Jeremiah 49 29

Jeremiah 49:29 kjv

Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.

Jeremiah 49:29 nkjv

Their tents and their flocks they shall take away. They shall take for themselves their curtains, All their vessels and their camels; And they shall cry out to them, 'Fear is on every side!'

Jeremiah 49:29 niv

Their tents and their flocks will be taken; their shelters will be carried off with all their goods and camels. People will shout to them, 'Terror on every side!'

Jeremiah 49:29 esv

Their tents and their flocks shall be taken, their curtains and all their goods; their camels shall be led away from them, and men shall cry to them: 'Terror on every side!'

Jeremiah 49:29 nlt

Their flocks and tents will be captured,
and their household goods and camels will be taken away.
Everywhere shouts of panic will be heard:
'We are terrorized at every turn!'

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 29 meaning

Jeremiah 49:29 vividly describes the complete despoilment and utter ruin of Kedar, a nomadic desert tribe. The verse portrays a scene of violent plunder where invaders seize every possession vital to their nomadic way of life – their tents, flocks, curtains, vessels, and camels. This comprehensive loss of material wealth, which formed the very foundation of their identity and survival, is compounded by a pronouncement of overwhelming fear: "Terror on every side." This signifies not only their material destruction but also their profound psychological devastation and inescapable dread, marking a total, divinely ordained judgment against them.

Jeremiah 49 29 Context

This verse is embedded within Jeremiah's "Oracles Against the Nations" (Jeremiah 46-51), a significant section of prophecies detailing God's judgment against various neighboring peoples. Specifically, Jeremiah 49:28-33 focuses on Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Kedar, historically known as a confederation of nomadic Arab tribes descended from Ishmael (Gen 25:13), inhabited the Arabian desert east of Judah. They were famous for their large flocks, vast tent encampments, and mastery of desert travel and trade using camels, also being fierce warriors.

The prophecy forecasts a devastating attack orchestrated by God, executed by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, (as implied by Jer 49:28 referring to the same destroyer of Damascus and other nations in the region). The judgment is not merely a military defeat but a total destruction of their way of life: their homes (tents and curtains), their wealth and sustenance (flocks and vessels), and their means of mobility and trade (camels). The declaration "Terror on every side" is a climax of this ruin, reflecting the complete and inescapable dread that will engulf them, reminiscent of Jeremiah's own experiences of distress. This passage asserts God's universal sovereignty, demonstrating that even geographically remote and militarily formidable tribes like Kedar are subject to His divine decree and justice.

Jeremiah 49 29 Word analysis

• Their tents (אָהֳלֵיהֶם, 'ohalehem):

  • Meaning: Their portable dwellings, the central element of their nomadic existence.
  • Significance: Represents home, family, identity, and a place of refuge. The loss signifies utter displacement and homelessness. For a nomadic people, this is the most fundamental possession.

• and their flocks (וְצֹאנָם, vᵉtsonam):

  • Meaning: Their sheep and goats.
  • Significance: The primary source of their livelihood, sustenance, wealth, and trade. Losing them means economic ruin, starvation, and the complete destruction of their pastoral economy.

• shall they take (יִקָּחוּ, yiqqachú):

  • Meaning: They will seize, plunder, carry away.
  • Significance: Indicates the active, violent act of confiscation by an invading force. The verb emphasizes forceful appropriation rather than peaceful transfer.

• their curtains (יְרִיעֹתֵיהֶם, yᵉri'otehem):

  • Meaning: The cloths that make up the tent walls and roofs. Sometimes refers to more valuable, embroidered tent linings or hangings.
  • Significance: More specific than "tents," highlighting even the component parts of their dwellings, underscoring the thoroughness of the plunder, often encompassing movable luxuries.

• and all their vessels (וְכָל-כְּלֵיהֶם, vᵉḵol-kelihem):

  • Meaning: "Vessels" (keli) is a broad term for implements, utensils, baggage, household goods, tools, or valuable articles.
  • Significance: Encompasses all their portable belongings, from daily necessities to items of value. The addition of "all" stresses the comprehensive nature of the despoilment.

• and their camels (וּגְמַלֵּיהֶם, ugmalleyhem):

  • Meaning: Dromedaries, vital for desert life.
  • Significance: Essential for transportation, trade, and mobility across the vast deserts. Camels were a major asset and a measure of wealth. Their loss crippling their ability to relocate, escape, or conduct commerce.

• and they shall cry unto them (וְקָרְאוּ עֲלֵיהֶם, vᵉqar'ú 'alëhem):

  • Meaning: A cry or proclamation will be made against them.
  • Significance: This can be interpreted in two ways: the invaders declaring their triumph over the terrorized Kedarites, or the cry of the Kedarites themselves acknowledging their terror. Most contexts suggest the former, where the conquering force proclaims their doom. It verbalizes the final state of despair.

• Terror on every side (מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב, Magor-Missabib):

  • Meaning: Overwhelming, inescapable dread and fear that surrounds them completely.
  • Significance: This iconic phrase from Jeremiah (used previously in 6:25; 20:3,10; Lam 2:22) signifies total panic, a feeling of being surrounded by threats with no possibility of escape or refuge. It elevates the suffering beyond mere material loss to profound psychological torment and an existential crisis.

Words-group analysis

• "Their tents and their flocks... their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels":

  • This detailed, cumulative enumeration emphasizes the totality of the plunder. It methodically strips away every asset critical to a nomadic lifestyle—shelter, food, wealth, and mobility. The listing illustrates an almost surgical dismantling of Kedar's entire economic and social infrastructure, leaving nothing untouched. This is not just a skirmish, but an obliteration of their way of life.

• "shall they take... and they shall cry unto them, Terror on every side":

  • This progression outlines the sequence of the judgment: first, the violent, comprehensive seizure of all their assets, followed by the declaration or experience of profound, inescapable fear. It underscores the dual devastation: material ruin compounded by psychological trauma, illustrating a judgment that strips away not just possessions but also peace of mind and hope. The transition from physical loss to existential dread highlights the comprehensive nature of God's wrath.

Jeremiah 49 29 Bonus section

• Divine Orchestration: The "they" who take the possessions are Nebuchadnezzar's forces, but the ultimate author of this judgment is God Himself (as declared in Jer 49:28 "Thus says the LORD"). This demonstrates God's sovereignty over pagan kings and the affairs of all nations, not just Israel.
• Fulfillment of Earlier Prophecy: This prophecy in Jeremiah aligns with an earlier, shorter prophecy against Kedar found in Isaiah 21:13-17, which predicted a similar, swift end to Kedar's glory and warriors within a year, by Assyria. Jeremiah's prophecy echoes this theme of complete ruin, extending its fulfillment to the Babylonian conquest era, highlighting a consistent pattern of judgment against those who oppose or ignore God.
• Symbolism of Nomadic Life: The emphasis on "tents," "flocks," and "camels" highlights the vulnerability of a people whose very identity and survival depend on mobile wealth. The ease with which these foundational elements can be stripped away illustrates the transient nature of worldly security when God's judgment comes. Their traditional "security" of the desert environment became a trap when divinely ordained invaders approached.

Jeremiah 49 29 Commentary

Jeremiah 49:29 delivers a precise prophecy of Kedar's total destruction, serving as a powerful demonstration of divine judgment executed through an invading force, primarily Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The meticulously listed items – tents, flocks, curtains, vessels, and camels – symbolize every aspect of their nomadic wealth, sustenance, and identity. Their systematic confiscation signifies an utterly comprehensive despoilment, leaving them bereft of their homes, their economy, and their very means of existence. The culminating phrase, "Terror on every side" (Magor-Missabib), a poignant recurring motif in Jeremiah, elevates this judgment beyond material loss to an overwhelming psychological and spiritual state of inescapable dread. This verse powerfully underscores God's sovereignty over all nations, irrespective of their perceived strength or geographical isolation, showing the inevitable consequence for those who do not acknowledge Him, whose security lies in earthly possessions and military might rather than divine trust.