Jeremiah 49:17

Authorized King James Version

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Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.

Original Language Analysis

וְהָיְתָ֥ה H1961
וְהָיְתָ֥ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 1 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
אֱד֖וֹם Also Edom H123
אֱד֖וֹם Also Edom
Strong's: H123
Word #: 2 of 11
edom, the elder twin-brother of jacob; hence the region (idumaea) occupied by him
לְשַׁמָּ֑ה shall be a desolation H8047
לְשַׁמָּ֑ה shall be a desolation
Strong's: H8047
Word #: 3 of 11
ruin; by implication, consternation
כֹּ֚ל H3605
כֹּ֚ל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 4 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֹבֵ֣ר every one that goeth H5674
עֹבֵ֣ר every one that goeth
Strong's: H5674
Word #: 5 of 11
to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in
עָלֶ֔יהָ H5921
עָלֶ֔יהָ
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 6 of 11
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִשֹּׁ֥ם by it shall be astonished H8074
יִשֹּׁ֥ם by it shall be astonished
Strong's: H8074
Word #: 7 of 11
to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)
וְיִשְׁרֹ֖ק and shall hiss H8319
וְיִשְׁרֹ֖ק and shall hiss
Strong's: H8319
Word #: 8 of 11
properly, to be shrill, i.e., to whistle or hiss (as a call or in scorn)
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 9 of 11
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 #: 10 of 11
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מַכּוֹתֶֽהָ׃ at all the plagues H4347
מַכּוֹתֶֽהָ׃ at all the plagues
Strong's: H4347
Word #: 11 of 11
a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence

Analysis & Commentary

Edom shall be a desolation (לְשַׁמָּה תִּהְיֶה, l'shammah tihyeh)—The noun shammah denotes horrified astonishment at judgment, used frequently in Jeremiah's oracles (see 2:15, 18:16). Every one that goeth by it shall be astonished (יִשֹּׁם, yisshom)—travelers will hiss (שָׁרַק, sharaq), a sound expressing derision and horror, drawing attention to God's judicial handiwork.

This prophetic perfect tense treats future judgment as accomplished fact, demonstrating Yahweh's sovereign control over history. The clause all the plagues thereof (מַכּוֹתֶיהָ, makkoteha) employs Exodus language, suggesting Edom's judgment mirrors Egypt's—covenant breakers face covenant curses. Edom's ruins become a teaching tool, a perpetual sermon on pride's consequences.

Historical Context

Ancient Near Eastern travelers would 'hiss' at ruins as both a protective gesture (warding off evil) and a moral commentary. Edom's desolate cities became proverbial. Malachi 1:2-4 confirms God's perpetual anger against Edom ('the people with whom the LORD is indignant forever').

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