Jeremiah 25 28

Jeremiah 25:28 kjv

And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

Jeremiah 25:28 nkjv

And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "You shall certainly drink!

Jeremiah 25:28 niv

But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, 'This is what the LORD Almighty says: You must drink it!

Jeremiah 25:28 esv

"And if they refuse to accept the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: You must drink!

Jeremiah 25:28 nlt

And if they refuse to accept the cup, tell them, 'The LORD of Heaven's Armies says: You have no choice but to drink from it.

Jeremiah 25 verses

Jeremiah 25 28 Meaning

Jeremiah 25:28 declares the unyielding decree of God's judgment upon the nations who will receive His wrath. It emphasizes that if the recipients—represented by various nations—refuse the prophetic message and reject the divine judgment offered through Jeremiah, they will nonetheless be compelled to drink the "cup of His wrath." This signifies that God's sovereign plan of judgment is inevitable and cannot be evaded or refused; rebellion only guarantees its forced execution.

Jeremiah 25 28 Context

Jeremiah chapter 25 marks a pivotal moment in the prophet's ministry, delivering a comprehensive prophecy concerning Judah's coming judgment and the subsequent judgment upon many surrounding nations. The specific context for verse 28 begins with the Lord instructing Jeremiah to make a "cup of the wine of My wrath" and cause all the nations to drink it (Jer 25:15). This symbolizes the devastating judgment of the Lord, delivered through the hand of Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army, which will bring destruction, desolation, and 70 years of exile for Judah.

The nations listed from verse 19 onwards (Egypt, Uz, Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, Dedan, Tema, Buz, Arabian kings, Zimri, Elam, Media, and eventually Babylon itself) represent the scope of God's universal judgment. The core idea is that no nation, regardless of its power or perceived security, is exempt from accountability to the Lord of Hosts. Jeremiah is called to deliver this message, even if it is unwelcome. The historical backdrop is one of encroaching Babylonian power, as well as the prevailing idolatry, injustice, and pride among nations, including Judah. The refusal to heed God's prophets and obey His commands inevitably brings severe consequences.

Jeremiah 25 28 Word analysis

• And if they refuse (וְהָיָה אִם־יְמָאֲנוּ / və-hayah im yema'anu):

  • Refuse: מָאֵן (ma'en). This Hebrew word signifies a deliberate, stubborn, and often defiant refusal or unwillingness to comply. It implies an active act of rebellion against the command given. It’s not just an inability but an explicit rejection.
  • Significance: Highlights human stubbornness and pride in opposition to divine decree.

• to take the cup (לָקַחַת הַכּוֹס / laqachat ha-kos):

  • Take: לָקַח (laqach). To receive, accept, take possession of.
  • Cup: כּוֹס (kos). In the Bible, a cup often symbolizes one's destiny or portion, frequently referring to divine wrath, judgment, or suffering (as seen in Ps 75:8, Isa 51:17, and even Christ's cup of suffering in the New Testament). It represents the full measure of what God has ordained.
  • Significance: The act of taking implies acceptance of the divine decree, whether it's positive (blessing) or negative (judgment). Here, it's judgment.

• from your hand (מִיָּדְךָ / mi-yad'cha):

  • Hand: יָד (yad). Symbolizes agency, power, and delivery. Jeremiah is God's instrument.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that Jeremiah is the authorized messenger through whom the divine will is being communicated and executed. To refuse him is to refuse God directly.

• to drink, then you shall say to them (לִשְׁתּוֹת וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵיהֶם / lishtot ve'amarta alehem):

  • Drink: שָׁתָה (shatah). The consummation of the "cup." The act that fully realizes the judgment.
  • Say: אָמַר (amar). To speak, declare authoritatively.
  • Significance: Even in refusal, Jeremiah must continue to deliver the word, maintaining the divine authority.

• ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת / koh amar YHWH Tzeva'ot):

  • Thus says: כֹּה אָמַר (koh amar). The standard prophetic formula, directly introducing the divine word and ensuring its absolute authority.
  • Lord of hosts: יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (YHWH Tzeva'ot). This powerful title for God means "Lord of armies" or "Lord of heavenly armies." It emphasizes His supreme sovereignty, omnipotence, and command over all creation, visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly forces. He is the ultimate ruler whose word cannot be gainsaid.
  • Significance: Underlines the incontestable authority behind the declaration. This is not Jeremiah's opinion, but the word of the all-powerful, universal King.

• You shall surely drink!’ (שָׁתוֹ תִשְׁתּוּ / shato tishtu):

  • Surely drink: שָׁתוֹ תִשְׁתּוּ (shato tishtu). This is a Hebrew emphatic infinitive absolute construction (infinitive absolute followed by a finite verb). It expresses absolute certainty, inevitability, and often a strong command. It means "drinking, you shall drink," or "you will definitely drink."
  • Significance: This is the crux of the verse. It dismisses any notion of escaping God's decreed judgment. Refusal is futile; the sentence will be executed. It speaks to God's unfailing commitment to uphold His justice and His word.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink": This phrase captures the human act of rebellion and rejection. It highlights the direct challenge posed to God's authority when His message and decreed judgment, though painful, are refused. This rejection comes with a clear awareness of the source (Jeremiah's hand) and the content (the cup of wrath).
  • "then you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts": This transitions from human defiance to divine response and reinforces Jeremiah's prophetic commission. It reiterates that Jeremiah is not to be deterred by their refusal. The declaration is empowered by the unchallengeable authority of "the Lord of hosts," asserting His universal dominion over nations and His power to execute His will.
  • "You shall surely drink!": This final, emphatic declaration is the core message. It emphasizes the absolute certainty and inevitability of the judgment. Despite their refusal, the consequences are fixed and inescapable. It highlights God's steadfastness in His justice, ensuring that His word will come to pass exactly as decreed, regardless of human obstinacy.

Jeremiah 25 28 Bonus section

This verse demonstrates a key aspect of biblical prophecy: the immutability of God's declared word. Once a divine decree of judgment has been pronounced with an emphatic "thus says the Lord," especially backed by the title "Lord of hosts," human defiance does not negate it; rather, it solidifies the pathway to its fulfillment. The tension between humanity's free will to refuse and God's sovereign will to execute justice is resolved here by God's irresistible power. It's a testament to God's steadfastness and faithfulness, not just in His promises of blessing, but also in His pronouncements of judgment against unrighteousness. This theme resonates throughout the Bible, emphasizing that God's character demands that His word be upheld and His justice be realized.

Jeremiah 25 28 Commentary

Jeremiah 25:28 is a forceful affirmation of divine sovereignty and the certainty of God's judgment. It serves as a stern warning that there is no escape for those designated to drink the "cup of His wrath," regardless of their defiance. The "cup" here is a potent biblical metaphor for the full measure of divine judgment and retribution, steeped in justice for unrepentant sin. When the nations, symbolized by the "they," refuse to "take" this cup, it is not merely a polite decline but a willful, rebellious act against God's appointed messenger, Jeremiah, and by extension, against God Himself.

The divine response, "Thus says the Lord of hosts: You shall surely drink!", eradicates any hope of evasion. The title "Lord of hosts" (YHWH Tzeva'ot) powerfully undergirds this declaration, reminding all that the one speaking commands all forces of heaven and earth; His decree is irreversible and omnipotently enforced. The emphatic Hebrew construction "surely drink" leaves no ambiguity—judgment is absolute and unavoidable. This passage underscores that God's justice will be served, and His prophecies will be fulfilled, irrespective of human stubbornness or disbelief. It teaches that while God may offer terms of repentance, outright rebellion against His clear word only leads to the inevitable and often intensified experience of His ordained consequences. This principle applies universally, both to ancient nations facing military devastation and to individuals facing spiritual accountability before the Almighty.