Jeremiah 25 15

Jeremiah 25:15 kjv

For 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.

Jeremiah 25:15 nkjv

For thus says the LORD God of Israel to me: "Take this wine cup of fury from My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.

Jeremiah 25:15 niv

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: "Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.

Jeremiah 25:15 esv

Thus the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: "Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.

Jeremiah 25:15 nlt

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: "Take from my hand this cup filled to the brim with my anger, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.

Jeremiah 25 verses

Jeremiah 25 15 Meaning

Jeremiah 25:15 presents a prophetic vision and a divine command to Jeremiah. It signifies God's absolute decree of universal judgment upon all nations, not just Judah, for their wickedness and disobedience. The imagery of the "cup of the wine of My fury" metaphorically represents the outpouring of divine wrath and calamitous suffering that these nations are destined to experience at the hand of the LORD. Jeremiah's role is to act as God's instrument, symbolically "causing" these nations to partake in this judgment through his prophetic pronouncements.

Jeremiah 25 15 Context

Jeremiah chapter 25 marks a pivotal point in Jeremiah's prophetic ministry. It takes place in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, king of Judah (605 BCE), the very year Nebuchadnezzar began his conquest. For 23 years, Jeremiah had been faithfully warning Judah of impending judgment, urging repentance, yet they had refused to listen. Verse 15 introduces a new phase of this divine judgment, explicitly extending beyond Judah to encompass "all the nations" (Jer 25:9-11). First, Judah would serve Babylon for seventy years (Jer 25:11-14). Then, God would punish Babylon itself and all other significant nations of the known world, using the imagery of the "cup of His fury" to describe their coming desolation. This serves as a potent demonstration of the LORD's universal sovereignty and justice over all peoples, challenging any pagan belief in local or limited deities.

Jeremiah 25 15 Word analysis

• For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:

  • Thus says the LORD (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, koh amar YHWH): A classic prophetic formula affirming direct divine revelation. It highlights God's ultimate authority and the certain fulfillment of the ensuing prophecy. YHWH (Yahweh), the personal covenant name of God, underscores His specific relationship with Israel, yet His commands extend universally.
  • God of Israel (אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, Elohei Yisrael): Emphasizes that the decree originates from the One True God, distinct from the impotent idols of other nations. His specific identity as Israel's God reinforces the truth of His word emanating from His unique relationship with His chosen people.

• Take from My hand this cup of the wine of My fury, and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it:

  • Take (קַח, qach): An imperative verb, a direct command to Jeremiah. It signifies an act of taking something from God's personal possession. Jeremiah is not just hearing a message but is instructed to perform a symbolic act that prefigures real events.
  • My hand (מִיָּדִי, miyyadi): Denotes the direct source and authority of the judgment. God Himself is the one holding and dispensing this "cup." It conveys the power and immediacy of divine action.
  • this cup (כּוֹס, kos): A powerful biblical metaphor for a person's appointed lot, destiny, or share, often of suffering or divine judgment. It evokes images of a banquet where portions are distributed, but here, the portion is one of suffering. This "cup" contains the bitter potion of divine retribution.
  • of the wine (יַיִן, yayin): Wine typically symbolizes joy, festivity, or covenant blessings. However, when paired with "fury," it subverts its usual meaning, transforming into an instrument of intoxicating wrath, causing staggering and ruin, not exhilaration. This contrast amplifies the terror of the judgment.
  • of My fury (חֵמָה, chemah): Signifies intense divine anger, indignation, and righteous wrath. This is not arbitrary anger but God's just response to prolonged sin and rebellion of the nations. It is the righteous, consuming passion of a holy God against unholiness.
  • cause all the nations (וְהִשְׁקֵיתָ אֹתָהּ אֶת־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם, vehishqeitah otah et-kol-hagoyim):
    • cause to drink (וְהִשְׁקֵיתָ, vehishqeitah): The causative form of the verb "to drink," implying an inescapable compulsion. Jeremiah is commanded to administer this bitter draught. His prophetic declarations are not merely words, but they are instruments in God's hand to effectuate what is prophesied.
    • all the nations (כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם, kol-hagoyim): Emphasizes the universal scope of this judgment. God's dominion is not limited to Israel, but extends over all humanity. No nation is exempt from His ultimate justice and accountability.
  • to whom I send you (אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ אוֹתְךָ אֲלֵיהֶם, asher anochi sholeach otcha aleihem): Reaffirms Jeremiah's divine commission and reinforces the prophetic role. His sending to these nations is for the express purpose of declaring and bringing this judgment. It highlights the divine orchestrator behind every prophetic utterance and its fulfillment.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Take from My hand this cup...": This initial phrase establishes the absolute divine origin and authority of the impending judgment. The personal pronoun "My" underscores God's direct involvement in orchestrating this widespread punishment. Jeremiah's role is not of his own initiative but directly commanded by God.
  • "...this cup of the wine of My fury...": This vivid metaphor describes the nature and content of the judgment. It's not just a generic punishment, but one infused with God's intense, righteous indignation. The "wine" element suggests a deeply intoxicating, disorienting, and ultimately destructive experience for those who partake.
  • "...and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.'": This clarifies the targets of judgment as universal, encompassing every nation to whom Jeremiah is prophetically dispatched. It emphasizes the inevitability and compulsion of their participation in this suffering, indicating that the prophetic word is not merely declarative but operative, serving as an instrument for the actualization of divine decree.

Jeremiah 25 15 Bonus section

The concept of the "cup of wrath" reflects Ancient Near Eastern and biblical practices of "casting lots" or distributing portions at a feast, where a person's lot (or drink) determined their destiny or inheritance. Here, God personally assigns this bitter destiny to the disobedient nations. Furthermore, the role of Jeremiah in administering the cup underscores the idea of prophetic enactment. The prophet's actions, even symbolic ones like receiving this command, are integral to the divine plan, linking the pronouncement directly to its impending fulfillment. This verse also foreshadows a pattern of judgment where Judah suffers first for its covenant breaking, but subsequently, the nations that oppressed Judah, including mighty Babylon, are brought to justice. This sequence illustrates that God's justice is neither limited nor arbitrary; it judges sin wherever it is found and ultimately redeems His people by overthrowing their oppressors.

Jeremiah 25 15 Commentary

Jeremiah 25:15 encapsulates a core theological truth: God's sovereign authority extends over all nations, and His justice will ultimately hold every people accountable for their actions. The imagery of the "cup of wine of fury" is one of the most powerful and enduring metaphors in Scripture for divine wrath, signifying not merely a portion of suffering, but an overwhelming, intoxicating draught of judgment that causes disorientation and ruin. Jeremiah is commanded to administer this cup, not physically, but through his unwavering prophetic declarations. His words, though spoken by a human, become the very instrument through which God's judgment is symbolically dispensed and ultimately realized in history. This highlights the weight and efficacy of God's word, as spoken through His prophets. The judgment is universally applied because universal rebellion has taken place against God's universal sovereignty. While first seen in historical calamities, this motif also finds echoes in ultimate, eschatological judgment.