Jeremiah 49 31

Jeremiah 49:31 kjv

Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.

Jeremiah 49:31 nkjv

"Arise, go up to the wealthy nation that dwells securely," says the LORD, "Which has neither gates nor bars, Dwelling alone.

Jeremiah 49:31 niv

"Arise and attack a nation at ease, which lives in confidence," declares the LORD, "a nation that has neither gates nor bars; its people live far from danger.

Jeremiah 49:31 esv

"Rise up, advance against a nation at ease, that dwells securely, declares the LORD, that has no gates or bars, that dwells alone.

Jeremiah 49:31 nlt

"Go up and attack that complacent nation,"
says the LORD.
"Its people live alone in the desert
without walls or gates.

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 31 Meaning

This verse pronounces judgment upon Kedar, a son of Ishmael, and proclaims the swift downfall of its settlements. It highlights God's direct intervention and judgment against this Arab tribe, bringing an end to their strength and security. The focus is on the severe loss and desolation that will come upon them.

Jeremiah 49 31 Context

Jeremiah chapter 49 contains a series of prophetic judgments against various nations surrounding Israel, including Edom, Damascus, Kedar, and others. This particular verse is directed against Kedar, a nomadic Arab tribe descended from Ishmael, who inhabited the region northeast of Gilead. In Jeremiah's time, Kedar was known for its pastoral lifestyle and perhaps its raids on settled communities. The prophecy speaks of a future destruction that will incapacitate them, signifying a time of immense hardship and loss for this people.

Jeremiah 49 31 Word Analysis

• "Therefore": Implies a consequence stemming from preceding pronouncements or actions of God.
• "Thus": Indicates affirmation or presentation of a statement as fact, reinforcing the divine pronouncement.
• "Says": Signifies direct speech from God, lending authority and weight to the prophecy.
• "The LORD": The covenant name of God (YHWH), emphasizing His relational nature with His people and His power as sovereign over nations.
• "the God of Israel": Identifies the speaker specifically as the God of the covenant nation, from whom this judgment originates.
• "a sword": Represents the instrument of divine judgment, implying violence, bloodshed, and complete overthrow.
• "will invade": A forceful action, indicating God's active involvement in bringing about destruction.
• "Kedar": A collective term referring to the people and their territory, known as nomadic pastoralists.
• "and bring upon it": Introduces the results or consequences of the invasion.
• "destroys": Emphasizes the totality of the ruin and obliteration.
• "and": Connects the destruction of people with the devastation of their dwellings.
• "the spoil of those who dwell in it": Refers to the plundering of their possessions and resources.
• "will swallow up": A strong metaphor for complete consumption and removal, signifying total loss.
• "their tents": Represents their homes and nomadic lifestyle, indicating their utter displacement.
• "and their flocks": Represents their livelihood and wealth, indicating complete economic ruin.
• "and their cisterns": Symbolizes their essential water supply, crucial for survival in their arid environment, highlighting utter desolation.
• "and carry them away": Denotes captivity or dispersion, stripping them of their existence and substance.
• "and men will say": Foretells the reactions and pronouncements of people witnessing this event.
• "The LORD": Again, God's divine name asserting His role in this judgment.
• "has done to them": Acknowledges God as the active agent behind their downfall.
• "according to what the LORD has done": A statement of vindication and righteous judgment by God.
• "according to the terror of his sword": Attributes the severity of the judgment to God's powerful and terrifying judgment.

Words Group Analysis:

The phrase "destroys and swallows up" emphasizes a double destruction: first of the people and their resources ("destroys") and then their very means of sustenance and shelter ("swallows up their tents and flocks and cisterns"). The cumulative effect of these actions is the complete removal and dispossession of the Kedarites, leaving them with nothing and signifying the end of their way of life and presence.

Jeremiah 49 31 Bonus Section

The judgment on Kedar can be seen in the broader context of Jeremiah's prophecies, which frequently announced divine retribution on nations for their sin and injustice. While this verse details a severe earthly judgment, parallel prophecies and later biblical references (e.g., Isaiah 42:11) sometimes point towards a future restoration for Ishmael's descendants. This illustrates a common biblical pattern where judgment is followed by eventual hope or restoration, often within God's overarching redemptive plan, though the immediate focus here is on the decreed destruction. The thoroughness of the destruction mentioned ("swallow up their tents and flocks and cisterns") highlights the devastating impact of losing one's entire livelihood and basic resources, particularly for a nomadic people whose existence depended on them.

Jeremiah 49 31 Commentary

This prophecy signifies God's judgment upon Kedar, likely for their transgressions or their part in conflicts that harmed God's people. The verse uses vivid imagery of destruction, plundering, and total desolation to convey the severity of this divine action. It serves as a testament to God's sovereignty over all nations and His power to bring low even those who seem secure in their vast territories. The ultimate attribution of this devastating outcome to God ("The LORD has done to them") underscores the divine purpose behind the judgment, serving as a warning and demonstration of God's righteousness.