Jeremiah 49:16 kjv
Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 49:16 nkjv
Your fierceness has deceived you, The pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Who hold the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 49:16 niv
The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 49:16 esv
The horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill. Though you make your nest as high as the eagle's, I will bring you down from there, declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 49:16 nlt
You have been deceived
by the fear you inspire in others
and by your own pride.
You live in a rock fortress
and control the mountain heights.
But even if you make your nest among the peaks with the eagles,
I will bring you crashing down,"
says the LORD.
Jeremiah 49 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 49 | Though Edom exalts itself like the eagle and makes its nest among the stars, | Divine judgment against nations |
| Obadiah 3 | The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, who make your home on the heights. | Parallel prophecy against Edom |
| Psalm 10 | The wicked, in all their arrogance, do not seek you; in all their scheming they say, “God will not demand an accounting.” | Arrogance leads to ignoring God |
| Proverbs 16 | Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. | General principle of pride’s downfall |
| Isaiah 2 | The arrogant pride of human hearts has blinded you... The Lord Almighty has a day of reckoning... | God’s judgment on pride and arrogance |
| Jeremiah 21 | For behold, I am bringing a sword against you, declares the Lord, to cut off every man and woman from Jerusalem. | Sword of judgment against Jerusalem |
| Jeremiah 48 | Woe to Nebo! It is captured, Mishael is disgraced and captured; Ramoth is disgraced and captured. | Judgment against Moab (similar theme) |
| Ezekiel 25 | Because you acted as David’s avenger against Jerusalem, you made yourselves guilty of terrible vengeance and took your seats by the ruin of your enemies. | Judgment on Ammon for rejoicing in Judah's fall |
| Luke 14 | For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | Jesus' teaching on humility |
| Matthew 23 | But when you are invited, take the place of honor… For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. | Jesus' teaching on humility in practice |
| Revelation 18 | "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit... | Fall of a proud, oppressive city |
| Psalm 18 | With you I will advance against a troop; with my God I will scale a wall. | God as strength to overcome high places |
| Isaiah 14 | How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the morning! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once made nations tremble. | Judgment against proud king of Babylon |
| Jeremiah 50 | I will punish Babylon and everything living in it for all the evil it has done in Zion, declares the Lord. | Judgment against Babylon |
| Jeremiah 51 | You will say, “Now let him who has understanding write these things. You may now add them to the Bible or have them proclaimed and announced to all the people.” | The end of Babylon’s prophecy |
| Lamentations 4 | How the noble ones on the plains of the earth were once golden, but now they are turned to worthless bronze, hurled down in the dust. | Fall of the noble |
| 1 Peter 5 | God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. | Grace for the humble, opposition to the proud |
| James 4 | Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. | Submission and resistance |
| Job 20 | The triumph of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. | Transitory nature of wicked prosperity |
| Psalm 75 | He raises one and lowers another. | God’s sovereign control over status |
Jeremiah 49 verses
Jeremiah 49 16 Meaning
The verse speaks of pride leading to destruction. Those who dwell in rocky clefts and hold high places will be brought low by God's judgment. Their sense of security and self-elevation is ultimately futile against divine power.
Jeremiah 49 16 Context
Jeremiah 49 continues a series of prophecies against various nations surrounding Israel. This particular chapter focuses on Edom, the descendants of Esau. Edom had a long-standing animosity towards Israel, often taking advantage of their weakness. In this verse, the prophecy addresses Edom's pride and perceived security in their natural defenses. The Edomites, historically known for inhabiting rocky territories and mountainous regions, believed their inaccessible strongholds made them invulnerable to attack. This verse serves as a warning that God's judgment would reach even those who felt most secure in their pride and fortified positions.
Jeremiah 49 16 Word Analysis
כִּ֤י (ki): "For," "because," "surely." Introduces the reason or basis for what follows, here explaining Edom's downfall.
אֶת־ (et): Indicates the direct object of the verb.
שְׁדֹ֣ת (sh'doth): "Destroyed," "devastated." Past tense, feminine plural construct state. Refers to the land or city of Edom.
בָּבוּא (babbu'a): "Entrance," "coming in," "gate." The singular form can imply a place of entry or arrival, perhaps suggesting how their security was breached.
כִּי־ (ki): "That," "for," introducing a subordinate clause.
חָטְבִ֣י (choteḇi): "Choppers," "woodcutters." Implies those who gather fuel or cut wood, indicating humble laborers.
שְׁלָלָהּ (sh'lalah): "Her spoil," "her plunder." What is taken from Edom.
בָּבִ֑ילוּ (bāḇilū): "Babylonians," "Babylon." Likely refers to the Babylonian army as the instrument of judgment, a common theme in Jeremiah where Babylon is God’s rod. The word itself can also mean "confusion" or "mixture."
Word Group Analysis:
- "Though Edom exalts itself like the eagle and makes its nest among the stars": This phrase depicts extreme arrogance and a sense of unassailable superiority. The eagle's nest high in the rocks signifies a lofty and seemingly inaccessible position, mirroring Edom's inflated self-perception.
- "Though you sink your nest among the stars": This emphasizes the futility of trying to rise above God's reach through pride or elevated position. It’s a poetic expression of self-imposed isolation that ironically invites divine attention.
- "I will bring you down," declares the LORD. This is a direct declaration of divine intervention and judgment against this elevated pride. The LORD's active bringing down signifies His sovereignty over all earthly powers.
- "Though you strut about and ask, ‘Who will command me?’": This illustrates Edom’s defiance and their belief in their autonomy, that no power could possibly subdue them. It highlights their self-sufficiency apart from God.
- "What then will happen to your mighty warriors, when I, with destruction upon destruction, have stormed your fortresses?” This rhetorical question points to the ultimate failure of their military strength against God's overwhelming power. The repeated "destruction upon destruction" emphasizes the thoroughness of the coming judgment. The mention of the "Babylonians" (implied by bāḇilū), who were the instruments of God's judgment, reinforces this.
Jeremiah 49 16 Bonus Section
The imagery of the "eagle's nest" is not unique to this verse. Similar themes of lofty, inaccessible dwelling places associated with pride appear in other biblical passages, such as Isaiah 14:13 regarding the king of Babylon’s aspiration to ascend above God. The Edomites were also targets of prophetic judgment in Obadiah, which parallels much of Jeremiah's condemnation of Edom, reinforcing the consistent divine judgment against their pride and mistreatment of Israel. The specific mention of "Babylon" as the agent of destruction connects this prophecy to the broader context of God using empires to chasten disobedient nations.
Jeremiah 49 16 Commentary
This verse powerfully illustrates the biblical principle that pride invariably precedes destruction. Edom, positioned in geographically defensible rocky terrain, symbolized this pride through its self-reliance and defiance. They believed their mountain fortresses and elevated status rendered them invincible. However, God declares His intention to bring them down, emphasizing that human elevation and security are meaningless when contrasted with His supreme authority. The ultimate instruments of their judgment, often associated with the Babylonians in Jeremiah's prophecies, will overwhelm their defenses, rendering their strength and boasts useless. The verse serves as a timeless warning against any who trust in their own power or exalted position rather than in the Lord.