Jeremiah 49:18 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 49:18 kjv
As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.
Jeremiah 49:18 nkjv
As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah And their neighbors," says the LORD, "No one shall remain there, Nor shall a son of man dwell in it.
Jeremiah 49:18 niv
As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighboring towns," says the LORD, "so no one will live there; no people will dwell in it.
Jeremiah 49:18 esv
As when Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities were overthrown, says the LORD, no man shall dwell there, no man shall sojourn in her.
Jeremiah 49:18 nlt
It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
and their neighboring towns," says the LORD.
"No one will live there;
no one will inhabit it.
Jeremiah 49 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 19:24-25 | Then the LORD rained sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah…and overthrew those cities… | Historical account of Sodom and Gomorrah's destruction. |
| Deut 29:23 | ...all its soil burned with brimstone and salt, an unseeded wasteland... | Foreshadows complete desolation. |
| Isa 13:19-20 | Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms…will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. It will never again be inhabited… | Compares future judgment on Babylon to Sodom. |
| Isa 34:10-15 | Night and day it will not be quenched…from generation to generation it will lie in ruins…thorns will grow over it… | Describes lasting desolation, similar to Edom. |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning… My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose. | God's absolute certainty in fulfilling His prophecies. |
| Jer 50:40 | As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, so no man shall dwell there… | Similar comparison for the judgment of Babylon. |
| Lam 4:6 | For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people has been greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom… | References Sodom as a benchmark of divine judgment. |
| Ezek 25:12-14 | Because Edom acted revengefully…I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast… | God's specific judgment against Edom's hostility. |
| Ezek 35:9 | I will make you a perpetual waste, and your cities shall not be inhabited; then you will know that I am the LORD. | Prophecy of Edom's everlasting desolation. |
| Amos 1:11-12 | Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment… | Lists Edom's specific sins and promised judgment. |
| Obadiah 1:3-4 | The pride of your heart has deceived you…Though you soar aloft like the eagle…from there I will bring you down, declares the LORD. | Focuses on Edom's pride and inevitable fall. |
| Obadiah 1:10 | Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever. | Highlights Edom's perpetual cutoff due to violence against Israel. |
| Obadiah 1:18 | The house of Jacob shall be a fire…the house of Esau stubble; it shall burn them and consume them… | Depicts complete destruction of Edom by Israel. |
| Mal 1:3-4 | …I hated Esau and I have made his mountains a desolation and his heritage a jackals' haunt in the wilderness…They may build, but I will tear down. | Reinforces Edom's perpetual ruin. |
| Zeph 2:9 | …Moab shall become like Sodom, and the Ammonites like Gomorrah, a land possessed by nettles…a perpetual waste. | Extends Sodom comparison to other neighboring nations. |
| Matt 10:15 | Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. | Jesus uses Sodom's judgment as a measure of greater judgment. |
| Lk 17:29-30 | But on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all…So will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. | Uses Sodom's swift judgment as a sign of future judgment. |
| Jude 1:7 | ...Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities…serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire. | Emphasizes the eternal nature of Sodom's judgment as a warning. |
| 2 Pet 2:6 | ...by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example… | Calls Sodom and Gomorrah an example of divine wrath. |
| Rev 11:8 | …their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. | Uses Sodom symbolically for wickedness. |
Jeremiah 49 verses
Jeremiah 49 18 meaning
Jeremiah 49:18 declares that the judgment upon Edom will be as catastrophic and irreversible as the divine overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah. It signifies an absolute, complete, and permanent desolation where the land will become uninhabited by any living person, echoing a state of perpetual ruin inflicted by God himself. The verse serves as a dire prophetic pronouncement of utter destruction.
Jeremiah 49 18 Context
Jeremiah 49:18 is part of an oracle (prophetic pronouncement) against Edom, one of several oracles against foreign nations in Jeremiah chapters 46-51. Edom, descended from Esau (Jacob's brother), was an ancient nation known for its rocky strongholds, pride (Jer 49:16), and consistent animosity toward Israel, especially during times of Judah's weakness and Babylonian invasion. Historically, Edomites would rejoice over Israel's misfortunes and often participated in plunder. This specific verse warns Edom that their security, whether in their mountains or their perceived strength, would not prevent God's impending and devastating judgment. The prophecy points to a complete destruction that leaves no room for resettlement, contrasting sharply with prophecies concerning the eventual restoration of Israel and Judah.
Jeremiah 49 18 Word analysis
- As when Sodom (סְדֹם, Sedom) and Gomorrah (וַעֲמֹרָה, va'Amorah): This comparison evokes a benchmark of catastrophic divine judgment. It references Genesis 19, where these cities were utterly destroyed for their wickedness by fire and sulfur from God. This immediately conveys extreme and irreversible destruction.
- and their neighboring towns (עָרֶיהָ הַשְּׁכֵנָה, areha ha'shchenah): This phrase extends the scope of destruction beyond the primary cities. It signifies that the judgment will be comprehensive, affecting surrounding areas, implying no place of refuge or survival.
- were overthrown (נֶהְפָּכְהוּ, nehphakh'u): The Hebrew verb here literally means "turned over" or "overturned." It's a passive form, emphasizing that God was the agent of this massive, violent, and complete reversal, a supernatural act of divine judgment. This destruction implies a permanent alteration of the landscape.
- declares the LORD (נְאֻם־יְהוָה, ne'um-Yahweh): This is a formal prophetic formula, marking the preceding statement as a direct, authoritative word from God himself. It asserts divine origin and guarantees the certainty and inevitability of the prophecy's fulfillment, eliminating doubt or human error.
- no one will live there (לֹא־יֵשֵׁב, lo-yeshev): This is a strong negation, emphasizing absolute depopulation. The verb means to "dwell" or "settle permanently," indicating that the land will be unsuitable or undesirable for long-term human habitation.
- no people will dwell in it (וְלֹא־יָגוּר, ve'lo-yagur): This phrase reinforces the previous one using a different verb, meaning "to sojourn" or "reside temporarily." The double negative emphasizes that neither permanent inhabitants nor temporary visitors will find a place in the desolate land, highlighting the utter and enduring abandonment.
Words-group analysis
- "As when Sodom and Gomorrah... were overthrown": This phrase sets the irreversible, devastating, and divine nature of the impending judgment. It is an idiomatic expression for ultimate destruction in ancient Near Eastern thought, a theological precedent of absolute ruin from God's hand.
- "declares the LORD, no one will live there; no people will dwell in it": This declaration from Yahweh assures the complete and perpetual emptiness of the land. The repetition with different verbs for dwelling (permanent vs. temporary) emphasizes the comprehensive and absolute nature of the desolation, highlighting the irreversible curse on Edom's future habitation.
Jeremiah 49 18 Bonus section
- The comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah was not a unique prophetic device; other nations like Babylon (Isa 13:19) and Moab and Ammon (Zeph 2:9) were also subjected to this metaphor of ultimate destruction, showcasing God's consistent standard of judgment.
- The geographic location of Edom, east of the Arabah, would become a desolate wilderness. This literal fulfillment involved not just war and displacement, but a profound ecological change that rendered large portions barren and unsuitable for rebuilding.
- Scholars note that the prophecy against Edom extends beyond merely its ancient geopolitical existence, potentially encompassing broader symbolic representations of opposition to God and His covenant people. This historical fulfillment provides a pattern for understanding God's judgment against rebellious powers.
Jeremiah 49 18 Commentary
Jeremiah 49:18 delivers a pronouncement of total and permanent devastation for Edom, equating its future desolation with the historical obliteration of Sodom and Gomorrah. This judgment is declared directly by Yahweh, signifying its divine origin and absolute certainty. The imagery of an "overthrown" land implies a radical, transformative destruction initiated by God, leaving it permanently uninhabitable by either permanent settlers or temporary residents. It highlights divine retribution against Edom's pride and hostile actions, serving as a solemn warning against human arrogance and animosity toward God's people. The verse emphasizes that divine justice will inevitably prevail, leading to an everlasting ruin that serves as an example of God's holy wrath.