Jeremiah 6:22 kjv
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
Jeremiah 6:22 nkjv
Thus says the LORD: "Behold, a people comes from the north country, And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.
Jeremiah 6:22 niv
This is what the LORD says: "Look, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
Jeremiah 6:22 esv
Thus says the LORD: "Behold, a people is coming from the north country, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
Jeremiah 6:22 nlt
This is what the LORD says:
"Look! A great army coming from the north!
A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.
Jeremiah 6 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer. 1:13-15 | Then the Lord said to me, "Out of the north evil will break forth..." | Prophetic foe from the north, instruments of wrath |
| Jer. 4:6 | "Raise a standard toward Zion, flee for safety, stay not, for I bring evil from the north..." | Specific instruction to flee due to northern foe |
| Jer. 5:15-17 | "Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar... it is an ancient nation..." | Confirms the distant, ancient nature of the foe |
| Jer. 10:22 | "Hark, a sound! A great commotion is coming from the north country..." | Echoes the "great commotion" from the north |
| Isa. 10:5-6 | "Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!" | God using foreign nations as instruments of judgment |
| Isa. 13:5 | "They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the Lord and the weapons of his indignation..." | Illustrates powerful, distant divine instruments |
| Hab. 1:6-7 | "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation..." | Clearly identifies Babylon/Chaldeans as the foe |
| Deut. 28:49-52 | "The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth..." | Prophetic warning of distant, cruel invaders |
| Zep. 1:1-3 | "I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth," declares the Lord. | General declaration of impending judgment |
| Ez. 26:7 | "For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon..." | Names Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon from the north |
| 2 Ki. 24:1-2 | In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up... and the Lord sent against him raiding bands of Chaldeans... | Historical fulfillment of Babylonian invasion |
| Joel 2:1-2 | "A day of darkness and gloom... like dawn spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people." | Description of a formidable invading army |
| Zech. 2:6-7 | "Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north!" | Call to escape the northern captivity |
| Jer. 25:9 | "Behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north... and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant..." | Identifies Babylon as God's servant for judgment |
| Lam. 1:12 | "Look, O Lord, and see, for I am despised." | Lament over the consequences of the invasion |
| Pss. 106:34-42 | "They did not destroy the peoples, as the Lord commanded them..." | Reflects consequences of disobedience |
| Matt. 24:28 | "Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather." | Principle of inevitable judgment |
| Rev. 20:8-9 | "...Gog and Magog... to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea." | Prophetic image of a vast, overwhelming hostile force |
| Gal. 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Principle of divine retribution for sin |
| Rom. 2:5 | "...you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and of God’s righteous judgment." | Warns of accumulating judgment due to unrepentance |
Jeremiah 6 verses
Jeremiah 6 22 Meaning
Jeremiah 6:22 reveals a solemn declaration from God concerning an impending, powerful, and distant foe. It identifies this adversary as "a people" and "a great nation" originating from the "north country" and "farthest parts of the earth," indicating an irresistible, divinely orchestrated invasion of Judah. This pronouncement serves as a stark warning of the judgment God is about to unleash upon His disobedient people.
Jeremiah 6 22 Context
Jeremiah chapter 6 continues the prophet's severe warnings to Judah about their impending doom due to widespread sin, spiritual rebellion, and false worship. The people, from the least to the greatest, are involved in covetousness and deceit (v. 13). False prophets preach a deceptive message of "peace, peace" while true peace is absent (v. 14). God calls for a return to "ancient paths" and righteousness (v. 16), but the people refuse. Against this backdrop of stubborn unrepentance, Jeremiah 6:22 underscores that God will not hold back His judgment. This specific verse prepares the audience for a detailed description of the terrifying, destructive force God is bringing upon them (vv. 23-26). Historically, Jeremiah's prophecies pointed clearly to the rising Neo-Babylonian Empire as the "foe from the north," which under Nebuchadnezzar would besiege and destroy Jerusalem, ultimately exiling its people.
Jeremiah 6 22 Word analysis
- Thus says the Lord (כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar Yahweh): This is a powerful, authoritative prophetic formula used extensively in the Old Testament, especially by Jeremiah. It emphasizes that the message comes directly from God Himself, not merely from human wisdom or speculation. It asserts divine revelation and the unchangeable nature of the prophecy.
- Behold (הִנֵּה - hinneh): An emphatic particle used to call for immediate attention to something about to happen, something momentous or surprising. It serves as an exclamation, demanding that the audience fully grasp the gravity of the declaration.
- a people (עַם - am): Refers to a specific ethnic or national group. In this context, given the following description, it points to an organized and unified military force. The Hebrew word implies not just individuals but a collective identity moving with a common purpose.
- is coming (בָּא - ba): Present participle, indicating that the action is not merely planned for the future but is already underway or imminent and actively approaching. It conveys a sense of unstoppable momentum.
- from the north country (מֵאֶרֶץ צָפוֹן - me'eretz tzafon): This geographical designation is a recurring prophetic motif in Jeremiah (e.g., Jer. 1:14; 4:6). In Jeremiah's era, it unmistakably refers to the Neo-Babylonian Empire (Chaldeans), which threatened Judah from that direction. This specific detail would have made the warning concrete and terrifying for the original audience, who understood the geopolitical threats.
- and a great nation (וְגוֹי גָדוֹל - v'goy gadol): Goy (nation/gentile nation) combined with gadol (great/powerful) stresses the formidable size, strength, and influence of this invading entity. This description amplifies the threat, suggesting an overwhelming military might.
- is stirring (יֵעוֹר - ye'or): The verb 'ur in the Hithpael imperfect suggests being roused, awakened, or stirring oneself into action. It implies a deliberate, energetic, and purposeful preparation for conflict, emphasizing their active and determined advance rather than a passive or accidental movement.
- from the farthest parts of the earth (מִיַּרְכְּתֵי אָרֶץ - miyarketei aretz): This hyperbolic expression serves to emphasize the great distance this nation is traveling, the breadth of their influence, and the perception of their being from "beyond the known world" or from the very edge of the earth. It accentuates the awe-inspiring and inescapable nature of this threat, implying no escape for Judah as the invaders seem to come from every conceivable direction.
Jeremiah 6 22 Bonus section
The divine act of "stirring" (יֵעוֹר - ye'or) foreign nations to execute judgment is a consistent theme in biblical prophecy, showcasing God's sovereignty over all human kingdoms. This idea profoundly contrasts with any belief that the invader acts purely on their own accord or for their own glory, underscoring that even the most powerful human empires are mere instruments in the hands of the Almighty. It serves as a polemic against the perception that Judah's problems are simply military or political; they are fundamentally spiritual, demanding a response to God, not just to the external threat. This warning, ignored by Judah, demonstrates the profound danger of neglecting prophetic calls for repentance.
Jeremiah 6 22 Commentary
Jeremiah 6:22 serves as a pivotal warning, firmly grounding the impending disaster in God's sovereign plan. It clarifies that the horrific destruction about to befall Judah is not a random geopolitical event but a direct consequence of their covenant breaking and a specific divine judgment. The mention of the "north country" provides geographical specificity pointing to Babylon, which would become the instrument of God's wrath. The emphasis on "a great nation" from the "farthest parts of the earth" underscores the overwhelming power and perceived inexorable march of this divinely appointed army. This portrayal instilled terror in a people who had become complacent in their sin, falsely believing in their inviolable status because of the temple in Jerusalem. God is depicted as actively "stirring" this nation, highlighting His complete control over human history and His use of pagan nations to chastise His own people, a powerful lesson for Judah in their unrepentant state. The verse effectively shatters any false sense of security and reiterates the severity of God's justice.