Jeremiah 25:14

KJV

For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

KJV (with Strong's)

For many {H7227} nations {H1471} and great {H1419} kings {H4428} shall serve {H5647} themselves of them also: and I will recompense {H7999} them according to their deeds {H6467}, and according to the works {H4639} of their own hands {H3027}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For they too will become slaves to many nations and to powerful kings; I will pay them back according to their deeds and the work of their own hands.'

Berean Standard Bible

For many nations and great kings will enslave them, and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.’”

American Standard Version

For many nations and great kings shall make bondmen of them, even of them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 25:14 stands as a powerful declaration of God's universal justice and unwavering sovereignty, revealing that even the powerful nations and kings used as instruments of divine judgment will ultimately face their own reckoning. Following the pronouncement of Judah's seventy-year Babylonian captivity, this verse assures that the very empires that oppressed God's people will themselves be held accountable and recompensed precisely according to their own actions and the works of their hands, underscoring a foundational biblical principle of divine retribution for all.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within a pivotal prophetic discourse in [Jeremiah chapter 25](/jeremiah/25 "Jeremiah 25 - The Seventy-Year Captivity and Judgment of Nations"). Immediately preceding it, Jeremiah has delivered the devastating prophecy of Judah's seventy-year servitude to Babylon ([Jeremiah 25:11](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Prophecy of Seventy Years Captivity")). Verse 14 serves as a crucial counterpoint and promise of future vindication, ensuring that the instrument of God's judgment (Babylon) will not escape divine scrutiny and punishment for its own wickedness and excessive cruelty. It acts as a theological bridge, setting the stage for the detailed oracles against various foreign nations that follow in subsequent chapters, particularly the extensive prophecies against Babylon in [Jeremiah 50-51](/jeremiah/50 "Jeremiah 50-51 - Prophecies Against Babylon").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Jeremiah 25 was delivered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, likely around the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign (605 BC), a time when Babylonian power was ascendant following their victory over Egypt at Carchemish ([Jeremiah 46:2](/jeremiah/46-2 "Jeremiah 46:2 - Battle of Carchemish")). Judah was caught between the declining Assyrian empire, the rising Babylonian empire, and a weakened Egypt. The "many nations and great kings" refer to Babylon and its allies, as well as other nations that would participate in or benefit from Judah's subjugation. The concept of divine judgment extending to all nations, not just Israel, was a common prophetic theme, emphasizing Yahweh's universal dominion over all peoples and empires, a stark contrast to the limited scope of pagan deities.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 25:14 powerfully articulates several core themes central to the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Justice and Retribution**, affirming that God's justice is not limited to His covenant people but extends to all nations, holding them accountable for their actions, particularly their treatment of His people. Secondly, it underscores **God's Sovereignty Over Nations**, demonstrating that even when God uses a nation as an instrument of His wrath, that nation remains morally responsible for its own choices and excesses, as seen with Assyria in [Isaiah 10:5-7](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5-7 - Assyria as God's Instrument"). Finally, the verse clearly enunciates the **Principle of Reaping What You Sow**, where actions, whether good or evil, inevitably lead to corresponding consequences, a concept deeply embedded in the wisdom literature and echoed throughout Scripture, from [Proverbs 22:8](/proverbs/22-8 "Proverbs 22:8 - Sowing Iniquity") to [Galatians 6:7](/galatians/6-7 "Galatians 6:7 - Sowing and Reaping").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **recompense (Hebrew, _shâlam'_):** This primitive root signifies "to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications)." In this context, it carries the strong sense of full payment, completion, or retribution. It implies that God will not merely punish, but will justly and completely settle accounts, ensuring that the consequences precisely match the actions committed, leaving no injustice unaddressed. This is a divine act of making things "whole" or "complete" through righteous judgment.
* **works (Hebrew, _maʻăseh'_):** Derived from the root `ʻâsâ` (to do, make), `maʻăseh` refers to "an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product." Here, it denotes the tangible deeds, practices, and outcomes of the nations' conduct. It encompasses not just isolated acts but the entire pattern of their behavior, particularly their oppressive and exploitative actions against Judah and other peoples. The emphasis is on the concrete manifestation of their intentions.
* **hands (Hebrew, _yâd'_):** A primitive word, `yâd` refers to "a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.))." It is used broadly to denote power, means, agency, and responsibility. In the phrase "works of their own hands," `yâd` emphasizes self-agency and personal accountability. It highlights that the nations' actions are their own doing, not coerced or accidental, and thus they are fully responsible for the consequences. It underscores the active, intentional nature of their deeds.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also:"** This clause declares that the very nations and powerful rulers who oppressed Judah (the "them") will themselves become subservient or exploited. The phrase "serve themselves of them" (or "enslave them" in other translations) indicates that these nations, particularly Babylon, will eventually face a similar fate of subjugation and exploitation, experiencing the very injustice they meted out. It foreshadows a reversal of fortunes, where the oppressors become the oppressed.
* **"and I will recompense them according to their deeds,"** This is God's explicit promise of divine retribution. The "I" refers to Yahweh, the sovereign God. He states He will "recompense" or fully repay these nations. The basis of this recompense is "according to their deeds," meaning the judgment will be perfectly proportional and just, directly reflecting the totality of their actions, both good and evil, but primarily their wickedness and cruelty in this context.
* **"and according to the works of their own hands."** This phrase reiterates and intensifies the principle of accountability. It emphasizes that the judgment will be based precisely on what these nations have actively done, the results of their own efforts and choices. The repetition underscores the certainty and equity of God's justice, ensuring that no action goes unaddressed and no one is exempt from divine scrutiny for their self-initiated conduct.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 25:14 employs several potent literary devices. The most prominent is **Retribution Theology**, which posits that God repays individuals and nations according to their actions. The phrase "I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands" is a direct articulation of this principle, emphasizing a direct correlation between behavior and consequence. There is also a strong element of **Irony** and **Poetic Justice** at play. The nations that "serve themselves" of Judah, exploiting and oppressing them, will themselves be "served" (enslaved/recompensed) by God. This reversal of roles highlights God's ultimate control and the futility of human power when it opposes divine will. Furthermore, the use of **Parallelism** in "according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands" reinforces the message of precise and equitable judgment, adding rhetorical weight and clarity to the divine decree.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 25:14 is a profound theological statement on God's universal justice and His active governance over human history. It assures that divine judgment is not arbitrary but is meticulously meted out according to the principle of just recompense. This verse affirms that no nation, however mighty or seemingly beyond reproach, can escape accountability for its actions, especially when those actions involve oppression and injustice. It underscores the biblical truth that God is the ultimate arbiter of justice, ensuring that the scales are balanced and that even those used as instruments of His will are still held responsible for their own moral choices. This provides immense comfort to the oppressed and a stark warning to the oppressor, revealing a God who is both sovereign and righteous in all His dealings with humanity.

* [Psalm 62:12](/psalm/62-12 "Psalm 62:12 - God Repays According to Works")
* [Romans 2:6](/romans/2-6 "Romans 2:6 - God Will Repay Each Person According to What They Have Done")
* [Revelation 20:12-13](/revelation/20-12 "Revelation 20:12-13 - Judgment According to Deeds")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 25:14 offers enduring truths that speak profoundly to contemporary life, both individually and corporately. It reminds us that God is actively engaged in the affairs of nations and individuals, and that His justice is an unyielding force that will ultimately prevail. For those who feel oppressed, marginalized, or witness rampant injustice in the world, this verse serves as a powerful source of hope and assurance that no wrong goes unseen or unaddressed by the Almighty. It encourages patience and trust in God's perfect timing, knowing that He will ultimately bring about a righteous reckoning. Conversely, for those in positions of power, whether in leadership, business, or personal influence, it serves as a sobering reminder of universal accountability. Our actions, whether good or ill, have consequences, and we are ultimately responsible before God for the "works of our own hands." This should compel us to live with integrity, to champion justice, and to use any power we possess for good, knowing that divine recompense awaits all.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the promise of God's universal justice in this verse comfort you amidst present injustices in the world?**
* **In what ways might we, as individuals or communities, be "serving ourselves" of others or exploiting situations, and how does this verse call us to repentance and righteous action?**
* **How does understanding God's sovereignty over nations impact your prayers for leaders and global events?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse imply that God punishes nations only for their treatment of Israel?**

Answer: While Jeremiah 25:14 specifically addresses the nations that oppressed Judah, the principle of recompense "according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands" is a universal one in Scripture. God judges all nations for their own sinfulness, idolatry, injustice, and violence, not solely for their interactions with Israel. The treatment of God's people often serves as a specific catalyst or a particularly egregious example of their general wickedness, but God's justice extends to all moral failures, as seen in broader prophetic condemnations against various nations for their own unique sins (e.g., [Amos 1-2](/amos/1 "Amos 1-2 - Oracles Against the Nations")).

**How does God's use of nations as instruments of judgment (like Babylon) reconcile with His subsequent judgment of those very nations?**

Answer: This highlights God's complex and multifaceted sovereignty. God can use imperfect or even wicked agents to accomplish His purposes, such as disciplining His people ([Isaiah 10:5-7](/isaiah/10-5 "Isaiah 10:5-7 - Assyria as God's Rod")). However, this does not absolve those agents of their own moral responsibility. They act out of their own wicked intentions and desires for conquest, not out of obedience to God. Therefore, God holds them accountable for their pride, cruelty, and the excessive zeal with which they carry out their actions, which often far exceed God's intended measure of discipline. He is sovereign over their actions, yet they remain morally culpable for their choices.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 25:14, with its powerful declaration of divine recompense according to deeds, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament prophets foretold a future where God would judge nations for their sins, it is Christ who is revealed as the ultimate agent of this divine justice and the one who perfectly embodies and executes it. He is the one appointed by the Father to be judge of both the living and the dead ([Acts 10:42](/acts/10-42 "Acts 10:42 - Jesus Appointed Judge")). The principle of "recompense according to their deeds" is fully realized in the New Testament, where Christ's return is consistently portrayed as a time of righteous judgment for all humanity, nations included ([Matthew 25:31-46](/matthew/25-31 "Matthew 25:31-46 - The Judgment of the Nations")). Furthermore, Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross uniquely addresses the problem of human deeds. He bore the recompense for the "works of our own hands" (our sins), offering forgiveness and a path to righteousness that no human effort or national deed could ever achieve ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). Thus, in Christ, we see both the perfect execution of divine justice against sin and the merciful provision for redemption from its just consequences, making Him the fulfillment of God's promise to "recompense" and to bring ultimate peace and justice to His creation ([Colossians 1:19-20](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19-20 - Reconciliation Through Christ")).

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 51:6

Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this [is] the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.

Jeremiah 50:9

¶ For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows [shall be] as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

Jeremiah 27:7

And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

Jeremiah 50:41

Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

Jeremiah 50:29

Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.

Jeremiah 50:34

Their Redeemer [is] strong; the LORD of hosts [is] his name: he shall throughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Isaiah 45:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;