Jeremiah 2:15

The young lions roared upon him, [and] yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

The young lions {H3715} roared {H7580} upon him, and yelled {H5414}{H6963}, and they made {H7896} his land {H776} waste {H8047}: his cities {H5892} are burned {H3341} without inhabitant {H3427}.

The young lions are roaring at him - how loudly they are roaring! They desolate his country, demolishing and depopulating his cities.

The young lions have roared at him; they have growled with a loud voice. They have laid waste his land; his cities lie in ruins, without inhabitant.

The young lions have roared upon him, and yelled; and they have made his land waste: his cities are burned up, without inhabitant.

Commentary on Jeremiah 2:15 (KJV)

Jeremiah 2:15 vividly describes the devastating consequences of Judah's spiritual rebellion and unfaithfulness to God. This verse serves as a stark prophetic warning, illustrating the physical destruction that would befall the nation due to its apostasy.

Context

Chapter 2 of Jeremiah opens with God recounting His steadfast love for Israel in their youth, like a devoted bride. However, the chapter quickly shifts to an indictment of Judah's profound idolatry and turning away from the Lord, whom they had forsaken as the "fountain of living waters". Verses leading up to 2:15 detail their foolish pursuit of foreign gods and alliances. Verse 15 then presents the immediate, brutal outcome of this spiritual infidelity: invasion and desolation by powerful enemies.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse clearly portrays God's judgment enacted through human agents. The "young lions" are instruments of His wrath, bringing about the consequences of Judah's sin. This emphasizes God's justice and His commitment to His covenant, which included blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience.
  • Consequences of Apostasy: The destruction described is a direct result of Judah's turning away from the one true God. Their spiritual rebellion led to national ruin, highlighting the severe repercussions of forsaking divine truth and pursuing idolatry.
  • Utter Desolation: Phrases like "made his land waste" and "cities are burned without inhabitant" paint a picture of complete and devastating ruin. This is not a minor setback but a thorough destruction, signifying the loss of national identity, security, and prosperity.
  • Loss of Protection: By abandoning God, Judah lost the divine protection that had once safeguarded them. The "young lions" represent foreign powers (likely Assyria or Babylon) that God permitted to overrun His people, demonstrating that their security was contingent upon their faithfulness to Him.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "The young lions roared upon him, and yelled" uses a powerful metaphor. In ancient Near Eastern literature, "lions" often symbolized powerful, predatory nations or rulers. Here, "young lions" (Hebrew: kĕphīrîm) emphasizes their ferocity, strength, and hunger for conquest. Their "roaring" and "yelling" convey their triumphant, terrifying advance and the complete domination of their prey – Judah. The imagery is designed to evoke fear and the overwhelming nature of the impending destruction.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 2:15 serves as a timeless warning about the consequences of spiritual drifting. It reminds us that:

  • God's Justice is Real: While God is merciful, He is also just, and there are consequences for persistent disobedience and rebellion against His ways.
  • Faithfulness Brings Security: True security and prosperity, both individually and nationally, are found in a faithful relationship with God, not in human alliances or material possessions.
  • The Danger of Idolatry: Whether it's ancient Baal worship or modern pursuits that replace God in our lives (money, power, pleasure), idolatry leads to spiritual and often tangible ruin.
This verse encourages introspection, urging believers to remain steadfast in their commitment to God, lest they face the painful repercussions of spiritual apathy or rebellion. The historical judgment on Judah serves as a profound lesson for all generations about the importance of covenant faithfulness. This concept of judgment for unfaithfulness is also seen in the curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 4:7

    The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; [and] thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.

  • Jeremiah 50:17

    Israel [is] a scattered sheep; the lions have driven [him] away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

  • Isaiah 1:7

    Your country [is] desolate, your cities [are] burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and [it is] desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

  • Jeremiah 9:11

    And I will make Jerusalem heaps, [and] a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

  • Isaiah 5:29

    Their roaring [shall be] like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry [it] away safe, and none shall deliver [it].

  • Amos 3:4

    Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

  • Isaiah 24:1

    ¶ Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

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