• "I am calling all the clans of the kingdoms of the north...and they shall come...and every one of them shall set his throne": This powerful sequence underscores God's initiative, control, and the complete unanimity and effectiveness of the invading forces He is deploying. The collective nature ("all the clans," "every one of them") signals an overwhelming and unified assault directed by divine purpose.
• "shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem": This phrase combines military action with symbolic legal and governmental overthrow. It portrays not just an attack but a dismantling of the civic, political, and judicial fabric of Jerusalem. The seat of Judah's authority is now occupied by its enemies, underscoring ultimate subjugation and loss of sovereignty.

Jeremiah 1 15 Bonus section

The concept of the "north" as the direction of judgment for Israel/Judah is a recurring motif in the prophetic books, especially in Jeremiah (e.g., Jer 4:6, 5:15, 6:1, 6:22, 10:22). While Babylon was to the northeast, its traditional invasion route always brought armies down through the landbridge of Syria, essentially entering Judah from a northerly direction. Thus, "the north" serves not just as a geographical pointer but a theological marker, consistently representing the divinely appointed source of punishment. This highlights that these seemingly random foreign powers are in fact directed by God's overarching purpose. The "throne at the gates" is a vivid image, emphasizing the public and humiliating aspect of the defeat. It signifies a complete reversal of roles where the judge becomes the judged, and the seat of power is taken by the very forces sent to condemn them.

Jeremiah 1 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 1:15 acts as the ominous fulfillment of the preceding "boiling pot" vision, detailing the specifics of the prophesied disaster. It firmly establishes that the coming calamity for Judah is not mere geopolitics but an intentional act of divine judgment. God, the sovereign Lord, actively "calls" and mobilizes foreign nations—the powerful "kingdoms of the north," historically understood as the Babylonians/Chaldeans—to be His instruments of wrath. Their specific mission includes laying siege to Jerusalem and asserting control over its most vital point, the city gates, a place of civic authority and justice. This symbolic act signifies the complete conquest and subjugation of Judah's political and judicial independence. The judgment extends beyond the capital to "all the cities of Judah," signifying the total breakdown and destruction of the kingdom as a consequence of their persistent unfaithfulness, idolatry, and rebellion against God's covenant. This verse warns that God controls history, using even pagan nations to execute His righteous judgments on a disobedient people who had spurned His warnings.