Jeremiah 49 33

Jeremiah 49:33 kjv

And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.

Jeremiah 49:33 nkjv

"Hazor shall be a dwelling for jackals, a desolation forever; No one shall reside there, Nor son of man dwell in it."

Jeremiah 49:33 niv

"Hazor will become a haunt of jackals, a desolate place forever. No one will live there; no people will dwell in it."

Jeremiah 49:33 esv

Hazor shall become a haunt of jackals, an everlasting waste; no man shall dwell there; no man shall sojourn in her."

Jeremiah 49:33 nlt

"Hazor will be inhabited by jackals,
and it will be desolate forever.
No one will live there;
no one will inhabit it."

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 33 meaning

Jeremiah 49:33 pronounces a severe and everlasting judgment upon Hazor, declaring its utter and permanent destruction. This divine decree means Hazor will transform from a human habitation into a desolate ruin, inhabited solely by wild jackals. The prophecy emphasizes absolute emptiness, stipulating that no human being, whether permanent resident or temporary sojourner, will ever dwell within its borders again, signifying a total and perpetual obliteration of its human presence and former significance. It stands as a powerful testament to Yahweh's supreme authority over all nations and His punitive judgment against pride and perceived invincibility.

Jeremiah 49 33 Context

Jeremiah 49:33 is part of a larger collection of prophetic oracles delivered by Jeremiah against various foreign nations, primarily predicting their destruction by Babylon (chapters 46-51). Specifically, this verse concludes a short oracle directed at "Hazor," found within the section dealing with the Arabian tribes of Kedar (Jer 49:28-33). The historical backdrop is Nebuchadnezzar's military campaigns in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, which devastated numerous kingdoms and peoples in the Ancient Near East. While the name Hazor typically refers to a major Canaanite city in northern Israel, the geographical context alongside Kedar and the description of "dwelling alone" (v. 31) strongly suggest that this particular Hazor refers to a confederacy of Arab tribes or a prominent encampment in the Syro-Arabian desert region, rather than the historical biblical Hazor in Galilee. The judgment serves as a stark warning against the false security these nations found in their isolation and strength, asserting Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty over all nations.

Jeremiah 49 33 Word analysis

• And Hazor (וְחָצֹר - ve-Chatsor): "And" connects this judgment to the previous oracle. "Hazor" here, likely distinct from the famous northern Canaanite city, denotes an encampment or settlement in the Syro-Arabian desert, closely associated with the nomadic tribe of Kedar. Its inclusion signifies that even seemingly remote and self-assured communities are subject to divine decree.
• shall be (הָיְתָה - hayetah): This verb signifies a definitive future state, highlighting the prophetic certainty of this outcome. It declares a preordained destiny rather than a mere possibility, asserting God's absolute authority over history.
• a dwelling (מָעוֹן - ma'on): Traditionally referring to a home, secure abode, or habitation. Its ironic application to "jackals" here marks a radical inversion, transforming a former place of human security into an unholy den for wild animals, symbolizing ultimate ruin and abandonment.
• of jackals (תַּנִּים - tannim): These wild canids are creatures typically associated with desolate, ruined, and uninhabited places. Their habitation signifies total wilderness and desolation, rendering the place unclean and unfit for human presence, stripping Hazor of any former dignity or usefulness.
• a desolation (שְׁמָמָה - shemamah): This word conveys utter barrenness, waste, and complete ruin. It describes a landscape stripped of life and purpose, a place that was once productive or inhabited but has become an empty, forlorn testament to destruction.
• forever (לָעַד - la'ad): Implies perpetuity and an eternal or lasting state. This emphasizes the finality and permanence of the destruction, signaling an unchangeable and definitive end to Hazor's former existence.
• no one (אִישׁ - 'ish - lit. 'man'): Denotes a universal absence, indicating that not a single person, of any status or intention, will ever reside there again. It speaks to absolute emptiness.
• shall live there (יֵשֵׁב בָּהּ - yeshev bah): "To live" here signifies permanent settlement or habitation. This prohibition asserts that Hazor's destiny is to remain entirely devoid of any future residents, cementing its state of complete human abandonment.
• nor shall (וּבֶן־אָדָם - u-ven-'adam - 'and a son of man'): Reinforces the comprehensive absence of humanity. "Son of man" is a generic term for any human individual. This addition extends the scope beyond general "man" to encompass literally any person, even a temporary one.
• sojourn (יָגוּר - yagur): Means to reside temporarily, to be a guest, or to travel through and stay for a short period. Denying even temporary stays highlights the extreme nature of Hazor's desolation, making it an utterly inhospitable place, cut off from all human passage and interaction.
• in it (בָּהּ - bah): A direct pronoun referring back to Hazor, underscoring that this desolation applies specifically and entirely to that place.

Word-groups analysis:

• "And Hazor shall be a dwelling of jackals": This powerful imagery graphically depicts the absolute ruin of Hazor. The transformation from a potentially secure human settlement to a wild animal's den communicates total abandonment and a reversal of the natural order, where humans are removed and an undesirable form of nature reclaims the territory.
• "a desolation forever": This phrase amplifies the intensity and irreversible nature of the judgment. It's not a temporary devastation but an enduring, permanent state of emptiness. The term "forever" signifies a sealed, unchanging decree from the sovereign God, establishing its fate as eternal.
• "no one shall live there, nor shall a son of man sojourn in it": This strong double negation provides the ultimate declaration of Hazor's utter emptiness. It removes all possibility of either permanent residence or temporary visit, presenting a picture of a place completely ostracized and uninhabitable for any human being. This comprehensive prohibition underlines the profound and irreversible extent of God's judgment.

Jeremiah 49 33 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of Hazor within an oracle primarily against Kedar is a notable detail, highlighting the target of judgment. Kedar was a well-documented nomadic Arab tribe known for its tent-dwelling, rich livestock, and relative isolation. By associating Hazor with such groups, Jeremiah’s prophecy likely focuses on an influential desert settlement or tribal alliance that shared similar characteristics, emphasizing the pride they took in their independence and perceived security ("dwelling alone" in Jer 49:31). This "dwelling alone" echoes the description of Israel's distinctiveness (Num 23:9), but here it becomes a source of their downfall. The common biblical motif of land turning into a haunt for wild animals (e.g., Isa 13, Eze 29) is a powerful symbol of divine curse. It represents a reversal of God's creative order, where the land becomes unhospitable to humanity, testifying to human disobedience and God's severe wrath. This not only signifies physical ruin but also carries a strong spiritual connotation of utter rejection and divine abandonment.

Jeremiah 49 33 Commentary

Jeremiah 49:33 stands as a solemn, uncompromising declaration of divine judgment against Hazor, most likely referring to a confederation of proud, isolated desert tribes rather than the ancient city. The prophecy graphically details a transformation from a human habitation, however secure in its own estimation, into an everlasting wilderness suitable only for jackals. This pronouncement powerfully communicates that no nation, regardless of its perceived inaccessibility or strength, is beyond Yahweh's reach. It simultaneously shatters Hazor's false confidence ("dwelling alone" in v. 31), demonstrates Yahweh's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers, and underscores the severity of His judgment for arrogance and impenitence. The triple emphasis on profound desolation, marked by the presence of wild animals, perpetual ruin, and the total absence of human life—permanent or temporary—paints a stark picture of irreversible abandonment and confirms the finality of God's verdict. The verse serves as a chilling reminder that human pride and self-reliance ultimately crumble before divine reckoning.