Jeremiah 2 15

Jeremiah 2:15 kjv

The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

Jeremiah 2:15 nkjv

The young lions roared at him, and growled; They made his land waste; His cities are burned, without inhabitant.

Jeremiah 2:15 niv

Lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted.

Jeremiah 2:15 esv

The lions have roared against him; they have roared loudly. They have made his land a waste; his cities are in ruins, without inhabitant.

Jeremiah 2:15 nlt

Strong lions have roared against him,
and the land has been destroyed.
The towns are now in ruins,
and no one lives in them anymore.

Jeremiah 2 verses

Jeremiah 2 15 Meaning

Jeremiah 2:15 graphically depicts the utter devastation awaiting Judah. It portrays foreign, powerful adversaries—symbolized by "young lions"—who have relentlessly attacked the nation, turning its once vibrant land into a barren wasteland and its cities into scorched, uninhabited ruins. This dire consequence is a direct result of Judah's persistent turning away from God, pursuing idols, and forsaking the covenant. The verse emphasizes the absolute and horrifying completeness of the judgment.

Jeremiah 2 15 Context

Jeremiah chapter 2 marks the beginning of Jeremiah’s extended prophecies against Judah. In this chapter, God directly confronts His people, Judah, detailing their covenant infidelity. He recalls their initial devotion (Jer 2:2-3), then laments how they quickly abandoned Him for worthless idols (Jer 2:4-13), forsaking "the fountain of living waters" for broken cisterns. This grave sin is compounded by Judah’s seeking alliances with foreign nations like Egypt and Assyria, which ultimately lead to their downfall and shame. The previous verses speak of Judah's harlotry and rejection of God. Jeremiah 2:15 is part of God's indictment and declaration of the consequences for this spiritual apostasy. The verse is a chilling prophecy of the physical devastation that will befall Judah as divine judgment, showing the painful irony that the very nations they turned to (or similar powerful forces) would become the instruments of their destruction, making their land desolate and their cities burned and uninhabited.

Jeremiah 2 15 Word analysis

• The young lions (כְּפִרִים - kəp̄îrîm): Refers to fierce, strong, and ravenous predators. In this context, they symbolize mighty, aggressive conquering armies or nations, likely Assyria (already a past threat and partial judgment) and, more prominently, the coming Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar. The imagery highlights their irresistible power and destructive intent.
• have roared (שָׁאֲגוּ - šāʾaḡū): This verb describes the characteristic roar of a lion, which is a sound of dominion, aggression, terror, and hunting. It suggests not only audible intimidation but also the forceful, overwhelming act of seizing prey and asserting power, signifying military conquest.
• against him (עָלָיו - ʿālāyw): Refers to Judah/Israel, the subject of God's covenant and judgment. The personal pronoun emphasizes that the destruction is directed specifically against God’s own wayward people.
• they have growled loudly / uttered their voice (נָתְנוּ קוֹלָם - nāṯənū qôlām): This phrase reiterates and intensifies the action of roaring. "To give voice" further stresses the potent and terrifying proclamation of the invaders, a declaration of their overwhelming presence and destructive intent. It amplifies the terror associated with the roaring lions.
• They have made (שָׁתוּ - šāṯû): Implies deliberate action and purpose. The invaders are agents in bringing about the devastation.
• his land (אַרְצוֹ - ʾarṣō): Refers specifically to the land of Judah, God's covenant land, the promised inheritance, emphasizing the sacrilege of its desecration.
• a desolation (לְשַׁמָּה - ləšammâ): Denotes utter emptiness, ruin, waste, and desolation. It signifies complete devastation, where nothing remains of its former flourishing state, directly contrasting the blessing of fertility and abundance God had promised.
• his cities are burned (עָרָיו נָצּוּ - ʿārāw nāṣṣû): "His cities" are Judah’s cities. The verb nāṣṣû (from the root נצץ) means to be "burnt down," "laid waste," or "destroyed by fire." It points to widespread destruction of urban centers through warfare, illustrating the brutal effectiveness of the invading forces.
• without inhabitant (מֵאֵין יוֹשֵׁב - mêʾên yôšēḇ): Literally "from lack of a dweller." This final phrase seals the horrific imagery, emphasizing total abandonment and a void of human presence, a sign of irreversible judgment. It underscores the complete failure of Judah to retain their land and the fulfillment of the curse of exile.

Jeremiah 2 15 Bonus section

The "young lions" are often understood not as generic foes but specifically as nations that have achieved military dominance (like Assyria before, and Babylon during Jeremiah's time), reflecting God's sovereignty over world powers. While these nations act out of their own desires for conquest, their actions fulfill God's predetermined judgment against Judah for her sins. The terrifying sound of the "roar" and "growl" conveys the panic and fear instilled by a relentless invading army. It also parallels God's own voice, which in judgment can also roar (cf. Amos 1:2), making the instrument of destruction mirror the power of the divine judge. The specific destruction by fire is a recurring motif in the Bible for divine judgment (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, or the temple burning). The prophecy here not only points to a physical event but encapsulates the deep spiritual brokenness and abandonment of God that led to such an dire outcome for Judah.

Jeremiah 2 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 2:15 serves as a chilling summary of the physical consequences of Judah's profound spiritual idolatry and abandonment of God, presented through powerful and visceral imagery. The "young lions" symbolize the formidable foreign powers, primarily the Babylonians, who were God's instruments of judgment. Their roaring signifies both their terrifying presence and their victorious conquest, leading to widespread destruction. The image of the land turning into a desolation, with cities burned and uninhabited, speaks to the utter ruin and loss that comes from breaking the covenant with the Living God. It’s not just an attack, but a comprehensive undoing of the prosperity and security once granted by divine blessing. This verse underscores the divine principle that departure from God inevitably leads to barrenness and destruction, highlighting the tragic end of a nation that chose broken cisterns over the fountain of living water. The intensity of the description functions as a prophetic warning, illustrating that God’s patient grace has a limit, and His holiness demands righteous judgment against persistent sin.Practical application:

• Consequences of turning from God: This verse reminds us that walking away from God’s truth leads to spiritual desolation and life "without inhabitant" (empty of true purpose).
• The seriousness of sin: The vivid imagery impresses upon us the devastating impact of persistent disobedience, illustrating how spiritual choices have tangible, often destructive, outcomes.
• God's use of circumstances: Even seemingly secular or evil forces ("young lions") can become instruments in God’s hand to bring about His purposes, whether corrective or punitive.