Jeremiah 25:15

KJV

¶ For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

KJV (with Strong's)

For thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} God {H430} of Israel {H3478} unto me; Take {H3947} the wine {H3196} cup {H3563} of this fury {H2534} at my hand {H3027}, and cause all the nations {H1471}, to whom I send {H7971} thee, to drink {H8248} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

"For here is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says to me: 'Take this cup of the wine of fury from my hand, and make all the nations where I am sending you drink it.

Berean Standard Bible

This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.

American Standard Version

For thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, unto me: Take this cup of the wine of wrath at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 25:15 presents a profound prophetic vision where the LORD God of Israel commands the prophet Jeremiah to administer a "wine cup of this fury" to all the nations to whom he is sent. This powerful and arresting imagery vividly symbolizes the impending, inescapable divine judgment and the severe consequences that will inevitably befall various nations for their pervasive idolatry, systemic injustice, and persistent rebellion against God's sovereign will. The verse underscores God's absolute and universal authority over all earthly kingdoms and His righteous indignation against sin, signaling a period of widespread global reckoning and the ultimate triumph of His justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 25 serves as a pivotal and climactic chapter within the book of Jeremiah, marking a significant expansion of the scope of divine judgment. While preceding chapters primarily focus on the impending desolation of Judah and Jerusalem, particularly highlighted by the seventy years of Babylonian servitude prophesied in [Jeremiah 25:11](/jeremiah/25-11 "Jeremiah 25:11 - Seventy Years of Desolation and Servitude"), this chapter broadens the canvas of God's wrath to encompass numerous surrounding nations. The "wine cup of fury" prophecy acts as a comprehensive, universal indictment, demonstrating that God's justice and sovereignty extend far beyond His covenant people to hold all nations accountable for their actions. This section thus provides the theological and narrative framework for the subsequent "Oracles Against the Nations" found in chapters 46-51, where specific judgments against Egypt, Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, and ultimately Babylon itself, are detailed. It underscores the interconnectedness of global events under the hand of a sovereign God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah's prophetic ministry unfolded during a profoundly tumultuous period in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, a time leading directly to the catastrophic Babylonian exile of Judah. The geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East was dominated by the meteoric rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, which was relentlessly asserting its dominance over the region, eclipsing the fading power of Assyria and challenging Egypt. Judah, along with its neighboring states, found itself precariously caught in the crosscurrents of this imperial expansion, often seeking ill-fated political alliances with various regional powers rather than placing their trust solely in the LORD. Culturally, many of these nations, including Judah, were deeply entrenched in widespread idolatry, syncretistic religious practices, and pervasive social injustice, all of which were vehemently condemned by God through His prophets. The imagery of a "cup" representing one's divinely appointed destiny or lot, particularly a cup filled with wrath or judgment, was a common and potent motif not only in ancient Near Eastern literature but also throughout the Old Testament (e.g., [Psalm 75:8](/psalms/75-8 "Psalm 75:8 - The Cup of God's Wrath") and [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "Isaiah 51:17 - Jerusalem Drinks the Cup of Trembling")), signifying an inescapable and divinely ordained fate.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 25:15 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it emphatically highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Universal Justice**, asserting God's absolute authority not only over Israel but over all nations and their rulers. It demonstrates that He is the ultimate dispenser of justice and that no earthly power, empire, or people is beyond His righteous reckoning. The "wine cup of fury" vividly symbolizes His righteous indignation against sin and rebellion on a global scale. Secondly, the verse underscores the **Prophetic Commission and Obedience** of Jeremiah. He is not merely a passive observer but an active participant in God's decree, commanded to deliver this potent cup. This emphasizes the prophet's crucial, often agonizing, role as God's faithful messenger, even when the message is one of impending doom, echoing his initial call to "root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant" found in [Jeremiah 1:10](/jeremiah/1-10 "Jeremiah 1:10 - Jeremiah's Prophetic Commission"). Thirdly, the passage vividly illustrates the **Inevitable Consequences of Sin**, emphasizing that persistent disobedience, moral corruption, and wickedness—whether by God's own covenant people or by pagan nations—will inevitably lead to divine retribution. The nations are compelled to "drink" the cup, signifying their full, unavoidable, and bitter experience of God's wrath.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **fury (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** This word (H2534) denotes intense heat, which figuratively represents anger, rage, or wrath. It can also imply poison, drawing from the feverish effect of venom. In Jeremiah 25:15, "fury" describes the potent, consuming, and righteous nature of God's indignation and judgment. It signifies a profound, just, and unyielding divine response to the pervasive sin, idolatry, and rebellion of the nations, indicating a wrath that is both intense and deserved.
* **cup (Hebrew, _kôwç'_):** The term (H3563) refers to a vessel for drinking, but it is frequently employed metaphorically in Scripture to symbolize one's allotted portion, destiny, or experience, particularly in the context of suffering, affliction, or divine judgment. Here, the "cup" is the vessel through which God's "fury" is dispensed, signifying the full measure of punishment that the nations are destined to consume. The act of drinking from this cup implies a complete, unavoidable, and internal assimilation of the judgment.
* **nations (Hebrew, _gôwy'_):** This word (H1471) primarily refers to a foreign nation or Gentile people, distinct from Israel. Its usage in this verse highlights the universal scope of God's judgment, extending beyond His covenant people to encompass all peoples and kingdoms. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over the entire world and His intention to hold all humanity accountable for their actions, regardless of their specific knowledge of Him or their covenant relationship with Him.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me;":** This opening clause unequivocally establishes the divine authority and ultimate origin of the message. It is not Jeremiah's personal opinion or a human conjecture, but a direct, authoritative, and unequivocal command from "the LORD God of Israel" (Yahweh Elohim of Israel). This emphasizes God's unique covenant relationship with Israel while simultaneously affirming His universal dominion as the supreme ruler over all creation. The phrase "unto me" highlights Jeremiah's specific and weighty prophetic commission, identifying him as the chosen recipient and faithful messenger of this profound revelation.
* **"Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand,":** This is the core of Jeremiah's commission and the central, vivid metaphor of the passage. Jeremiah is commanded to "take" (Hebrew: _lâqach'_ – to receive, to seize, to accept) a symbolic "wine cup." The contents of this cup are explicitly identified as God's "fury" or intense wrath. The crucial phrase "at my hand" (Hebrew: _yâd'_ – hand, power, authority, means) signifies that the cup originates directly from God's sovereign power, absolute control, and unchallengeable authority. Jeremiah is not initiating or inventing this judgment; he is merely the divinely appointed instrument through whom God's predetermined and righteous wrath is conveyed and enacted. The imagery of a cup of wrath is a well-established biblical motif for divine judgment.
* **"and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.":** This concluding clause specifies both the universal recipients of the judgment and the forceful action to be performed. Jeremiah's mission is not confined to Judah but extends expansively to "all the nations" to whom God "sends" him (Hebrew: _shâlach'_ – to send away, to dispatch). The verb "cause... to drink" (Hebrew: _shâqâh'_ – to give to drink, to irrigate, to cause to imbibe) implies a forceful, unavoidable, and complete administration of this judgment. The nations will not willingly partake but will be compelled to experience the full, bitter, and intoxicating consequences of God's wrath, indicating the inevitability, comprehensiveness, and severe nature of their impending punishment.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 25:15 is remarkably rich in literary devices that serve to amplify its message of divine judgment and underscore its profound theological implications. The most prominent device is **Metaphor**, where the "wine cup of this fury" serves as a powerful and vivid representation of God's intense wrath and the comprehensive judgment He is about to pour out upon the nations. This is not a literal cup or actual wine, but a symbolic portrayal of the bitter, intoxicating, and ultimately destructive consequences of sin and rebellion. The act of "drinking" the cup functions as potent **Symbolism**, signifying the complete, inescapable, and internal experience of this divine retribution, implying that the nations will fully absorb the effects of God's judgment. Furthermore, the phrase "at my hand" employs **Anthropomorphism**, attributing a human characteristic (a hand, representing power and agency) to God, which profoundly emphasizes His active involvement, direct control, and sovereign power in dispensing this judgment. The entire scene, where Jeremiah is commanded to perform this symbolic action, can also be understood as a **Prophetic Action** (even if primarily a visionary one), where the prophet's commanded act of administering the cup embodies the reality and certainty of God's impending judgment, making the abstract concept of divine wrath tangible and immediate for the audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 25:15 profoundly articulates the biblical truth of God's universal sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice. It reveals that the LORD is not merely the God of Israel but the supreme and ultimate ruler over all nations, holding every kingdom, empire, and people accountable for their moral and spiritual conduct. The "wine cup of fury" underscores the profound seriousness of sin, idolatry, and injustice, demonstrating that divine wrath is a righteous, necessary, and holy response to rebellion against His perfect character and moral order. This wrath is not arbitrary or capricious but is the just and inevitable consequence of persistent wickedness, leading to a divinely appointed reckoning. The prophet Jeremiah, in being commanded to administer this cup, embodies the difficult but essential role of God's messenger, delivering pronouncements that highlight the gravity of sin and the absolute inevitability of judgment for those who refuse to repent and turn to God.

* [Psalm 75:8](/psalms/75-8 "Psalm 75:8 - The Wicked Drink the Cup of Wrath")
* [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "Isaiah 51:17 - Jerusalem Drinks the Cup of Trembling")
* [Revelation 14:10](/revelation/14-10 "Revelation 14:10 - The Wine of God's Wrath Poured Out")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 25:15 serves as a timeless, sobering, and profoundly relevant reminder of God's absolute holiness, unyielding justice, and universal sovereignty. It compels us to recognize that God holds all nations, societies, and individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their explicit acknowledgment of Him or their understanding of His laws. The vivid imagery of the "wine cup of fury" should instill within us a profound sense of the seriousness of sin and the inevitable, destructive consequences of persistent rebellion against divine truth and righteousness. For us today, this means understanding that systemic injustices, widespread moral decay, and pervasive spiritual apathy within any society do not go unnoticed by God. While this verse speaks of judgment, it implicitly serves as a powerful call for repentance—a turning away from self-destructive paths and toward God's righteous ways. It encourages us as believers to earnestly pray for our nations, to courageously advocate for justice and righteousness in our spheres of influence, and to live lives that consistently reflect God's character, knowing that He is sovereign over all earthly powers and events. Ultimately, it invites a deeper reverence for God, acknowledging His immense power to judge and His profound desire for all to turn to Him in humility and faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of the "wine cup of fury" challenge or deepen your understanding of God's justice and His righteous wrath?**
* **In what specific ways might we observe nations or societies today experiencing consequences that resonate with the biblical idea of "drinking" from a cup of divine judgment?**
* **Given God's universal sovereignty and His impending judgment, what is our responsibility as believers in actively advocating for righteousness, justice, and the Gospel in our own communities and nations?**

### FAQ

**Is the "wine cup of fury" a literal object that Jeremiah had to administer?**

Answer: No, the "wine cup of fury" is a powerful and vivid metaphor, not a literal physical object that Jeremiah was commanded to carry and dispense. In prophetic literature, such arresting imagery is consistently employed to convey profound abstract spiritual realities in a tangible and impactful way. Jeremiah was not physically going to each nation with a cup; rather, the vision symbolized his prophetic commission to declare God's certain judgment to these nations. His words, delivered under divine inspiration and authority, were the means by which the "cup" was administered, bringing the message of impending doom and its eventual, undeniable fulfillment. This symbolic action underscores the certainty, severity, and comprehensive nature of God's coming wrath.

**Does God delight in pouring out His fury and judgment on nations?**

Answer: The Bible consistently portrays God as merciful, compassionate, and slow to anger, not one who delights in judgment for its own sake. Passages like [Ezekiel 33:11](/ezekiel/33-11 "Ezekiel 33:11 - God's Desire for Repentance") unequivocally declare, "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live." However, God is also perfectly just, holy, and righteous. His wrath (fury) is a necessary and righteous response to persistent sin, rebellion, and injustice that fundamentally violates His moral order and profoundly harms His creation. The judgment expressed in Jeremiah 25:15 is a necessary act of divine justice, demonstrating that God, in His holiness, will not tolerate unrepentant wickedness indefinitely, and it serves as a solemn call to repentance for those who might still turn to Him.

**How does this concept of a "cup of fury" reconcile with God's love and mercy?**

Answer: God's justice and His love are not contradictory but rather complementary and perfectly integrated aspects of His flawless character. While God is indeed rich in mercy, abounding in steadfast love, and gracious ([Psalm 103:8](/psalms/103-8 "Psalm 103:8 - The Lord is Merciful and Gracious")), His love also inherently demands justice for wrongdoing and a restoration of righteousness. Unchecked sin and pervasive injustice, if left unaddressed, would utterly undermine the very fabric of His moral universe and negate His holiness. The "cup of fury" represents the just and inevitable consequences of prolonged rebellion against a loving and holy God who has extended abundant grace, patient warnings, and opportunities for repentance. It is precisely because God is love that He must also be just, ensuring that evil does not ultimately triumph and that His perfect order is upheld. For those who respond to His gracious call to repentance and faith, His boundless mercy triumphs gloriously over judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The vivid and terrifying imagery of the "cup of fury" in Jeremiah 25:15 finds its ultimate, most profound, and redemptive fulfillment in the person and atoning work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament prophets spoke of nations being compelled to drink the bitter cup of God's wrath due to their sin, the New Testament reveals that humanity's greatest and most universal problem was not merely the judgment of individual nations, but the pervasive condemnation of sin that separated all people from a holy God. In an astonishing and unparalleled act of divine love and substitutionary atonement, Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, voluntarily took upon Himself the full measure of God's righteous wrath. In the Garden of Gethsemane, just hours before His crucifixion, Jesus agonizingly prayed, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")). This "cup" was not merely physical suffering or the agony of death, but the terrifying and soul-crushing experience of bearing the accumulated sin of all humanity and enduring the divine fury that was justly due to us. Jesus, "who knew no sin, was made to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). By drinking this cup of God's wrath to its dregs on the cross, He completely exhausted God's righteous indignation against sin, thereby offering complete forgiveness, perfect reconciliation, and eternal life to all who believe. Thus, what was a cup of inescapable judgment for the nations in Jeremiah becomes, through Christ's singular and perfect sacrifice, a cup of salvation, blessing, and new covenant life for all who trust in Him, gloriously fulfilling the ultimate purpose of God's justice and boundless mercy. As [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse") triumphantly declares, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us."

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

Psalms 75:8

For in the hand of the LORD [there is] a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring [them] out, [and] drink [them].

Isaiah 51:17

¶ Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the LORD the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, [and] wrung [them] out.

Job 21:20

His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

Revelation 14:10

The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Isaiah 51:22

Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God [that] pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, [even] the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again:

Jeremiah 51:7

Babylon [hath been] a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Psalms 11:6

Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.