Jeremiah 49:32
And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וְהָי֨וּ
H1961
וְהָי֨וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 18
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
וַהֲמ֤וֹן
and the multitude
H1995
וַהֲמ֤וֹן
and the multitude
Strong's:
H1995
Word #:
4 of 18
a noise, tumult, crowd; also disquietude, wealth
מִקְנֵיהֶם֙
of their cattle
H4735
מִקְנֵיהֶם֙
of their cattle
Strong's:
H4735
Word #:
5 of 18
something bought, i.e., property, but only live stock; abstractly, acquisition
וְזֵרִתִ֥ים
and I will scatter
H2219
וְזֵרִתִ֥ים
and I will scatter
Strong's:
H2219
Word #:
7 of 18
to toss about; by implication, to diffuse, winnow
לְכָל
H3605
לְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
ר֖וּחַ
into all winds
H7307
ר֖וּחַ
into all winds
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
9 of 18
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
קְצוּצֵ֣י
them that are in the utmost
H7112
קְצוּצֵ֣י
them that are in the utmost
Strong's:
H7112
Word #:
10 of 18
to chop off (literally or figuratively)
פֵאָ֑ה
corners
H6285
פֵאָ֑ה
corners
Strong's:
H6285
Word #:
11 of 18
properly, mouth in a figurative sense, i.e., direction, region, extremity
וּמִכָּל
H3605
וּמִכָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 18
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עֲבָרָ֛יו
from all sides
H5676
עֲבָרָ֛יו
from all sides
Strong's:
H5676
Word #:
13 of 18
properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the jordan; ususally meaning
אָבִ֥יא
and I will bring
H935
אָבִ֥יא
and I will bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
14 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Jeremiah 9:26Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.Jeremiah 25:23Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,Jeremiah 49:36And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.Ezekiel 5:10Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
Historical Context
The hair-trimming custom (rounded foreheads) distinguished certain Arabian tribes and had religious significance. Jeremiah's reference confirms specific Arabian cultural practices. Historical records document Arabian tribes' fragmentation and displacement during this period, fulfilling the scattering prophecy.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's judgment often involve ironic reversals of a people's characteristic strengths or practices?
- What does the scattering 'to all winds' reveal about the comprehensive reach of divine judgment?
- How should Christians view cultural distinctives (like the hair custom) in light of God's universal moral standards?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And their camels shall be a booty (וְהָיוּ גְמַלֵּיהֶם לָבַז, v'hayu g'malleihem lavaz)—Camels were Arabia's economic engine: transportation, trade, wealth storage. Their seizure means total economic collapse. And the multitude of their cattle a spoil (וַהֲמוֹן מִקְנֵיהֶם לְשָׁלָל, vahamon miqneihem l'shalal)—livestock herds become plunder (shalal). Every asset vanishes.
And I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners (וְזֵרִתִים לְכָל־רוּחַ קְצוּצֵי פֵאָה, v'zeritim l'khol-ruach qetsutzei pe'ah)—The qetsutzei pe'ah (those who cut the corners of their hair) refers to an Arabian custom forbidden to Israelites (Leviticus 19:27). God will zarah (scatter, winnow) them to every wind direction—the ultimate nomadic irony. Those who moved freely through desert spaces will be forcibly dispersed. I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof—magor missaviv again. Omnidirectional judgment leaves no escape vector.