Jeremiah 49:13 kjv
For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.
Jeremiah 49:13 nkjv
For I have sworn by Myself," says the LORD, "that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse. And all its cities shall be perpetual wastes."
Jeremiah 49:13 niv
I swear by myself," declares the LORD, "that Bozrah will become a ruin and a curse, an object of horror and reproach; and all its towns will be in ruins forever."
Jeremiah 49:13 esv
For I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a horror, a taunt, a waste, and a curse, and all her cities shall be perpetual wastes."
Jeremiah 49:13 nlt
For I have sworn by my own name," says the LORD, "that Bozrah will become an object of horror and a heap of ruins; it will be mocked and cursed. All its towns and villages will be desolate forever."
Jeremiah 49 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 49:13 | For I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation and a reproach, a waste and a curse, and all her cities shall become everlasting ruins. | Direct parallel judgment of Bozrah |
| Isa 34:6 | The sword of the Lord is surfeited with blood; it is gore-stained from the feasting on the bodies of rams and the blood of he-goats, from the kidneys of fat rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. | Identifies Bozrah as a site of sacrifice/slaughter |
| Jer 49:7 | On Edom: Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the princes? Has their wisdom vanished? | Foretells loss of wisdom for Edom/Teman |
| Jer 49:10 | But I have stripped Esau bare; I have uncovered his hiding places, and he cannot conceal himself. His offspring are ruined, his brothers are ruined, and his neighbors are ruined, and he is not. | General judgment on Esau (Edom) |
| Obadiah 1-18 | A prophecy against Edom detailing their impending destruction. | Entire book is a prophecy against Edom |
| Mic 4:13 | Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn of iron, and I will make your hoofs of bronze; you shall beat many peoples to pieces, and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. | Contrast with Zion's triumph over enemies |
| Amos 1:11 | Thus says the Lord: “Three transgressions of Edom, and four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother Esau with a sword and cast off all pity, and his anger lasted long, and he kept his wrath contiguously. | Edom's persistent hostility against Judah |
| Ezek 25:12 | Thus says the Lord God: “Because Edom acted vengefully against the house of Judah and incurred grievous guilt by avenging themselves on them, | Edom's actions against Judah |
| Psa 137:7 | Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites the day of Jerusalem’s destruction, how they said, “Rase it, rase it! Down to its very foundation!” | Edom's role in Jerusalem's fall |
| Luke 10:30-37 | Parable of the Good Samaritan; Edomites were descendants of Esau, viewed with some animosity by Jews. | Illustrates negative relationships, though not a direct prophecy |
| Rev 18:1-24 | Prophecy concerning the fall of Babylon, echoes language of judgment and desolation on great cities. | Parallel theme of divine judgment on prominent cities |
| Isa 11:14 | But they shall flutter down on the backs of the Philistines toward the west, and together they shall plunder the people of the east. They shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites shall obey them. | Prophecy of future dominion over Edom by Israel |
| Nahum 1:2 | A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. | God's character as a vengeful God |
| Jer 25:26 | And the kings of the Jokshan, and the kings of Dedan, and the kings of the traders in afar, | Mentions descendants of Abraham, geographically related |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping divine judgment |
| Jer 50:25 | The Lord has opened his armory and brought out the weapons of his indignation, for the Lord God of hosts has work to do in the land of the Chaldeans. | God's instruments of judgment |
| Job 31:30 | I have not let my mouth sin by asking a curse upon his soul. | Contrasts with Edom's likely curses against Israel |
| Prov 3:12 | For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, as a father the son that he delights in. | Divine discipline and judgment as a corrective measure |
| Gen 27:41 | Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” | Origin of enmity between Jacob and Esau |
| Hos 1:7 | But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by bow, or by sword, or by war, by horses or by horsemen. | Contrasts Judah's salvation with Edom's destruction |
Jeremiah 49 verses
Jeremiah 49 13 Meaning
The Lord declares His judgment upon Bozrah, a city associated with Edom. The destruction promised is so absolute that its inhabitants will flee in terror, and its fortified cities will become dens for wild animals and desolate habitations. This signifies complete ruin and divine retribution for past transgressions.
Jeremiah 49 13 Context
Jeremiah chapter 49 continues the prophetic oracles against the nations. This particular section focuses on the judgment of Edom, the descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother. Edom had a long history of animosity towards Israel, notably during the Babylonian exile when they sided with Babylon and attacked Judah. Bozrah was a prominent fortified city in Edom. The prophecy against Bozrah serves as a specific instance of the broader judgment pronounced against the entire nation of Edom. It underscores God's sovereignty over all nations and His justice in punishing those who oppose His people.
Jeremiah 49 13 Word analysis
- "For": Introduces the reason or basis for the preceding statement or the impending judgment. It establishes a cause-and-effect relationship in God's divine decree.
- "I": Emphatic personal pronoun referring to Yahweh, the Lord of hosts, emphasizing His direct involvement and authority in this declaration of judgment.
- "have sworn": Signifies an unbreakable vow, a solemn oath by Himself. This conveys the absolute certainty and immutability of the pronouncement of judgment. It speaks to God’s faithfulness to His word, even in judgment.
- "by": Indicates the agent or means of the oath, highlighting that God swears by His own divine nature and holiness.
- "myself": The self-referential oath implies that the ultimate authority and immutability of the vow rests solely with God Himself, the highest possible confirmation.
- "declares": Asserts a formal statement or pronouncement, indicating that this is not a suggestion but a definitive declaration from the Lord.
- "the Lord": Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, whose name carries the weight of His character and redemptive history.
- "that": Introduces the content of the oath, outlining the specific outcome.
- "Bozrah": (Hebrew: בָּצְרָה, Batsrah). A prominent city in Edom, known for its strong fortifications and association with Edomite royalty and religious practices. Its name means "fortified" or "fenced."
- "shall become": Indicates a future certainty of transformation, the impending destiny of the city.
- "a desolation": (Hebrew: שִׁמְמָה, shimmah). A state of utter emptiness, waste, and ruin. It signifies the absence of life and human habitation.
- "and": Connects different aspects of the resulting ruin, listing the comprehensive nature of the judgment.
- "a reproach": (Hebrew: חֶרְפָּה, cherpah). A cause of shame, disgrace, and ridicule. The city's ruin will be a testament to its downfall and judgment.
- "a waste": (Hebrew: מְשָׁמָה, meshamah). Similar to desolation, emphasizing a state of being laid waste and made uninhabitable.
- "and": Further emphasizes the totality of the devastation.
- "a curse": (Hebrew: קְלָלָה, qelalah). Under divine judgment and subject to ill fortune. It signifies an area marked by God's displeasure and doom.
- "and": Continues to enumerate the severe consequences.
- "all": Denotes the entirety of the city’s infrastructure and existence.
- "her": Refers to Bozrah.
- "cities": Although Bozrah is singular, it represents the urban centers of Edom or refers to its dependent settlements.
- "shall become": Repeats the certainty of future transformation.
- "everlasting": (Hebrew: עוֹלָם, olam). Pertaining to eternity or a very long, indefinite period. In prophetic context, it often signifies a permanent state of ruin as a result of divine action.
- "ruins": (Hebrew: חָרְבוֹת, charovoth). Remains of destroyed buildings, the broken-down structures signifying complete destruction.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "I have sworn by myself": This emphatic declaration highlights God's personal and unchangeable commitment to His judgment. It's a divine guarantee of the decreed destruction.
- "Bozrah shall become a desolation and a reproach, a waste and a curse": This series of nouns progressively intensifies the description of Bozrah's future state, painting a picture of absolute abandonment, shame, emptiness, and divine doom.
- "all her cities shall become everlasting ruins": This phrase generalizes the judgment from Bozrah to all its settlements, emphasizing the permanence and thoroughness of the destruction as a consequence of Edom's deep-seated transgressions.
Jeremiah 49 13 Bonus section
The prophecy against Bozrah in Jeremiah 49:13 aligns with a consistent biblical pattern of judgment against Edom, whose enmity with Israel was a continuous source of conflict. The emphasis on Bozrah specifically may reflect its prominence as a center of Edomite power or religious significance. The use of "everlasting ruins" suggests a long-lasting desolation that would serve as a perpetual warning. Scholars point to historical archaeological evidence that corroborates the decline and eventual abandonment of significant Edomite settlements, lending credence to the prophetic pronouncements of ruin and desolation for the region. The prophetic declarations against Edom in the Old Testament are often fulfilled in historical events, including the decline of Edomite influence and the eventual subjugation by various empires, leading to their dispersal and assimilation over centuries.
Jeremiah 49 13 Commentary
Jeremiah 49:13 pronounces a severe judgment on Bozrah, a city of Edom. This oracle is rooted in Edom's historical enmity towards Israel, dating back to the conflict between Jacob and Esau. The multifaceted description of Bozrah’s future—desolation, reproach, waste, curse, and everlasting ruins—leaves no room for ambiguity. It signifies complete obliteration and utter abandonment. This prophetic declaration serves as a potent reminder of God’s ultimate justice against nations that practice cruelty, pride, and persistent opposition to His covenant people. The oath sworn "by myself" underscores the infallible certainty of this judgment. The judgment of Bozrah exemplifies the broader theme of divine retribution against Edom, as prophesied in other biblical texts like Obadiah and Isaiah 34. The future state of Bozrah is to be so utterly ruined that it becomes a habitat for wild animals, a testament to God’s power to humble the proud and bring ultimate judgment upon wickedness.