Jeremiah 49:16

Authorized King James Version

Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
תִּֽפְלַצְתְּךָ֞
Thy terribleness
fearfulness
#2
הִשִּׁ֤יא
hath deceived
to lead astray, i.e., (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce
#3
אֹתָךְ֙
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#4
זְד֣וֹן
thee and the pride
arrogance
#5
לִבֶּ֔ךָ
of thine heart
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
#6
שֹֽׁכְנִי֙
O thou that dwellest
to reside or permanently stay (literally or figuratively)
#7
בְּחַגְוֵ֣י
in the clefts
a rift in rocks
#8
הַסֶּ֔לַע
of the rock
a craggy rock, literally or figuratively (a fortress)
#9
תֹּפְשִׂ֖י
that holdest
to manipulate, i.e., seize; chiefly to capture, wield, specifically, to overlay; figuratively, to use unwarrantably
#10
מְר֣וֹם
the height
altitude, i.e., concretely (an elevated place), abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially (aloft)
#11
גִּבְעָ֑ה
of the hill
a hillock
#12
כִּֽי
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
#13
תַגְבִּ֤יהַּ
as high
to soar, i.e., be lofty; figuratively, to be haughty
#14
כַּנֶּ֙שֶׁר֙
as the eagle
the eagle (or other large bird of prey)
#15
קִנֶּ֔ךָ
though thou shouldest make thy nest
a nest (as fixed), sometimes including the nestlings; figuratively, a chamber or dwelling
#16
מִשָּׁ֥ם
there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence
#17
אֽוֹרִידְךָ֖
I will bring thee down
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
#18
נְאֻם
from thence saith
an oracle
#19
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

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

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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