Jeremiah 25:9

Authorized King James Version

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.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
הִנְנִ֣י
lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
#2
שֹׁלֵ֡חַ
Behold I will send
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
#3
וְלָקַחְתִּי֩
and take
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
#4
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#5
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#6
מִשְׁפְּח֨וֹת
all the families
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
#7
צָפ֜וֹן
of the north
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
#8
נְאֻם
saith
an oracle
#9
יְהוָ֗ה
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#10
וְאֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#11
נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר
and Nebuchadrezzar
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
#12
מֶֽלֶךְ
the king
a king
#13
בָּבֶל֮
of Babylon
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
#14
עַבְדִּי֒
my servant
a servant
#15
וַהֲבִ֨אֹתִ֜ים
and will bring
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#16
עַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#17
הָאָ֤רֶץ
them against this land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#18
הַזֹּאת֙
this (often used adverb)
#19
וְעַל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#20
יֹ֣שְׁבֶ֔יהָ
and against the inhabitants
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
#21
וְעַ֛ל
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
#22
כָּל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#23
הַגּוֹיִ֥ם
thereof and against all these nations
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#24
הָאֵ֖לֶּה
these or those
#25
סָבִ֑יב
round about
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
#26
וְהַ֣חֲרַמְתִּ֔ים
and will utterly destroy
to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nose
#27
וְשַׂמְתִּים֙
them and make
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#28
לְשַׁמָּ֣ה
them an astonishment
ruin; by implication, consternation
#29
וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֔ה
and an hissing
a derision
#30
וּלְחָרְב֖וֹת
desolations
properly, drought, i.e., (by implication) a desolation
#31
עוֹלָֽם׃
and perpetual
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial

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 divine sovereignty 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 literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Jeremiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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