Jeremiah 49 26

Jeremiah 49:26 kjv

Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 49:26 nkjv

Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, And all the men of war shall be cut off in that day," says the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 49:26 niv

Surely, her young men will fall in the streets; all her soldiers will be silenced in that day," declares the LORD Almighty.

Jeremiah 49:26 esv

Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed in that day, declares the LORD of hosts.

Jeremiah 49:26 nlt

Her young men will fall in the streets and die.
Her soldiers will all be killed,"
says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 26 meaning

Jeremiah 49:26 pronounces an impending, complete, and divinely ordained destruction upon Damascus. It specifically foretells that the nation's military strength—comprising both its young, aspiring soldiers and its seasoned warriors—will perish within its own public spaces, signifying a total conquest and internal collapse rather than merely defeat on an external battlefield. This outcome is presented as an assured decree from the ultimate sovereign, the "LORD of hosts."

Jeremiah 49 26 Context

Jeremiah chapter 49 forms part of a series of oracles (or prophecies) delivered by Jeremiah against various foreign nations. These pronouncements underscore the Lord's universal sovereignty, demonstrating that He is not merely the God of Israel but the sovereign ruler over all nations, capable of raising and casting down any kingdom according to His divine purpose.

Verses 23-27 of this chapter are specifically directed against Damascus, the ancient capital of Aram (Syria). Historically, Aram was a frequent adversary of Israel and Judah. While Damascus had previously faced conquest by the Assyrians, Jeremiah's prophecy points to further devastating judgment. This judgment would largely be executed by the rising power of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, who served as God's instrument for chastising nations, including Judah and its neighbors. The prophecy speaks to a time when Damascus, known for its strategic importance and trade, would suffer utter defeat, likely during Babylon's western campaigns, aligning with Jeremiah's broader prophetic context of an imminent Babylonian threat to the entire region.

Jeremiah 49 26 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): This conjunctive adverb signifies a direct consequence. It links the impending judgment to previous divine pronouncements against Damascus or the city's pride and resistance, establishing a cause-and-effect relationship decreed by God.

• her young men (בַחוּרֶיהָ, baḥûreyhā): Refers to the vigorous, prime, and potential warriors of Damascus. Their fall signifies the destruction of the nation's future military strength and generational continuity, an especially devastating blow.

• shall fall (יִפְּלוּ, yipplu): From the Hebrew verb נָפַל (naphal), meaning to fall, lie prostrate, be cast down, or perish, especially in battle. It vividly portrays death and defeat in combat.

• in her streets (בִּרְחֹבֹתֶיהָ, birḥovoteyhā): This phrase emphasizes the internal and inescapable nature of the defeat. The battle is brought into the heart of the city, not just on external fields. It conveys a sense of invasion, overwhelming conquest, and domestic chaos, where public spaces become scenes of slaughter.

• and all her men of war (וְכָל־אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתָּהּ, veḵol-anshey milḥamtāh): Explicitly refers to the trained, active, and seasoned military personnel. "All" underscores the totality and comprehensiveness of the destruction, leaving no part of the fighting force spared.

• shall be cut off (יִצָּמֵתוּ, yiṣṣametu): From the root צָמַת (ṣamat), meaning to exterminate, annihilate, destroy completely, or make an end of. This strong verb emphasizes the utter and conclusive destruction, implying no possibility of regrouping or recovery for the military.

• in that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא, bayyom hahū): A frequent prophetic idiom. It denotes a specific, divinely appointed time of significant event, judgment, or salvation. In this context, it marks the exact time when God's decree against Damascus will be fulfilled, emphasizing its certainty.

• says the LORD of hosts (נְאֻם־יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, neʾum-YHWH Tsevaʾot): This is a powerful divine affirmation, a pronouncement from God Himself. YHWH Tsevaʾot (often translated as "Lord of hosts" or "Lord of armies") highlights God's absolute sovereignty over all celestial and earthly forces, including military powers, assuring the absolute certainty and unstoppable nature of the prophecy.

• "Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off": This phrase combines to depict a complete military collapse, targeting both the future generation of soldiers ("young men") and the current fighting force ("men of war"). Their defeat "in her streets" means the conquest penetrates to the core of their society, signifying total devastation, far beyond a simple border skirmish. The double declaration reinforces the inescapability and totality of the judgment.

• "in that day, says the LORD of hosts": This concluding phrase grounds the entire prophecy in divine authority and predetermination. "In that day" points to a specific moment of God's active intervention, and the solemn "says the LORD of hosts" acts as an unbreakable guarantee. It removes any doubt about the fulfillment and attributes the judgment not to human might alone, but to the supreme power of God.

Jeremiah 49 26 Bonus section

• Polemics: This declaration of YHWH's overwhelming power leading to the downfall of Damascus functions as a powerful polemic. It directly challenges the efficacy of any gods worshipped by the Aramaeans whom they might have believed protected their city or army. By emphasizing "the LORD of hosts," Jeremiah asserts that the true divine sovereign over armies and nations is the God of Israel, YHWH, whose word is absolute and whose judgment is inescapable, regardless of local deities.
• Ethical Ramification: For nations and individuals, this prophecy serves as a potent reminder that all power is ultimately derived from God. Hubris, self-reliance, and pride in military might or worldly strength, when not submitted to God's ultimate authority, invariably lead to a downfall appointed by the Lord, illustrating a recurrent biblical principle of divine retribution against the proud.

Jeremiah 49 26 Commentary

Jeremiah 49:26 is a solemn and vivid pronouncement of God's unyielding judgment against the prideful nation of Damascus. It foretells a military catastrophe of the highest order, where the nation's entire fighting capacity—from its potential in young men to its seasoned warriors—is eliminated. The detail "in her streets" signifies an interior collapse, a humiliation within their own capital, highlighting an utter defeat that infiltrates their very public and domestic spaces. The phrase "in that day" confirms this as a specific, pre-ordained event in God's timeline, executed through His chosen instruments, typically the powerful empires of the ancient Near East. Concluding with "says the LORD of hosts," the verse serves as an unequivocal divine decree, affirming God's ultimate authority over all nations, wars, and destinies, leaving no room for doubt about the prophecy's certainty or its divine origin. This acts as a stern warning against national pride and defiance towards God's cosmic sovereignty.