Jeremiah 50 18

Jeremiah 50:18 kjv

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.

Jeremiah 50:18 nkjv

Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, As I have punished the king of Assyria.

Jeremiah 50:18 niv

Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria.

Jeremiah 50:18 esv

Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria.

Jeremiah 50:18 nlt

Therefore, this is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies,
the God of Israel, says:
"Now I will punish the king of Babylon and his land,
just as I punished the king of Assyria.

Jeremiah 50 verses

Jeremiah 50 18 Meaning

This verse declares the LORD Almighty's intent to punish Israel for its sins, specifically mentioning the punishment of its king and land. It emphasizes that Israel's spiritual leaders and inhabitants are responsible for their nation's ruin, as their iniquities have led to their downfall. The "stray sheep" imagery highlights their loss of divine guidance due to their transgressions.

Jeremiah 50 18 Context

Jeremiah 50 is part of a larger prophetic oracle against Babylon. This chapter marks a significant shift in the prophecy as it describes the eventual downfall of Babylon and, importantly, the return and restoration of Israel. The prophet is speaking to the exiles in Babylon, offering a message of hope for their future release from captivity, while simultaneously prophesying the judgment that will fall upon their oppressor. Verse 18 specifically focuses on why Babylon (representing oppressor nations) has been able to triumph over Israel—it's because of Israel's own iniquity and the failure of its leadership to guide them properly.

Jeremiah 50 18 Word analysis

• "Thus": Koh (כֹּה) - This is an adverb indicating manner or state, often translated as "so," "thus," or "here." It signals a consequential or declarative statement, often linking to what preceded or what will follow.
• "says": Ne'um YHWH (נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה) - This is a common formula signifying "oracle/pronouncement of Yahweh." It emphasizes that the words are from God himself, lending divine authority.
• "the LORD": YHWH (יְהוָ֖ה) - The personal name of God, conveying His covenant faithfulness and power.
• "Almighty": Tzva'ot (צְבָאֹ֖ות) - Literally "hosts" or "armies." This epithet emphasizes God's sovereignty, power, and dominion over all heavenly and earthly forces, implying He has the ultimate authority to judge and execute judgment.
• "Israel": Yisrael (יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל) - The people of God, established through Jacob.
• "a stray sheep": shaqaph (שָׁרְפָה) - While "stray sheep" is the interpretative meaning, the Hebrew shaqaph literally means "driven away" or "scattered." This emphasizes their displacement and vulnerability. It suggests they were pushed away by their predators.
• "the lions": lavihim (לְבָאִ֔ים) - Lions are a symbol of powerful predators, representing oppressor nations like Babylon that have attacked and scattered Israel. The term often refers to fierce predators.
• "have driven him": nedaḥūhu (נְדָחֻ֛הוּ) - The verb nadah (נדח) means to push away, drive out, or scatter. It indicates an aggressive action by the enemies against the flock (Israel).
• "first": Rishon (רִאשֹׁ֥ן) - Denotes "first" in time, order, or importance. Here it points to the initial act of predation or the primary cause of their scattering.
• "the king of Assyria": melech Asshur (מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֖וּר) - Refers to the Assyrian king, an ancient oppressor of Israel. Although the primary context is Babylon, mentioning Assyria connects this punishment to a historical pattern of foreign dominance that arose from Israel's apostasy. Some interpretations view "the king of Assyria" as a symbolic reference to the oppressive power that led Israel astray.
• "after him": avod (עֲבֹ֖וד) - This word generally means "to work," "to serve," or "to be destroyed." In this context, it signifies the destruction or ruin that followed the primary oppression.
• "the king of Babylon": melech Bavel (מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶֽל) - Refers to the Babylonian king, the current dominant power oppressing Israel in Jeremiah's time, most notably Nebuchadnezzar. This is the primary focus of judgment in this oracle.
• "destroyed": shavar (שָֽׁבַר) - Means to break, shatter, or destroy. It implies a severe and thorough defeat.
• "His people": ‘amow (‘ָמ֔וֹ) - Refers to the inhabitants or citizens of Israel.
• "according to their iniquity": le‘avonateimo (לַעֲוֹנֹתָ֖ם) - Directly links their destruction to their own sins and transgressions. This emphasizes divine justice and the principle of reaping what is sown. Avon (עָוֹן) refers to guilt, iniquity, or perversity.
• "scattered": nedaḥu (נְדָח֖וּ) - Repeating the earlier term, underscoring the dispersal and dispersion of God's people.
• "his flock": eḍow (עֶדְר֑וֹ) - Refers to the sheep, representing the collective people of Israel under their leadership.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Israel is a stray sheep": This establishes Israel as a vulnerable entity, separated from its shepherd and exposed to predators, highlighting their spiritual vulnerability due to their deviation from God's path.
• "the lions have driven him away": This vividly depicts the aggressive actions of powerful nations (represented by lions) against Israel, resulting in their scattering and exile.
• "first the king of Assyria, after him the king of Babylon": This chronological sequence identifies the historical oppressors responsible for Israel's suffering, demonstrating a pattern of judgment stemming from repeated infidelity. It underscores that multiple empires, initiated by Assyria and culminating with Babylon, have afflicted them because of their continued disobedience.
• "destroyed his people according to their iniquity": This is a powerful statement of divine retribution. It clarifies that the destruction was not arbitrary but a direct consequence of Israel's persistent sins, revealing the principle of accountability in God's covenant. Their own corrupt ways paved the way for their subjugation.
• "scattered his flock": This reinforces the idea of their dispersion, signifying the complete loss of their homeland and community as a consequence of their rulers' and people's transgressions, emphasizing their abandonment by God's protective care.

Jeremiah 50 18 Bonus section

The concept of Israel being compared to sheep, and their leaders to shepherds, is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament. This metaphor highlights the responsibility of leaders to care for, protect, and guide the people, and the people's reliance on this guidance. When the shepherds are unfaithful, as described here, the sheep are scattered and vulnerable. This echoes the pronouncements of judgment against corrupt shepherds in books like Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34) and the direct pleas for divine shepherding in Psalms (Psalm 80). The New Testament presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd (John 10), who lays down His life for His sheep, fulfilling the need for faithful leadership that the Old Testament lament describes as lacking in Israel's history. The spiritual leaders ("king" can sometimes be a metaphor for the highest leadership or priesthood) of Israel had failed, and as a result, the "flock" suffered.

Jeremiah 50 18 Commentary

This verse provides the theological reason for Israel's historical afflictions, particularly their exiles. It's not merely about the strength of the oppressors, but about Israel's own covenant infidelity and the resulting loss of God's protection. The mention of Assyria and then Babylon traces a history of divine patience followed by increased judgment due to persistent sin. The imagery of a stray sheep emphasizes their loss of divine guidance through corrupted leadership, leading to vulnerability and scattering. God holds His people accountable, linking their suffering directly to their "iniquity." This underscores the consistent biblical theme that obedience brings blessing and disobedience brings curses or consequences, as stipulated in the Mosaic covenant.