Jeremiah 13:20

KJV

Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where [is] the flock [that] was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

KJV (with Strong's)

Lift up {H5375} your eyes {H5869}, and behold {H7200} them that come {H935} from the north {H6828}: where is the flock {H5739} that was given {H5414} thee, thy beautiful {H8597} flock {H6629}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Raise your eyes, and you will see them coming from the north. Where is the flock once entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?

Berean Standard Bible

Lift up your eyes and see those coming from the north. Where is the flock entrusted to you, the sheep that were your pride?

American Standard Version

Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 13:20 functions as a profound prophetic lament and an urgent warning, compelling the people of Judah to witness the imminent invasion from the north, personified as a relentless, devastating force. The verse then transitions into a deeply poignant rhetorical question, querying the whereabouts of "the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock"—God's cherished covenant people, Israel. This inquiry tragically implies their impending scattering, loss, and spiritual disarray, directly attributing these consequences to their pervasive unfaithfulness and the severe dereliction of duty by their spiritual and political leadership. Ultimately, the verse encapsulates the profound sorrow of divine judgment and the tragic, inevitable repercussions of national apostasy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 13:20 is strategically placed within a series of powerful prophetic pronouncements and symbolic actions designed to vividly illustrate Judah's spiritual adultery and the certainty of divine judgment. Immediately preceding this verse, Jeremiah performs the symbolic act of the linen belt, as detailed in [Jeremiah 13:1-11](/jeremiah/13-1-11 "Jeremiah 13:1-11 - The Linen Belt Symbolism"). This act powerfully conveys how Judah, once intimately bound to God and intended for His glory, has become utterly ruined and rendered useless due to their stubborn pride and persistent disobedience. The narrative then shifts to the metaphor of wine jars in [Jeremiah 13:12-14](/jeremiah/13-12-14 "Jeremiah 13:12-14 - The Wine Jars of Judgment"), signifying that all inhabitants, from the highest king to the humblest commoner, are destined to be shattered by God's judgment. Verse 20, therefore, serves as a direct, urgent, and climactic call to witness the stark fulfillment of these preceding warnings, transitioning from symbolic acts to the terrifying reality of the approaching enemy and the prophet's heart-wrenching lament over the nation's spiritual and physical dispersion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical setting for Jeremiah's prophetic ministry is the tumultuous late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a period marked by the waning power of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and the formidable rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Judah found itself precariously positioned between these shifting global powers, frequently vacillating in its political allegiances, often seeking ill-fated alliances with Egypt or Babylon rather than placing its trust in the Lord. The phrase "the north" consistently functions as a prophetic designation for the direction from which major invaders, most notably the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar, would descend upon Judah. Culturally, the imagery of a "flock" was ubiquitous in the ancient Near East as a metaphor for a people or nation, with their leaders commonly depicted as "shepherds." This deeply ingrained cultural understanding amplifies the severity of the indictment in Jeremiah 13:20: God, the true and supreme Shepherd, had entrusted His precious "flock" (Judah) to human leaders—kings, priests, and prophets—who had tragically failed in their sacred duty, leading to the flock's spiritual corruption, scattering, and extreme vulnerability to predatory empires.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching and interconnected themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it starkly highlights the theme of **Impending Divine Judgment**, specifically manifested through the instrument of foreign invasion, a recurring and ominous motif that begins early in the book, as seen in [Jeremiah 1:14](/jeremiah/1-14 "Jeremiah 1:14 - The Boiling Pot from the North"). Secondly, it underscores the critical theme of **Accountability for Leadership**, emphasizing the catastrophic failure of Judah's spiritual and political leaders to faithfully shepherd God's people, which directly contributed to their profound spiritual decay and eventual dispersion. This theme is further developed and condemned in passages such as [Jeremiah 23:1-4](/jeremiah/23-1-4 "Jeremiah 23:1-4 - Woe to Unfaithful Shepherds"). Thirdly, the verse expresses a profound sense of **Lament and Loss**, reflecting Jeremiah's deep, personal sorrow over the impending destruction of his beloved nation and the tragic loss of God's "beautiful flock"—a people once cherished, set apart, and intended for glory, now facing utter desolation. This pervasive lament is a defining characteristic of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, earning him the poignant title "the weeping prophet."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lift up (Hebrew, _nâsâʼ'_):** This primitive root encompasses a broad semantic range, including "to lift," "to bear," "to carry," "to exalt," or "to raise." In Jeremiah 13:20, it functions as an imperative command, urging the people to actively and consciously "lift up" their eyes, signifying a call to heightened visual and mental perception. It demands an urgent awareness, a recognition of the grim reality that is swiftly approaching, compelling them to abandon denial or ignorance in the face of imminent threat.
* **north (Hebrew, _tsâphôwn'_):** Derived from a root meaning "hidden" or "dark," this term specifically designates the northern cardinal direction. In the context of biblical prophecy, particularly within Jeremiah's pronouncements, "the north" consistently symbolizes the geographical origin of invading armies destined to execute divine judgment upon both Israel and Judah. It evokes a potent sense of foreboding, representing a dark, formidable, and seemingly unknown destructive force emerging from an unexpected, yet divinely appointed, quarter.
* **beautiful (Hebrew, _tiphʼârâh'_):** This word conveys concepts of "ornament," "beauty," "glory," "honor," or "majesty." When applied to the "flock" in this verse, it profoundly underscores God's original esteem, delight, and glorious intention for His people, Israel. It speaks to their unique, consecrated status as His chosen nation, endowed with His glory and purposed for His honor. The rhetorical question, "where is... thy beautiful flock?", thus starkly highlights the tragic disparity between their divinely ordained glory and their current, lost, scattered, and disgraced state.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north:"** This is an urgent, commanding prophetic imperative. The phrase "Lift up your eyes" serves as a powerful summons to heightened spiritual and physical awareness, urging the audience to look beyond their immediate, complacent circumstances and keenly perceive the approaching, undeniable reality of judgment. "Behold them that come from the north" explicitly identifies the source of the impending disaster—the Babylonian invaders. It is a stark, unvarnished warning, demanding immediate and serious attention to the tangible, physical manifestation of God's righteous judgment.
* **"where [is] the flock [that] was given thee, thy beautiful flock?"** This constitutes a profound and deeply sorrowful rhetorical question, laden with both lament and implicit accusation. "The flock" unequivocally refers to the people of Judah, God's covenant people, whom He had uniquely chosen and called. The phrase "that was given thee" carries the weighty implication of a divine entrustment, particularly directed towards the unfaithful leaders (kings, priests, and false prophets) who were divinely commissioned and held responsible for shepherding the nation. The poignant repetition of "thy beautiful flock" emphatically underscores the immense preciousness, value, and unique status God placed upon His people, making their current lost, scattered, and vulnerable state all the more tragic and highlighting the grievous failure of those entrusted with their sacred care.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 13:20 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its powerful and emotionally charged message. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?" This question is not posed to elicit factual information but rather to evoke a profound sense of loss, sorrow, and implicit accusation against both the people and their leaders. It forces the audience to confront the devastating reality of their scattered state and the catastrophic failure of their leadership. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Metaphor**, specifically depicting the people of Judah as a "flock" and God (or their human leaders) as a shepherd. This metaphor effectively highlights the people's inherent vulnerability, their absolute dependence on divine guidance, and the immense responsibility of those appointed to guide and protect them. The description "beautiful flock" adds a layer of poignant **Irony**, creating a stark contrast between God's original glorious intention and cherished status for His people and their current state of ruin and dispersion, thereby emphasizing the tragic consequences of their persistent disobedience and the unfaithfulness of their appointed shepherds.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 13:20 powerfully articulates the theological principle of divine judgment as an inevitable consequence of covenant unfaithfulness. God, as the benevolent yet just ultimate Shepherd, had graciously entrusted His "beautiful flock"—Israel—to human leaders, but their collective idolatry, pervasive pride, and spiritual negligence led directly to their moral corruption and eventual scattering. The impending invasion from the north serves as the tangible, undeniable manifestation of God's righteous wrath, demonstrating unequivocally that His covenant promises encompass both abundant blessings for obedience and severe curses for disobedience. This verse profoundly underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations and history, revealing His capacity to use even pagan empires as instruments of His divine justice. It also highlights the profound sorrow of God and His prophet over the impending destruction of a people He cherished, revealing a divine heart that deeply grieves over lost glory and broken fellowship.

* [Jeremiah 23:1](/jeremiah/23-1 "Jeremiah 23:1 - Woe to Unfaithful Shepherds") - "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!" declares the Lord.
* [Ezekiel 34:10](/ezekiel/34-10 "Ezekiel 34:10 - God's Judgment on Shepherds") - "Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep."
* [Isaiah 5:7](/isaiah/5-7 "Isaiah 5:7 - The Vineyard of the Lord") - "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!"

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 13:20 stands as a timeless warning and a compelling call to profound self-examination, applicable to both individuals and communities of faith across generations. It compels us to "lift up our eyes" and diligently discern the spiritual threats that may be subtly approaching from unexpected directions—threats of spiritual compromise, corrosive apathy, or deceptive false teaching that can tragically scatter God's "flock" in our contemporary context. The lament over the "beautiful flock" serves as a poignant and enduring reminder of the immense preciousness of God's people and the solemn, weighty responsibility of those called to spiritual leadership within the church. It challenges us to critically consider whether we are faithfully and diligently stewarding the spiritual lives entrusted to our care, whether within our families, local churches, or broader communities. Ultimately, this verse invites us to humble ourselves deeply before God, acknowledging our collective and individual failures, and to earnestly seek His divine guidance and unwavering protection so that we, His beautiful flock, may not be scattered by the forces of this world but remain securely gathered and nurtured under His loving, sovereign care.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "threats from the north" (spiritual dangers, cultural pressures, or internal compromises) might we need to "lift up our eyes" and behold in our lives or communities today?**
* **In what specific ways might we, as individuals or as a church, be inadvertently failing to "shepherd" those God has entrusted to our care, potentially leading to their spiritual scattering or loss?**
* **How does the description of God's people as "thy beautiful flock" deepen your understanding of God's profound love, His intrinsic value for humanity, and His expectations for His church?**
* **What concrete steps can we take to ensure that we are not merely hearing divine warnings but actively heeding them, responding with genuine repentance, renewed faithfulness, and proactive spiritual vigilance?**

### FAQ
**Who is "thee" in Jeremiah 13:20, and what does the "flock" represent?**

Answer: In Jeremiah 13:20, "thee" primarily refers to the prophet Jeremiah himself, who is lamenting and questioning on behalf of God, expressing divine grief and judgment. However, it also implicitly addresses the unfaithful leaders of Judah—the kings, priests, and false prophets—who were entrusted with the sacred care of God's people. The "flock" consistently represents the people of Judah, God's chosen nation, whom He had lovingly shepherded throughout their history. The rhetorical question "where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?" underscores the tragic reality of their scattering and impending exile due to their persistent disobedience and the severe negligence of their leadership. This imagery is common in the Old Testament, where God is often portrayed as the true Shepherd of Israel, as seen in [Psalm 23:1](/psalm/23-1 "Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is My Shepherd").

**What is the significance of "them that come from the north" in Jeremiah's prophecy?**

Answer: In Jeremiah's prophecies, "them that come from the north" is a consistent, ominous, and highly significant reference to the invading Neo-Babylonian Empire. Geographically, Babylon was situated to the east of Judah, but the typical invasion route for armies from Mesopotamia involved moving north along the Euphrates River, then turning south through Syria and down into Judah. This phrase, therefore, became a powerful and unmistakable symbol of the divinely appointed instrument of judgment against Judah for its widespread idolatry and covenant breaking. Jeremiah frequently warns of this impending threat, emphasizing God's absolute sovereignty in raising up even pagan nations to fulfill His righteous purposes, as explicitly described in [Jeremiah 25:9](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar, God's Servant"). The "north" thus implies a source of overwhelming, inevitable, and divinely sanctioned destruction.

**How does Jeremiah 13:20 relate to the broader theme of God's judgment and restoration?**

Answer: Jeremiah 13:20 is a stark and poignant portrayal of God's judgment, highlighting the immediate and devastating consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness: the scattering of His "beautiful flock." It serves as a lament over the profound loss and destruction that sin inevitably brings. However, within Jeremiah's broader prophetic message, judgment is never the final word. While this verse focuses intensely on the devastation, the book also contains glorious promises of future restoration. God, the true and faithful Shepherd, promises to gather His scattered flock, bring them back to their rightful pasture, and raise up faithful shepherds for them, as prophesied in [Jeremiah 23:3-4](/jeremiah/23-3-4 "Jeremiah 23:3-4 - Gathering the Scattered Flock"). Thus, while Jeremiah 13:20 emphasizes the severity and necessity of judgment, it implicitly points towards the ultimate need for divine intervention and the enduring hope of restoration that is central to God's overarching redemptive plan for His people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 13:20, with its poignant lament over the scattered and lost "beautiful flock" due to the failure of unfaithful shepherds, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's recurring theme of God's people as sheep without a shepherd (e.g., [Numbers 27:17](/numbers/27-17 "Numbers 27:17 - Sheep Without a Shepherd")) reaches its ultimate and most desperate expression in Israel's spiritual state at the time of Christ's earthly ministry. Jesus, observing the multitudes, "had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd" ([Matthew 9:36](/matthew/9-36 "Matthew 9:36 - Jesus' Compassion for the Crowds")). He then powerfully declared Himself the "Good Shepherd" ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - Jesus, the Good Shepherd")), who not only intimately knows His sheep but, crucially, lays down His very life for them—a stark and glorious contrast to the self-serving, unfaithful shepherds of Jeremiah's day. The scattering of the flock under judgment in Jeremiah foreshadows the ultimate, atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of God, who, through His death, gathers His elect from every nation and tongue ([John 10:16](/john/10-16 "John 10:16 - Other Sheep I Have")). Through His perfect atoning work on the cross, Jesus takes away the sin that caused the original scattering and brings His "beautiful flock"—the church, comprised of both Jew and Gentile—into His secure and eternal fold, ensuring that none whom the Father has given Him will ever be lost ([John 6:39](/john/6-39 "John 6:39 - None Shall Be Lost")). Thus, the lament of Jeremiah becomes a profound prophecy of the divine Shepherd who would ultimately redeem, gather, and perfectly care for His beautiful flock, restoring them to eternal pasture and everlasting fellowship with God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 6:22

Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

Jeremiah 1:14

Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

Jeremiah 23:2

Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

Habakkuk 1:6

For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, [that] bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces [that are] not theirs.

Jeremiah 10:22

Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, [and] a den of dragons.

Jeremiah 13:17

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

Acts 20:26

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I [am] pure from the blood of all [men].