Jeremiah 25 36

Jeremiah 25:36 kjv

A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.

Jeremiah 25:36 nkjv

A voice of the cry of the shepherds, And a wailing of the leaders to the flock will be heard. For the LORD has plundered their pasture,

Jeremiah 25:36 niv

Hear the cry of the shepherds, the wailing of the leaders of the flock, for the LORD is destroying their pasture.

Jeremiah 25:36 esv

A voice ? the cry of the shepherds, and the wail of the lords of the flock! For the LORD is laying waste their pasture,

Jeremiah 25:36 nlt

Listen to the frantic cries of the shepherds.
The leaders of the flock are wailing in despair,
for the LORD is ruining their pastures.

Jeremiah 25 verses

Jeremiah 25 36 meaning

Jeremiah 25:36 pronounces the deep distress and despair that will befall the unfaithful leaders ("shepherds," "lords of the flock") of Judah and the nations. This widespread "wailing" and "lamentation" is the direct consequence of the LORD's divine judgment, as He actively "lays waste" their territory, power, and the people they were meant to protect. It signifies the removal of their authority and security by God Himself due to their failures.

Jeremiah 25 36 Context

Jeremiah 25 is a crucial chapter, often dated to the fourth year of King Jehoiakim (around 605 BC), which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign (Jer 25:1). This places the prophecy right before Judah's first deportation to Babylon. The chapter functions as a summary of Jeremiah's initial 23 years of prophesying and outlines a universal judgment beginning with Judah.Verse 36 is part of a larger prophecy of the "woes upon the wicked," particularly focusing on the judgment against corrupt leadership. Jeremiah first details Judah's seventy years of captivity (vv. 1-14), then describes God's "cup of wrath" which will be poured out first on Jerusalem and Judah, then on all the nations of the earth (vv. 15-29). The prophet sees a global devastation orchestrated by God, reaching "from nation to nation" (v. 32), with the powerful ("shepherds," "lords of the flock") being hit the hardest. The immediate historical context is the looming threat of Babylonian invasion and subsequent exile, presented as God's instrument of judgment against Judah's sin and faithlessness. Culturally, the "shepherd" metaphor for rulers was widespread in the ancient Near East, making the denouncement of such leaders particularly impactful for the original audience.

Jeremiah 25 36 Word analysis

• A voice (קוֹל - qôl): Refers to a loud sound or utterance. Here, it denotes the audibility and widespread nature of the lament, not just internal grief but expressed sorrow.
• of wailing (יֶלְלַת - yelalat): A loud, anguished cry, an emotional howl expressing profound distress, misery, or despair. It implies helplessness and deep suffering.
• is heard (נִשְׁמַע - nishˈmaʿ): Passive voice, indicating that the wailing is perceived by others, not just internally felt. It underscores the public and undeniable evidence of the impending doom.
• from the shepherds (מֵרֹעִים - me-roʿim): Metaphorical for the political and religious leaders or rulers of the people (the "flock"). These are the ones typically expected to provide guidance and protection, yet are now overwhelmed by sorrow.
• and a lamentation (יְלַל - yelal): Very similar in meaning and intensity to yelalat, reiterating the theme of deep, audible grief. The repetition amplifies the scale and depth of sorrow.
• of the lords of the flock (אַדִּירֵי הַצֹּאן - addirey ha-tzoʾn): "Lords" (addirey) signifies the mighty, majestic, or powerful ones. This reinforces "shepherds," specifying the high-ranking and influential leaders. The term underscores their former eminence contrasted with their coming abasement.
• for (כִּי - kî): This conjunction introduces the direct reason or cause for the wailing. It links the distress to its divine origin.
• the LORD (יהוה - YHWH): The personal covenant name of God. Emphasizes that this devastation is not merely an act of war or misfortune, but the purposeful, holy judgment of Israel's own God.
• is laying waste (שֹׁדֵד - shoded): Active participle, signifying a devastating, plundering, or ravaging action. This is not a passive event but an intentional, forceful act of destruction by God.
• their pasture (מַרְעִיתָם - marʿîtām): The grazing ground, metaphorically representing their sphere of influence, their land, resources, wealth, or the very people they led and from whom they drew sustenance and power. Its destruction signifies the end of their livelihood and dominion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "A voice of wailing is heard from the shepherds": Establishes a scene of profound public distress originating from the expected leaders. This turns the natural order on its head: those who should offer comfort are now crying out in anguish.
• "and a lamentation of the lords of the flock": Parallel phrase amplifying the first. It specifies that even the most powerful among the leaders are consumed by grief, indicating the universal impact of the disaster on the hierarchy. The term "lords" (mighty ones) juxtaposes their former strength with their current helplessness.
• "for the LORD is laying waste their pasture": Provides the divine reason and agent behind the lament. The LORD's active despoiling of their "pasture"—their very means of sustenance, territory, and influence—is the cause of their intense suffering and underscores the absolute nature of God's judgment.

Jeremiah 25 36 Bonus section

The lament described here has deep echoes in ancient Near Eastern lament literature, where leaders often publicly expressed sorrow during times of national calamity, but here, it's explicitly stated to be because the divine hand is against them. It speaks to a profound humiliation where their supposed might (implied in "lords") is utterly dissolved. This prophetic lament points not only to the literal destruction of cities and lands by the Babylonians, but also the shattering of their sense of invulnerability and divine favor, which false prophets had continually promised them. The absence of specific names of individual shepherds in this verse universalizes the warning to all who lead unrighteously, across any generation or nation.

Jeremiah 25 36 Commentary

Jeremiah 25:36 presents a vivid and poignant image of the devastating consequences of divine judgment. The "wailing" from the "shepherds" and "lords of the flock" highlights an inversion of roles; those entrusted with protection and leadership are now the most distressed, bereft of power and hope. This is not an ordinary lament but a deep, public outpouring of grief signaling complete despair in the face of insurmountable loss. The source of this desolation is explicitly stated: "the LORD is laying waste their pasture." This clarifies that the destruction is not a random act of fate or a mere consequence of human conflict, but a purposeful, active judgment executed by the sovereign God. "Pasture" symbolizes not just physical land but everything the leaders derive their authority, wealth, and well-being from – their domain, their people, and their security. The metaphor underscores their failure to nourish and protect the flock, leading to the desolation of what should have been thriving under their care. The verse thus serves as a powerful reminder of God's demand for righteous leadership, His intolerance of corruption, and the inescapable judgment that awaits those who abuse their positions of trust. This lament foreshadows the dismantling of the existing order and the utter collapse of human confidence when confronted with divine wrath.