Jeremiah 25:33
And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָי֞וּ
H1961
וְהָי֞וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 21
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
חַֽלְלֵ֤י
And the slain
H2491
חַֽלְלֵ֤י
And the slain
Strong's:
H2491
Word #:
2 of 21
pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 21
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בַּיּ֣וֹם
shall be at that day
H3117
בַּיּ֣וֹם
shall be at that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
4 of 21
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֔וּא
H1931
הַה֔וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
5 of 21
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וְעַד
H5704
וְעַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
8 of 21
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
11 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יִסָּפְד֗וּ
they shall not be lamented
H5594
יִסָּפְד֗וּ
they shall not be lamented
Strong's:
H5594
Word #:
12 of 21
properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts (as middle easterners do in grief); generally to lament; by implication, to wail
וְלֹ֤א
H3808
וְלֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙
neither gathered
H622
יֵאָֽסְפוּ֙
neither gathered
Strong's:
H622
Word #:
14 of 21
to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
וְלֹ֣א
H3808
וְלֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
18 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
פְּנֵ֥י
upon
H6440
פְּנֵ֥י
upon
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
19 of 21
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Isaiah 66:16For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.Jeremiah 8:2And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.Psalms 79:3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.Isaiah 5:25Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Historical Context
The Babylonian conquests produced exactly this horror. Lamentations describes Jerusalem's destruction: 'The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them...They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills' (Lamentations 4:4-5). Archaeological excavations reveal mass graves and evidence of violent destruction throughout Judah and surrounding nations. The prophecy was fulfilled with terrible precision.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the dishonor of being 'unburied, like dung upon the ground' emphasize the horror and totality of God's judgment?
- What does the universal scope ('from one end of the earth to the other') teach about the comprehensiveness of final judgment?
- How should these graphic warnings of judgment's reality shape our evangelistic urgency and personal holiness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground. The phrase ḥallê YHWH (חַלְלֵי יְהוָה, the slain of the LORD) identifies these deaths as divine judgment, not mere casualties of war. The extent miqqĕṣêh hāʾāreṣ wĕʿaḏ-qĕṣêh hāʾāreṣ (מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ וְעַד־קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, from one end of the earth to the other) emphasizes universal scope. The threefold denial—wĕlōʾ yissāp̄ĕḏû wĕlōʾ yēʾāsĕp̄û wĕlōʾ yiqqāḇērû (וְלֹא יִסָּפְדוּ וְלֹא יֵאָסְפוּ וְלֹא יִקָּבֵרוּ, not lamented, not gathered, not buried)—describes maximum dishonor.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, proper burial was essential for honoring the dead. Lack of burial was ultimate disgrace (Psalm 79:2-3). The phrase lĕḏōmen ʿal-pĕnê hāʾăḏāmâ yihyû (לְדֹמֶן עַל־פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה יִהְיוּ, they shall be dung upon the ground) employs shocking imagery—human bodies treated as animal waste, left to decay and fertilize the soil. This reverses human dignity, reducing people to organic matter. It demonstrates the dehumanizing horror of divine judgment against persistent rebellion. Yet even this terrible imagery serves a purpose—warning the living to repent before facing such judgment.