Jeremiah 49:18
As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.
Original Language Analysis
וּשְׁכֵנֶ֖יהָ
and the neighbour
H7934
וּשְׁכֵנֶ֖יהָ
and the neighbour
Strong's:
H7934
Word #:
4 of 15
a resident; by extension, a fellow-citizen
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
7 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יֵשֵׁ֥ב
shall abide
H3427
יֵשֵׁ֥ב
shall abide
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
8 of 15
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
שָׁם֙
H8033
אִ֔ישׁ
no man
H376
אִ֔ישׁ
no man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
10 of 15
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
11 of 15
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָג֥וּר
dwell
H1481
יָג֥וּר
dwell
Strong's:
H1481
Word #:
12 of 15
properly, to turn aside from the road (for a lodging or any other purpose), i.e., sojourn (as a guest); also to shrink, fear (as in a strange place);
Cross References
Jeremiah 49:33And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.Deuteronomy 29:23And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:Jeremiah 50:40As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.Amos 4:11I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.Zephaniah 2:9Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
Historical Context
Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) stood in collective memory as the ultimate example of divine wrath. Archaeological evidence shows Edom's major cities were indeed abandoned and never substantially reinhabited after the 6th century BC, unlike other nations Babylon conquered.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Scripture invoke Sodom when describing ultimate judgment—what makes that destruction paradigmatic?
- How does Edom's permanent desolation differ from God's restoration of Judah, and what does this reveal about covenant?
- What does the 'son of man shall not dwell' formula teach about the relationship between human habitation and divine blessing?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (כְּמַהְפֵּכַת סְדֹם וַעֲמֹרָה, k'mahpekat Sedom v'Amorah)—The comparison is devastating: Edom's judgment will be as total and irreversible as the paradigmatic divine catastrophe. The noun mahpekah (overthrow) denotes violent reversal, used throughout Scripture for supernatural destruction (Genesis 19:29, Amos 4:11).
No man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it—The parallelism emphasizes absolute desolation. Unlike other judged nations that were later restored, Edom receives Sodom's fate: permanent uninhabitability. This severity reflects Edom's covenant treachery—they were Esau's descendants who sold birthright for stew and later sold out their brothers for plunder. Hebrews 12:16-17 warns against Esau's irreversible loss; Edom corporately embodies this cautionary tale.