Jeremiah 6 22

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 verses

Jeremiah 6 22 Meaning

The Lord declares that an enemy is coming from the north, a mighty nation bringing destruction upon the cities of Judah. This enemy is like a roused lion, ready to devour and destroy everything in its path. The devastation is total, leaving no place safe within the land.

Jeremiah 6 22 Context

Jeremiah 6:22 presents a prophecy of invasion coming upon Judah. This is part of a larger prophetic oracle where God announces His impending judgment due to the persistent sin and rebellion of His people. The preceding verses (6:16-21) lament their refusal to listen to God's word, their stubborn disobedience, and their idolatrous practices. They had rejected divine wisdom and were now facing the consequences. The historical backdrop is the late 7th century BCE, a time when the Babylonian empire was rising under Nebuchadnezzar, poised to conquer Judah and deport its people. Jeremiah, the prophet, delivered these messages during a tumultuous period, urging repentance while forewarning of inescapable judgment. The "people from the north" refers to the Babylonian army, an instrument of God's wrath.

Jeremiah 6 22 Word Analysis

• "Behold" (Hebrew: הִנֵּה, hinnēh): An interjection calling for attention; look! See! Notice! It serves to introduce a significant or imminent event.
• "a people" (Hebrew: עַם, ʿamm): Refers to a nation or populace, here signifying the invading army.
• "is coming" (Hebrew: בָּא, bāʾ): Present tense, indicating an ongoing or imminent movement and arrival.
• "from the north country" (Hebrew: מִצָּפוֹן, miṣṣāp̱ôn): Specifically pointing to the direction of the impending threat. Northern kingdoms, like Assyria and Babylon, were historical threats to Israel and Judah.
• "and a great nation" (Hebrew: וְגוֹי גָּדוֹל, wəḡōwỳ gāḏôl): Emphasizes the size and power of the enemy force.
• "will be stirred up" (Hebrew: תִּתְעוֹרֵר, tiṯʿōrēr): From the root עור (ʿwr), meaning to awake, stir up, incite. It suggests a mobilized and aroused force.
• "from the uttermost parts of the earth" (Hebrew: מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, miqṣēh hāʾāreṣ): Expresses the vastness and remoteness of the enemy's origin, underscoring the scale of the invasion.
• "They lay hold of" (Hebrew: נָקְטוּ, nāqəṭū): Often translated as "grasp" or "take hold," implying readiness and seizing of weapons.
• "bow and spear" (Hebrew: קֶשֶׁת וְחֶנֶן, qešeṯ wəḥan·nan): Common weaponry of ancient warfare, indicating military preparedness.
• "they are cruel" (Hebrew: אַכְזָרִיִם, ’aḵzārîm): Denotes harshness, ruthlessness, lack of compassion.
• "and have no mercy" (Hebrew: וְלֹא־יַחְמוֹלוּ, wəlō-yəḥəmôlū): Explicitly states their brutal nature, devoid of pity or empathy.
• "Their voice roars like the sea" (Hebrew: קוֹלָם כַּיָּם יִשְׁמַע, qōlām kay·yām yiš·maʿ): A simile comparing their war cries and overall impact to the overwhelming, unstoppable force of the sea's roar.
• "they ride on horses" (Hebrew: וּרְכֵבִים עַל־סוּסִים, ûr·ḵêḇîm ʿal-sû·sîm): Indicates cavalry units, a significant element of military might.
• "every one set in array" (Hebrew: קְשִׁית, qəšîṯ): Means "in order," "in battle array," highlighting their organized and disciplined advance.
• "like a host against you, O daughter of Zion!" (Hebrew: כְּכֹל־הַמִּלְחָמָה, kəḵol-ham·mil·ḥā·māh ’aḵ·ṯōḵ bãṯ-ṣî·yôn): This phrasing means "like all the war," or "prepared for war." It vividly portrays them as an overwhelming, unified force, directly confronting Jerusalem (daughter of Zion).

Jeremiah 6 22 Bonus Section

The imagery of an enemy from the north echoes earlier prophetic pronouncements against Israel and Judah, highlighting a recurring pattern of judgment for apostasy. The description of the enemy's voice roaring like the sea is a powerful simile for the terrifying, overwhelming nature of God's judgments when they come upon His people due to their unfaithfulness. The phrase "every one set in array, like a host against you" suggests not just a military formation, but an absolute commitment to battle, a force God has assembled for a specific purpose. The targeting of "daughter of Zion" is significant, as Zion represents God's dwelling place and the object of His special affection; thus, the attack upon Zion signifies the gravity of their sin and the intensity of God's displeasure. This verse also highlights the theological concept of "holy war," where God commands and directs armies, even Gentile ones, to execute His righteous judgments.

Jeremiah 6 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 6:22 paints a vivid picture of impending divine judgment. God declares the arrival of an immensely powerful and ruthless enemy from the north, symbolizing the Babylonian invasion. This force is characterized by its cruelty, lack of mercy, and overwhelming strength, moving like a terrifying, unified army with a fearsome roar. The "daughter of Zion," representing Jerusalem and its inhabitants, is directly confronted by this onslaught. The verse emphasizes the totality of the threat, as the enemy's organized military might leaves no room for escape or defense for the unrepentant nation. This divine announcement underscores God's sovereignty in history, using nations as instruments to carry out His judgment against sin and disobedience. It is a solemn warning that repentance was Judah's only hope before such complete destruction.