Jeremiah 25:11

Authorized King James Version

And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְהָֽיְתָה֙
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
#2
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#3
הָאָ֣רֶץ
And this whole land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#4
הַזֹּ֔את
this (often used adverb)
#5
לְחָרְבָּ֖ה
shall be a desolation
properly, drought, i.e., (by implication) a desolation
#6
לְשַׁמָּ֑ה
and an astonishment
ruin; by implication, consternation
#7
וְעָ֨בְד֜וּ
shall serve
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
#8
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם
and these nations
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#9
הָאֵ֛לֶּה
these or those
#10
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#11
מֶ֥לֶךְ
the king
a king
#12
בָּבֶ֖ל
of Babylon
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
#13
שִׁבְעִ֥ים
seventy
seventy
#14
שָׁנָֽה׃
years
a year (as a revolution of time)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing covenant community contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The historical context of the biblical period relevant to this book's composition provides crucial background for understanding this verse. The historical and cultural milieu of the biblical world informed the author's theological expression and the audience's understanding. The the cultural context of the biblical world would have shaped how the original audience understood covenant community. Archaeological and historical evidence reveals Archaeological discoveries continue to illuminate the historical context of biblical texts.

Questions for Reflection

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