Jeremiah 25:9
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Original Language Analysis
שֹׁלֵ֡חַ
Behold I will send
H7971
שֹׁלֵ֡חַ
Behold I will send
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
2 of 31
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
וְלָקַחְתִּי֩
and take
H3947
וְלָקַחְתִּי֩
and take
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
3 of 31
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 31
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִשְׁפְּח֨וֹת
all the families
H4940
מִשְׁפְּח֨וֹת
all the families
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
6 of 31
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
צָפ֜וֹן
of the north
H6828
צָפ֜וֹן
of the north
Strong's:
H6828
Word #:
7 of 31
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
9 of 31
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר
and Nebuchadrezzar
H5019
נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר
and Nebuchadrezzar
Strong's:
H5019
Word #:
11 of 31
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
בָּבֶל֮
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶל֮
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
13 of 31
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
וַהֲבִ֨אֹתִ֜ים
and will bring
H935
וַהֲבִ֨אֹתִ֜ים
and will bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
15 of 31
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
16 of 31
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
הָאָ֤רֶץ
them against this land
H776
הָאָ֤רֶץ
them against this land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
17 of 31
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
19 of 31
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יֹ֣שְׁבֶ֔יהָ
and against the inhabitants
H3427
יֹ֣שְׁבֶ֔יהָ
and against the inhabitants
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
20 of 31
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
וְעַ֛ל
H5921
וְעַ֛ל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
21 of 31
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
22 of 31
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם
thereof and against all these nations
H1471
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם
thereof and against all these nations
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
23 of 31
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
סָבִ֑יב
round about
H5439
סָבִ֑יב
round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
25 of 31
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
וְהַ֣חֲרַמְתִּ֔ים
and will utterly destroy
H2763
וְהַ֣חֲרַמְתִּ֔ים
and will utterly destroy
Strong's:
H2763
Word #:
26 of 31
to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose
וְשַׂמְתִּים֙
them and make
H7760
וְשַׂמְתִּים֙
them and make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
27 of 31
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
לְשַׁמָּ֣ה
them an astonishment
H8047
לְשַׁמָּ֣ה
them an astonishment
Strong's:
H8047
Word #:
28 of 31
ruin; by implication, consternation
Cross References
Jeremiah 18:16To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.Isaiah 13:3I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.Jeremiah 1:15For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.Jeremiah 43:10And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.Isaiah 39:7And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.Jeremiah 24:9And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
Historical Context
Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC) built the Neo-Babylonian Empire into the ancient world's dominant power. His campaigns devastated the Levant—conquering Jerusalem in 597 BC, destroying it in 586 BC, and deporting the population. Archaeological evidence confirms widespread destruction of Judean cities during this period. The 'nations round about' also fell—Egypt, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Tyre—fulfilling this prophecy precisely. Babylon became God's rod of anger against covenant-breaking peoples.
Questions for Reflection
- What does God's use of a pagan king as 'my servant' teach about divine sovereignty over human history?
- How should we understand God's judgment making Judah 'an astonishment and hissing'—was this merely punitive or also redemptive in purpose?
- In what ways might God use secular authorities and even hostile powers to accomplish His purposes today?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant—The designation of pagan Nebuchadnezzar as ʿaḇdî (עַבְדִּי, my servant) is theologically stunning. This term typically refers to faithful servants like Moses, David, and the prophets. Here it identifies the brutal Babylonian king as God's instrument for executing judgment. God sovereignly uses even pagan rulers to accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 10:5-19, 45:1-7). Nebuchadnezzar doesn't serve God consciously or willingly, yet he fulfills divine purposes nonetheless.
And will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations. The Hebrew ḥāram (חָרַם, utterly destroy) is the term for holy war, complete destruction devoted to God. The phrase lĕshammâ ûlišrêqâ ûlĕḥorĕḇōṯ ʿôlām (לְשַׁמָּה וְלִשְׁרֵקָה וּלְחָרְבוֹת עוֹלָם, for astonishment, hissing, and perpetual desolations) describes total devastation that becomes a proverbial warning to others. This wasn't merely political defeat but divine judgment making Judah an object lesson.