Jeremiah 49 5

Jeremiah 49:5 kjv

Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.

Jeremiah 49:5 nkjv

Behold, I will bring fear upon you," Says the Lord GOD of hosts, "From all those who are around you; You shall be driven out, everyone headlong, And no one will gather those who wander off.

Jeremiah 49:5 niv

I will bring terror on you from all those around you," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. "Every one of you will be driven away, and no one will gather the fugitives.

Jeremiah 49:5 esv

Behold, I will bring terror upon you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts, from all who are around you, and you shall be driven out, every man straight before him, with none to gather the fugitives.

Jeremiah 49:5 nlt

But look! I will bring terror upon you,"
says the Lord, the LORD of Heaven's Armies.
"Your neighbors will chase you from your land,
and no one will help your exiles as they flee.

Jeremiah 49 verses

Jeremiah 49 5 meaning

Jeremiah 49:5 declares a terrifying, divinely orchestrated judgment upon the Ammonites. The Lord GOD of hosts states His direct intent to bring overwhelming dread upon them, using their own surrounding nations as instruments of this terror. As a consequence, the Ammonites will be forcibly scattered and driven out from their land in a panicked, disordered flight, with no leader or helper available to gather them back or provide any relief.

Jeremiah 49 5 Context

Jeremiah chapter 49 comprises a series of prophetic oracles concerning various surrounding nations that interacted with Israel and Judah. Verse 5 is specifically part of the oracle against Ammon (Jer 49:1-6). The historical background includes Ammon's historical animosity toward Israel, frequently invading and harassing God's people. Specifically, verses 1-2 highlight their sin of dispossessing the tribe of Gad and settling in their inherited territory (Gilead) after Israel's northern kingdom had fallen, even claiming Rabbah, their capital, and desecrating Milcom (their national deity). They had extended their borders into God's allotted land and mocked His people. The prophetic declaration in verse 5 comes as God's response to Ammon's pride, aggression, and transgression. The context further reveals that this judgment would come through external enemies, aligning with the geopolitical reality of the time where the Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar was God's chosen instrument of judgment against many nations in the region, including Ammon.

Jeremiah 49 5 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה - hinnēh): An interjection that demands attention, signaling an important, often divine, pronouncement. It conveys a sense of immediacy, certainty, and revelation, underscoring the gravity of what is about to be said.
• I am bringing (מֵבִיא אֲנִי - mēḇi ʾănī): The first-person singular pronoun "I" (אֲנִי) combined with the active participle "bringing" (מֵבִיא) emphasizes God's direct and personal agency in initiating this judgment. It signifies that this is not a random event but a deliberate act of divine will, carried out by the Lord Himself.
• a terror (פַּחַד - paḥaḏ): This Hebrew term signifies fear, dread, panic, or horror. It suggests a profound and overwhelming sense of fright that paralyses and disorients, beyond mere apprehension. It implies a terror that leads to utter confusion and disarray.
• upon you (עָלַיִךְ - ʿālayiḵ): The feminine singular suffix indicates that the divine address is to the nation of Ammon (often personified as a female entity, "daughter of Ammon," or a city). This specifies the target of God's direct judgment.
• says the Lord GOD of hosts (נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה צְבָאוֹת - nĕʾum ʾăḏōnāy Yĕhōwih ṣĕḇāʾôt): This is a powerful, authoritative oracle formula.
  • נְאֻם (nĕʾum): Signifies a formal, divinely inspired utterance, leaving no room for doubt about its source.
  • אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (ʾăḏōnāy Yĕhōwih): Combining "Lord" (my Master) with the sacred name "YHWH" (God's covenant name), stresses supreme ownership and covenant faithfulness.
  • צְבָאוֹת (ṣĕḇāʾôt): "Of hosts" or "of armies," referring to the heavenly armies and God's absolute sovereignty over all cosmic and earthly powers. It reinforces the irresistible might and authority behind this declaration of judgment.
• From all your neighbors (מִכָּל סְבִיבָיו - mikkol səḇîḇāw): Literally "from all his surroundings/neighbors." While "upon you" (ʿālayiḵ) is feminine singular, "neighbors" (səḇîḇāw) uses a masculine singular suffix. This can be understood as poetic liberty, or a shift to refer to the collective people of Ammon. It signifies that the instrument of God's terror will come from the nations surrounding Ammon, those they might have seen as allies or threats, turning them into God's agents of destruction.
• And you will be driven out (וְנִדַּחְתֶּם - wĕniḏdaḥtem): The masculine plural verb "you will be driven out/scattered" refers directly to the Ammonite people. The passive voice implies an external force compelling their dispersion, showing their lack of control.
• each man headlong (אִישׁ לְעֻמָּתוֹ - ʾîš lĕʿummātô): This phrase suggests a frantic, disordered, and undirected flight. It implies that each individual is solely focused on their own escape, running blindly, perhaps stumbling over each other, or rushing into the same path without coordination, highlighting complete panic and disarray among the fleeing population. There is no unified effort or strategic retreat.
• with no one to gather (וְאֵין מְקַבֵּץ - wĕʾên mĕqabbēṣ): This signifies a complete absence of a leader, shepherd, or rescuer. There will be no one to organize the scattered, offer comfort, or bring them back from their dispersion. This absence underscores the finality and desolation of the judgment.
• the wanderers (הַנֹּדֵד - hannōḏēḏ): This refers to those who are scattered, driven, or fleeing aimlessly. The singular form acts as a collective noun, encompassing all the dispersed Ammonites, portraying them as adrift and without a home.

Jeremiah 49 5 Bonus section

The specific name "Lord GOD of hosts" (Adonai YHWH Sabaoth) used in this declaration is especially poignant. In prophetic literature, this divine title frequently appears in contexts of military power and judgment, underscoring that the God of Israel is not only the supreme authority but also controls all forces—celestial and earthly—to execute His decrees. The lack of a "gatherer" also draws a strong contrast to the biblical imagery of a shepherd. God often portrays Himself as the good Shepherd who gathers and cares for His flock (Isa 40:11; Jn 10:11-16). For the Ammonites, the absence of such a figure underscores their abandonment and the finality of their desolate state, leaving them shepherdless sheep scattering into the wilderness of exile, a severe curse compared to the blessings promised to those who trust in the Lord. This serves as a grim example of the consequences of national sin and pride against the Lord and His people.

Jeremiah 49 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 49:5 is a pronouncement of total and inescapable divine judgment against Ammon, rooted in their arrogance and oppression of God's people. The verse opens with the arresting "Behold, I am bringing," emphasizing God's personal initiative and irresistible power. The "terror" (פַּחַד) promised is not mere fear, but a disorienting, paralyzing dread that breaks the will to resist. This terror will emanate from their own "neighbors," a poetic irony where nations Ammon perhaps sought to dominate or exploit, become instruments in God's hand. This polemic powerfully asserts YHWH's absolute sovereignty over all nations and their alliances, contrasting with any trust Ammon might have placed in its national god Milcom or its own military strength. The devastating outcome is depicted vividly: "you will be driven out, each man headlong," illustrating a panicked, chaotic, and disorganized rout, devoid of any leadership or cohesion. The concluding phrase, "with no one to gather the wanderers," seals the severity of the judgment, signifying the complete absence of rescue, comfort, or hope of return. Unlike Israel, whom God promises to gather (Jer 23:3; Ez 34:12), the Ammonites face utter abandonment and desolation, highlighting the stark contrast between God's judgment upon the wicked and His redemptive plan for His chosen people. The verse portrays a complete national collapse initiated by divine wrath, leaving the people vulnerable, scattered, and beyond human aid.