Jeremiah 49 2

Jeremiah 49:2 kjv

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:2 nkjv

Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will cause to be heard an alarm of war In Rabbah of the Ammonites; It shall be a desolate mound, And her villages shall be burned with fire. Then Israel shall take possession of his inheritance," says the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:2 niv

But the days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it will become a mound of ruins, and its surrounding villages will be set on fire. Then Israel will drive out those who drove her out," says the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:2 esv

Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will cause the battle cry to be heard against Rabbah of the Ammonites; it shall become a desolate mound, and its villages shall be burned with fire; then Israel shall dispossess those who dispossessed him, says the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:2 nlt

In the days to come," says the LORD,
"I will sound the battle cry against your city of Rabbah.
It will become a desolate heap of ruins,
and the neighboring towns will be burned.
Then Israel will take back the land
you took from her," says the LORD.

Jeremiah 49 2 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jeremiah 49:1Concerning the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD: "Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir?Judgment on Ammon
Jeremiah 49:3"Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai is ruined! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah, with sackcloth; gird yourselves with mourning!Moab's distress echoed
Jeremiah 49:4Why do you boast of your valleys, O departing daughter, who trusts in her treasures, saying, “Who will come against me?”Arrogance before judgment
Jeremiah 49:5"Behold, I will bring a dread upon you,” declares the Lord GOD of hosts, “from all your surroundings;Divine instrument of judgment
Jeremiah 49:6And afterward I will bring back the captives of the daughters of Ammon," declares the LORD.Future restoration of Ammonites
Ezekiel 25:2-7concerning the Ammonites. Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD:Ammon's judgment parallels
Amos 1:13-15Concerning the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment...Ammon's sins and punishment
Zephaniah 2:8-11"I have heard the taunts of Moab and the insults of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boast against their territory.Moab and Ammon's pride
Romans 11:25-27Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers—a hardening in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.Gentile inclusion; divine sovereignty
Isaiah 45:7I form the light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things.God's sovereignty over all nations
Deuteronomy 28:15-68curses for disobedienceConsequences of sin
Psalm 9:20Strike terror into them, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men!God's power over nations
Jeremiah 4:5-31various judgments upon Judah and surrounding nationsYahweh's universal judgment
Jeremiah 25:15-38judgment upon all nationsGod's sovereign decree for all nations
Joel 3:4"Indeed, what are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you repaying me for something I did?Judgment on coastal cities
Judges 10:6-9The people of Israel again did evil in the eyes of the LORD... and the Ammonites also oppressed Israel.Historical oppression by Ammon
1 Samuel 11:1-11Saul delivers Jabesh-gilead from Nahash the Ammonite.Ammonite aggression
2 Samuel 10:1-5Ammonites insult David's servants.Ammonite insolence
Isaiah 17:12-14Woes against DamascusNeighboring nation's judgment
Lamentations 1:8Jerusalem herself has sinned grievously; that is why she has become a wanderer.Divine discipline on a nation
Lamentations 2:15All who pass by clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads over the daughter of Jerusalem;Jerusalem's public humiliation
Micah 4:11-13But now many nations have gathered against you... They will meet you with a proud heart.Nations against God's people
Nahum 3:5-7"I will lift up your skirts over your face, and your shame will be seen...Nineveh's public shame

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 2 Meaning

Jeremiah 49:2 prophesies the downfall of Ammon, specifically targeting Rabbah, their chief city. The verse highlights the distress and shame that will befall them as they lose their prized possessions and fortifications, leaving them vulnerable and exposed. This judgment is presented as a divine consequence for their past actions, implying a turning point in their history where their pride and defenses crumble.

Jeremiah 49 2 Context

Jeremiah 49 is part of a larger oracle that addresses the judgment of God upon several surrounding nations: Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and finally, Ammon. These judgments reflect God’s sovereign plan for justice and the eventual restoration of His people. Ammon, like its neighbors, had a history of animosity and aggression towards Israel, often oppressing them. Specifically, their king Nahash had threatened the people of Jabesh-gilead. Their sin involved insolence, boastfulness, and likely, their complicity in the afflictions of God's people. This chapter fits within the broader prophetic message of Jeremiah, which proclaimed impending doom for those who defied God, while also offering a glimmer of hope for eventual restoration. The judgment on Ammon, including the fall of their capital, Rabbah, is portrayed as a consequence of their pride and mistreatment of Israel.

Jeremiah 49 2 Word analysis

  • wa / Ve (וְ): "and" - a common conjunction connecting clauses or sentences.

  • ha (הַ): "ah" or "woe" - an interjection expressing grief, lament, or pain.

  • ro-av (רָעָה): "destruction," "calamity," "misfortune," or "evil."

  • li-Rabbah (לְרַבָּה): "to Rabbah," or "concerning Rabbah." Rabbah was the capital city of the Ammonites.

  • ba-al (בָּעַר): "to be foolish," "ignorant," or "senseless." It can imply acting rashly or without understanding.

  • ti-r-ru-ot (תְּרוּעֹת): "alarms," "shouts," or "war cries."

  • ki (כִּי): "for," "because," or "that."

  • ma-rim (רִמּוֹן): "pomegranate." This could be literal, referring to the city's produce or symbolism, or figurative, referring to the abundance of defensive structures or the spread of its influence.

  • ha-lo (הֲלוֹ): "Is it not?" or "has it not?" - a rhetorical question.

  • Yis-ra-el (יִשְׂרָאֵל): "Israel" - referring to the nation of Israel.

  • ha-yim (יָּמִים): "sons," "children," or "people."

  • na-cha-la (נַחֲלָה): "inheritance" or "possession."

  • wailing for Rabbah, the shouts of war (hā rā‘â lĕ Rabbâ, ‘al ’âlû qôl tôrû‘â): This phrase signifies that the city of Rabbah, expected to be a place of war cries and triumph, will instead be the source of cries of destruction and lament. The sound of celebration will be replaced by sounds of distress.

  • for a city battered with the enemy (kî-Bālĕ-pāh lĕ Rabbâ bammilḥāmâ): Rabbah, meaning "great" or "strong," is described as being broken and assaulted in battle.

  • and it will become a ruin (wə hāyə-tâ lə māšûâ): The city will be reduced to ruins, completely devastated and abandoned.

  • a desolation (pîrāq): An uninhabited, barren place.

Jeremiah 49 2 Bonus section

The Hebrew word translated as "battered" (בָּעַר - ba'ar) can also mean to "burn" or "consume," implying a violent and total destruction by fire, which would certainly reduce a city to ruins. The term "desolation" (פִּירַק - pirah) evokes a sense of emptiness and abandonment, highlighting the permanent consequence of the divine judgment. The inclusion of the Ammonites in this series of judgments aligns with the consistent prophetic theme of God holding nations accountable for their actions, especially when those actions are directed against His covenant people, Israel. This prophecy, like many others in Jeremiah, carries both immediate implications for the ancient audience and theological implications for God's justice and sovereignty throughout history.

Jeremiah 49 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 49:2 serves as a strong denunciation of the Ammonites, specifically targeting their capital, Rabbah. The verse uses vivid imagery to convey the totality of the destruction to come. Rabbah, presumably a place of pride and military strength, will become a site of lament. The repetition of "Rabbah" emphasizes its central role in the coming judgment. The phrase "a city battered with the enemy" suggests that its fortifications and defenses, symbols of its power, will be overwhelmed. This loss will result in the city becoming "a ruin" and "a desolation," meaning it will be utterly destroyed and uninhabited. The question posed earlier in chapter 49 ("Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir?") sets the stage, implying that the Ammonites, in their historical mistreatment of Israel, have incurred divine wrath. This judgment on Rabbah is an illustration of God’s principle of justice against those who oppress His people. The verse signifies a complete reversal of fortune, where a proud and powerful city will be reduced to utter ruin and abandonment, serving as a warning to all nations that defy the Lord.