Jeremiah 22:8 kjv
And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?
Jeremiah 22:8 nkjv
And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbor, 'Why has the LORD done so to this great city?'
Jeremiah 22:8 niv
"People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, 'Why has the LORD done such a thing to this great city?'
Jeremiah 22:8 esv
"'And many nations will pass by this city, and every man will say to his neighbor, "Why has the LORD dealt thus with this great city?"
Jeremiah 22:8 nlt
"People from many nations will pass by the ruins of this city and say to one another, 'Why did the LORD destroy such a great city?'
Jeremiah 22 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 22:5 | "But if you do not obey these words, by my life," declares the LORD, "this palace will become a ruin..." | Lamentation of judgment, consequences of disobedience |
| Jer 22:6 | "This is what the LORD says... I will make you like Gilead, like the heights of Lebanon; like a forest-covered mountain..." | Destruction of the palace, comparison to devastated places |
| Jer 22:7 | "I will set men armed with war-axes to destroy you, O Lebanon, and they will throw you to the wolves." | Specific instrument of destruction mentioned |
| Jer 1:16 | "I will pronounce judgments against them for all the wickedness they have done by forsaking me..." | General statement of God's judgments |
| Psa 1:6 | "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin." | Contrast between righteousness and wickedness |
| Psa 37:2 | "For they will soon be cut down like the grass, and wither like the green herb." | Transience of the wicked |
| Psa 52:5 | "But God will also destroy you forever; he will grasp you and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living." | God's ultimate judgment against the wicked |
| Prov 21:30 | "No wisdom, no insight, no plan can stand against the LORD." | Ineffectiveness of human plans against God |
| Isa 14:15 | "But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the very depths of the pit." | Similar description of downfall |
| Isa 14:23 | "I will turn Jerusalem into a pool for jackals and a place of ruins, and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, so that no one lives there." | Prediction of Jerusalem's desolation |
| Isa 34:11 | "But the owl and the porcupine will possess it; the owl and the raven will dwell in it. God will stretch out over it the measuring line of chaos, and the plummet of emptiness." | God's plan for devastation |
| Amos 3:15 | "I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses adorned with ivory will be destroyed and the many houses will be demolished," declares the LORD." | Destruction of luxurious dwellings |
| Micah 1:6 | "Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour her stones into the valley and lay her foundations bare." | Prophecy of Samaria's destruction |
| Nahum 2:10 | "She is stripped bare, empty, and ruined! Hearts melt, knees knock, bodies tremble, every face grows pale." | Description of a conquered city |
| Matt 24:2 | "Jesus replied, “Do you see these buildings? Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”" | Jesus' prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction |
| Luke 21:6 | "As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”" | Parallel prophecy from Jesus |
| Rev 18:17 | "For in a single hour such great wealth has been laid waste.”" | Description of a ruined city's wealth |
| Rev 18:21 | "Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone, and threw it into the sea, saying: “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.”" | Symbolic destruction of a great city |
| Heb 10:34 | "...for you sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your belongings, knowing that you yourselves had possessions that last longer and are better in the heavens." | Contrast with earthly possessions |
| Rev 14:7 | "...for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water.”" | The ultimate judge and His time |
| Ezek 13:10 | "‘Because, yes because they lead my people astray by saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when certain walls are being built, they plaster them with whitewash for those who are not going to see the fall..." | Condemnation of false prophets |
Jeremiah 22 verses
Jeremiah 22 8 Meaning
This verse declares that passing through the houses of rulers or conquerors leads to destruction. It signifies that such actions are futile because they result in devastation. The emphasis is on the futility of conquering or occupying the land because its eventual fate is destruction, rendering any temporary possession meaningless.
Jeremiah 22 8 Context
Jeremiah 22:1-23 is a collection of judgments against the kings of Judah and their people, particularly focusing on the royal palace in Jerusalem. This section follows a condemnation of the previous king, Jehoahaz, and directly addresses his successor, Jehoiakim. The overarching theme is the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people due to their sinfulness, injustice, and idolatry. Verse 8 specifically addresses the opulent palace and the pronouncements made within it, highlighting the impending desolation that will make such structures useless and evidence of God's judgment. The historical context is the declining years of the Kingdom of Judah, facing the threat of Babylonian invasion. The audience, the people of Judah and their leadership, is being warned through Jeremiah's prophetic pronouncements.
Jeremiah 22 8 Word Analysis
- "For, behold," - A common Hebrew introductory phrase, signifying emphasis and drawing attention to the declaration that follows.
- "when they pass," - Refers to people moving through or surveying.
- "through" - Indicates movement within or across.
- "the cedar" - Hebrew:
erez(אֶרֶז). Refers to the cedar tree, known for its strong, fragrant, and beautiful wood. In ancient Near Eastern culture, cedar was a symbol of luxury, strength, and royalty, often used in the construction of palaces and temples (e.g., Solomon's temple, 1 Kings 7:2). The "House of the Forest of Lebanon" mentioned earlier in the chapter (Jer 22:14) would have been elaborately decorated with cedar. - "House" - Hebrew:
bayit(בַּיִת). Refers to a dwelling, building, or household, encompassing the royal palace here. - "and they say," - The people will speak when they observe the devastation.
- "Cursed" - Hebrew:
Qalal(קָלַל). This implies bringing a curse upon, a condemnation. - "be the land," - Refers to the territory or realm of Judah.
- "and because of it" - Indicates consequence and direct relation.
- "they shall wonder" - Hebrew:
Tāma(תָּמַהּ). Signifies amazement, astonishment, or bewilderment, typically a reaction to something extraordinary or catastrophic. - "saying," - The people will offer an explanation for their wonder.
- "the cause" - Hebrew:
měûmâth(מְאוּמָּה) which can also mean cause, or more importantly in this context, the result of a strong opposition or desolation. - "of the great" - Emphasizing the magnitude of the devastation.
- "burning" - Hebrew:
šêqā'(שְׂרֵפָה). Refers to setting on fire, incineration. This highlights a total destruction.
Words-group analysis:
- "the cedar House": This phrase collectively represents the grandeur and perceived security of the royal palace in Jerusalem, built with luxurious materials like cedar from Lebanon, signifying wealth, power, and defiance.
- "they shall wonder saying, The cause of the great burning": This describes the future reaction of observers encountering the ruins of Jerusalem and its palace. They will be astonished by the sheer destruction and question the reason for such a devastating "burning" (referring metaphorically to complete ruin and judgment, as well as literal destruction by fire).
Jeremiah 22 8 Bonus Section
The use of "cedar" highlights the profound loss. Just as cedar symbolized enduring strength and beauty, its destruction signifies the complete obliteration of Judah's power and prosperity. The phrase "cause of the great burning" suggests that the ruins will serve as a perpetual sermon, teaching future observers the reason for Jerusalem's fall. This teaches that God’s judgment is not arbitrary; it has a clear cause rooted in the people's actions and disobedience. It also anticipates the New Testament emphasis that true security and enduring possessions are not earthly or material, but spiritual and heavenly, as alluded to in Hebrews 10:34. The ultimate "burning" is divine judgment.
Jeremiah 22 8 Commentary
The verse paints a vivid picture of the ultimate judgment awaiting Jerusalem and its rulers. The magnificent "cedar House," a symbol of royal power and earthly security, will be reduced to ruins. Future generations, passing through this desolation, will not only be amazed but will recognize that this utter destruction is not a random event. Instead, they will understand it as the direct consequence, the "cause," of the nation's sin and defiance. The "great burning" serves as a metaphor for the total destruction and divine wrath poured out upon a disobedient people and their prideful structures. It underscores the futility of building on foundations of injustice and of relying on human strength or opulence over God's commands. The prophecy here emphasizes that God's judgment is thorough and that the remnants of His judgment will serve as a testament to His righteousness and the consequences of apostasy, echoing a recurring theme of divine retribution throughout the Old Testament.