Jeremiah 22:20

ยถ Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.

Go up {H5927} to Lebanon {H3844}, and cry {H6817}; and lift up {H5414} thy voice {H6963} in Bashan {H1316}, and cry {H6817} from the passages {H5676}: for all thy lovers {H157} are destroyed {H7665}.

Climb up to the L'vanon and cry out, raise your voice in Bashan, cry out from 'Avarim, for all your lovers are broken.

Go up to Lebanon and cry out; raise your voice in Bashan; cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers have been crushed.

Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from Abarim; for all thy lovers are destroyed.

Commentary

Context

Jeremiah 22 falls within a section of the book where the prophet Jeremiah delivers stern warnings and pronouncements of judgment against the kings of Judah, particularly Jehoiakim, who reigned during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile. This chapter contrasts Jehoiakim's unrighteous reign with the potential for justice and righteousness that could have averted disaster. Verse 20 is a dramatic call to lamentation, directed at the personified Judah or Jerusalem, signifying the widespread and inescapable nature of the impending judgment. It highlights the futility of their political maneuvering and alliances.

Key Themes

  • Widespread Lamentation: The command to "Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages" illustrates a public, far-reaching wail of sorrow. Lebanon to the north, Bashan to the east, and "the passages" (likely mountain passes like Abarim) represent the entire breadth of the land, emphasizing that the sorrow and desolation would be universal and undeniable. This is a prophetic announcement of utter despair.
  • Betrayal of False Alliances: The core reason for this lament is stated: "for all thy lovers are destroyed." Here, "lovers" (Hebrew: m'ahaveycha) refers to the foreign nations and political allies (such as Egypt) with whom Judah, particularly King Jehoiakim, had sought treaties and security instead of trusting in the Lord. This vivid imagery underscores the complete failure of Judah's reliance on foreign alliances and political pacts, which were seen as 'lovers' in a spiritual sense, betraying their covenant with God. These alliances, rather than providing safety, had led to their abandonment and destruction by powerful empires like Babylon.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: This verse serves as a stark reminder of the painful consequences of national and spiritual infidelity. Judah's persistent rejection of God's commands and their pursuit of worldly security led directly to their downfall, isolation, and lamentable state, as also warned in Jeremiah 22:21.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cry" or "wail" (ืฆึธืขึทืง - tsa'aq) denotes a strong, urgent cry of distress or lamentation, often in response to oppression or catastrophe. The term "lovers" (ืžึฐืึทื”ึฒื‘ึถื™ืšึธ - m'ahaveycha) is a poignant metaphor, often used in prophetic literature to describe illicit political alliances or the worship of foreign gods, portraying them as unfaithful relationships that ultimately lead to heartbreak and ruin.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 22:20 offers a timeless lesson for individuals and nations. It warns against placing ultimate trust in human alliances, political systems, or material wealth as a source of security. Such "lovers" are inherently unreliable and will eventually prove to be "destroyed" or ineffective in times of true crisis. The verse serves as a powerful reminder of the danger of seeking solutions outside of divine provision, urging us to place our trust solely in God. True peace and lasting security come from a faithful relationship with Him, not from the fleeting promises of the world.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 27:12

    ยถ And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

  • Lamentations 1:2

    She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears [are] on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort [her]: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.

  • Ezekiel 23:22

    ยถ Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them against thee on every side;

  • Jeremiah 25:9

    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

  • 2 Kings 24:7

    And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

  • Deuteronomy 32:49

    Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, [unto] mount Nebo, which [is] in the land of Moab, that [is] over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:

  • Jeremiah 25:17

    Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:
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