Jeremiah 10:25

Authorized King James Version

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Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.

Original Language Analysis

שְׁפֹ֣ךְ Pour out H8210
שְׁפֹ֣ךְ Pour out
Strong's: H8210
Word #: 1 of 22
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
חֲמָתְךָ֗ thy fury H2534
חֲמָתְךָ֗ thy fury
Strong's: H2534
Word #: 2 of 22
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 3 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הַגּוֹיִם֙ upon the heathen H1471
הַגּוֹיִם֙ upon the heathen
Strong's: H1471
Word #: 4 of 22
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 5 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 6 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יְדָע֔וּךָ that know H3045
יְדָע֔וּךָ that know
Strong's: H3045
Word #: 7 of 22
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
וְעַל֙ H5921
וְעַל֙
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 8 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת thee not and upon the families H4940
מִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת thee not and upon the families
Strong's: H4940
Word #: 9 of 22
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 10 of 22
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
בְּשִׁמְךָ֖ not on thy name H8034
בְּשִׁמְךָ֖ not on thy name
Strong's: H8034
Word #: 11 of 22
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
לֹ֣א H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 12 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
קָרָ֑אוּ that call H7121
קָרָ֑אוּ that call
Strong's: H7121
Word #: 13 of 22
to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 14 of 22
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
וַאֲכָלֻ֙הוּ֙ and devoured H398
וַאֲכָלֻ֙הוּ֙ and devoured
Strong's: H398
Word #: 15 of 22
to eat (literally or figuratively)
אֶֽת H853
אֶֽת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 16 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יַעֲקֹ֗ב Jacob H3290
יַעֲקֹ֗ב Jacob
Strong's: H3290
Word #: 17 of 22
jaakob, the israelitish patriarch
וַאֲכָלֻ֙הוּ֙ and devoured H398
וַאֲכָלֻ֙הוּ֙ and devoured
Strong's: H398
Word #: 18 of 22
to eat (literally or figuratively)
וַיְכַלֻּ֔הוּ him and consumed H3615
וַיְכַלֻּ֔הוּ him and consumed
Strong's: H3615
Word #: 19 of 22
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 20 of 22
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
נָוֵ֖הוּ him and have made his habitation H5116
נָוֵ֖הוּ him and have made his habitation
Strong's: H5116
Word #: 21 of 22
(adjectively) at home; hence (by implication of satisfaction) lovely; also (noun) a home, of god (temple), men (residence), flocks (pasture), or wild
הֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃ desolate H8074
הֵשַֽׁמּוּ׃ desolate
Strong's: H8074
Word #: 22 of 22
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)

Analysis & Commentary

This verse concludes with prayer for justice against oppressors: 'Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not.' The Hebrew shaphak (שָׁפַךְ, pour out) with chemah (חֵמָה, heat, rage, fury) requests divine wrath directed at pagan nations. 'That know thee not' (lo yeda'ukha) identifies them as those lacking covenant relationship. 'And upon the families that call not on thy name.' Families/clans (mishpachoth) who don't invoke YHWH's name in worship deserve judgment. 'For they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.' Three verbs—eaten (akal), devoured (kalah), consumed (tamam)—intensify the description of destruction. The prayer asks God to judge the instruments of judgment—holding Babylon accountable for excessive cruelty while acknowledging Israel's deserved discipline.

Historical Context

This prayer appears nearly identically in Psalm 79:6-7, suggesting liturgical usage. The theology is consistent with Jeremiah 25:12-14 and 50-51—God will judge Babylon for destroying what He commanded them to destroy but with arrogant cruelty exceeding divine commission. Isaiah similarly promises judgment on Assyria for proud excess (Isaiah 10:5-19). Divine instruments remain accountable for their methods.

Questions for Reflection

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