Jeremiah 49:28
Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.
Original Language Analysis
קֵדָ֔ר
Concerning Kedar
H6938
קֵדָ֔ר
Concerning Kedar
Strong's:
H6938
Word #:
1 of 19
kedar, a son of ishmael; also (collectively) bedouin (as his descendants or representatives)
וּֽלְמַמְלְכ֣וֹת
and concerning the kingdoms
H4467
וּֽלְמַמְלְכ֣וֹת
and concerning the kingdoms
Strong's:
H4467
Word #:
2 of 19
dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)
חָצ֗וֹר
of Hazor
H2674
חָצ֗וֹר
of Hazor
Strong's:
H2674
Word #:
3 of 19
chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in palestine and of one in arabia
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 19
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
הִכָּה֙
shall smite
H5221
הִכָּה֙
shall smite
Strong's:
H5221
Word #:
5 of 19
to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)
נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ור
which Nebuchadrezzar
H5019
נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ור
which Nebuchadrezzar
Strong's:
H5019
Word #:
6 of 19
nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon
בָּבֶ֔ל
of Babylon
H894
בָּבֶ֔ל
of Babylon
Strong's:
H894
Word #:
8 of 19
babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire
כֹּ֖ה
H3541
כֹּ֖ה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
9 of 19
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 19
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
ק֚וּמוּ
Arise
H6965
ק֚וּמוּ
Arise
Strong's:
H6965
Word #:
12 of 19
to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
עֲל֣וּ
ye go up
H5927
עֲל֣וּ
ye go up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
13 of 19
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
קֵדָ֔ר
Concerning Kedar
H6938
קֵדָ֔ר
Concerning Kedar
Strong's:
H6938
Word #:
15 of 19
kedar, a son of ishmael; also (collectively) bedouin (as his descendants or representatives)
וְשָׁדְד֖וּ
and spoil
H7703
וְשָׁדְד֖וּ
and spoil
Strong's:
H7703
Word #:
16 of 19
properly, to be burly, i.e., (figuratively) powerful (passively, impregnable); by implication, to ravage
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 19
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Isaiah 11:14But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them.Genesis 25:13And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,Judges 6:3And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;Jeremiah 2:10For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.Jeremiah 49:14I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.Ezekiel 27:21Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants.
Historical Context
Nebuchadnezzar campaigned in Arabia circa 599-598 BC, attacking caravan tribes. This disrupted trade routes and demonstrated Babylon's reach into previously untouched desert regions. Kedarite inscriptions from this period reference conflicts with foreign powers, likely including Babylon.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God judge even nomadic Arabian tribes who weren't involved in Israel's affairs?
- What does Nebuchadnezzar's naming as God's agent reveal about divine sovereignty over pagan kings?
- How does this oracle challenge the notion that geographic isolation provides safety from God's justice?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor (לְקֵדָר וּלְמַמְלְכוֹת חָצוֹר, l'Qedar ul'mamlkhot Chatzor)—Jeremiah shifts to Arabian kingdoms. Kedar, descended from Ishmael (Genesis 25:13), represented Bedouin tribes renowned for black tents, flocks, and archery (Isaiah 21:16-17). Hazor here isn't the Canaanite city but refers to unwalled settlements (chatserim) of semi-nomadic Arabs. Which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite—God names His instrument before the blow falls.
Thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east (קוּמוּ עֲלוּ אֶל־קֵדָר וְשָׁדְדוּ אֶת־בְּנֵי־קֶדֶם, qumu alu el-Qedar v'shaddu et-b'nei-Qedem)—Divine imperatives dispatch Babylon to plunder Arabia. 'Men of the east' (b'nei-Qedem) were proverbial for wealth and wisdom (Job 1:3). Yet God decrees their 'spoiling' (shadad), the same violent despoiling Israel experienced. No people group—settled urbanites or desert nomads—escapes divine jurisdiction.