Jeremiah 25 14

Jeremiah 25:14 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 25:14 nkjv

(For many nations and great kings shall be served by them also; and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the works of their own hands.)' "

Jeremiah 25:14 niv

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 esv

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."

Jeremiah 25:14 nlt

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."

Jeremiah 25 verses

Jeremiah 25 14 Meaning

Jeremiah 25:14 declares that just as Judah and surrounding nations will serve Babylon, so too will Babylon itself be subjected to servitude by many nations and great kings. The verse emphasizes divine retribution, stating unequivocally that the Lord will repay Babylon for their deeds and the work of their hands, inflicting upon them the same fate they imposed on others. This underscores God's sovereign justice and His control over the rise and fall of nations.

Jeremiah 25 14 Context

Jeremiah chapter 25 marks a pivotal point in the book, providing a summary of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry up to the fourth year of Jehoiakim (605 BC), which was also the first year of Nebuchadnezzar. Verses 1-11 outline Judah's stubborn disobedience despite forty years of prophetic warnings from Jeremiah. As a consequence, God declares He will bring Nebuchadnezzar, "My servant," to devastate Judah and the surrounding nations for seventy years. Verse 12 then shifts focus, promising that after the seventy years, God will punish Babylon (specifically the king of Babylon and his land) for their iniquity, making it a perpetual desolation. Verse 14 builds directly on this, explaining how Babylon will be punished – by becoming slaves to the very nations it subjugated – and explicitly stating the principle of divine retribution: God will repay them "according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands." This chapter, therefore, presents a sweeping prophetic panorama, detailing the imminent judgment on Judah, the subsequent judgment on the nations, and then, crucially, the ultimate judgment on the instrument of God's wrath, Babylon, establishing God's sovereignty over all world powers.

Jeremiah 25 14 Word analysis

• For (kî - כִּי): This conjunction functions as an explanatory "because" or "indeed," connecting the impending doom of Babylon stated in verse 12-13 to the method and reason for its downfall described here. It signals a confirmation or further elaboration.
• many nations (gôyīm rabbîm - גֹּיִם רַבִּים):
  • Goyim refers to nations, often used in the Bible for non-Israelite nations or Gentiles. Here it emphasizes a large number of distinct ethnic and political entities.
  • Rabbim means many, numerous, great. Together, it conveys a broad coalition or multitude of peoples. The phrase underscores the comprehensive nature of Babylon's coming subjugation – not just one power, but multiple.
• and great kings (ûmelākîm gədo lîm - וּמְלָכִים גְּדֹלִים):
  • Umelakhim (and kings): Indicates royal power and authority.
  • Gedolim (great): Denotes significant, powerful rulers. This suggests that the subjugation of Babylon will come not from small, insignificant foes, but from equally formidable powers, reflecting Babylon's own might and providing an ironic symmetry. The historical fulfillment points to Cyrus of Persia, a truly "great king," and his Median allies.
• will make slaves of them also (wəʻibdûm gām-hēm - וְעִבְדּוּם גַּם־הֵם):
  • 'avadh (עבד): The root meaning is "to serve," "to work," but frequently means "to enslave" or "to make subservient." This is a precise echo of the language used to describe Judah serving Babylon in verse 11. It highlights the principle of lex talionis – measure for measure.
  • gām-hēm (them also/even them): The intensifier "also" or "even" emphasizes the irony and exact retribution. Just as Babylon enslaved others, it will itself be enslaved. This is divine poetic justice.
• And I will repay them (wəšilla mtîalêhem` - וְשִׁלַּמְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם):
  • Shillem (שׁלם): This verb means "to complete," "to pay back," "to recompense," "to requite." It strongly implies justice and repayment, often for a wrong committed. This signifies a debt that is owed and must be settled.
  • alêhem (upon them): Indicates that the repayment will be directed squarely at Babylon.
  • The subject "I" (Anī) is God (implicitly, the LORD from previous verses). This clearly establishes divine agency; this is not simply a historical accident but an act of God's sovereign judgment and justice.
• according to their deeds (kəpā‘ālā m - כְּפָעֳלָם):
  • Kēphî (according to): Denotes a measure or standard.
  • Po'al (פֹּעַל): Refers to one's actions, work, deeds, or conduct, often implying the outcome or result of those actions. This directly links their punishment to the character and nature of their own behavior. It's a fundamental biblical principle of moral accountability.
• and according to the work of their hands (ûkəma‘a śēh yadêhem - וּכְמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם):
  • Ma'aseh (מַעֲשֶׂה): Literally "work" or "doing." When combined with "hands" (yādêhem), it strongly emphasizes the tangible, active output of their choices and will.
  • This phrase (kəpā‘ālā m ûkəma‘a śēh yadêhem) is a common biblical idiom (e.g., Psa 28:4, Isa 3:10-11) for holding individuals or nations accountable precisely for what they have done. It is not an arbitrary judgment but a righteous one, directly proportionate to their actions. It reinforces the idea that their downfall is a direct consequence of their imperialistic violence, plunder, and oppression.

Jeremiah 25 14 Bonus section

The historical fulfillment of this prophecy occurred with the conquest of Babylon by the Medo-Persian empire under Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, precisely as foretold (e.g., in Isa 44:28-45:1ff). This event demonstrates God's unique ability to declare future events with precision, thereby authenticating His word and the authority of His prophets. The fall of Babylon served not only as a fulfillment of specific prophecies but also as a larger demonstration of Yahweh's dominion over all "great kings" and world empires. Furthermore, "Babylon" later becomes a symbolic archetype in the New Testament (especially Revelation) representing oppressive, antichrist systems and global idolatry, signaling that the principles of divine retribution against such entities continue to be relevant throughout history until their final ultimate judgment.

Jeremiah 25 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 25:14 serves as a powerful declaration of God's absolute sovereignty over nations and His unwavering commitment to justice. While Babylon was God's chosen instrument to punish Judah, its actions were also born of its own wickedness, arrogance, and idolatry. Therefore, God Himself promises to orchestrate their downfall through "many nations and great kings," precisely those who would reverse the course of conquest upon Babylon. This verse embodies the universal biblical principle of reciprocal justice or retribution in kind: what one inflicts upon others, especially unjustly, will eventually be inflicted upon oneself. Babylon, which made others serve, would itself serve. The specific reference to "repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands" underlines the ethical foundation of God's judgment; it is not arbitrary but directly proportionate to their offenses, primarily their widespread violence and oppression against God's people and other nations. This prophecy offered a profound message of hope to the subjugated and a stark warning to the proud, demonstrating that no human empire, regardless of its might, stands beyond the reach of divine accountability. It provides assurance that God maintains ultimate control over world events, orchestrating the rise and fall of kingdoms according to His righteous will and moral order.