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:

Then took {H3947} I the cup {H3563} at the LORD'S {H3068} hand {H3027}, and made all the nations {H1471} to drink {H8248}, unto whom the LORD {H3068} had sent {H7971} me:

Then I took the cup from ADONAI's hand and made all the nations drink, where ADONAI had sent me -

So I took the cup from the LORD’s hand and made all the nations drink from it, each one to whom the LORD had sent me,

Then took I the cup at Jehovah’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom Jehovah had sent me:

Context

Jeremiah 25 marks a pivotal point in the prophet's ministry, summarizing 23 years of his warnings to Judah (Jeremiah 25:3). In this chapter, the LORD announces the impending 70-year Babylonian captivity for Judah (Jeremiah 25:11-12) and then extends this judgment to surrounding nations. Verse 17 describes Jeremiah's direct obedience to a divine command given in verse 15, where God instructs him to take a "cup of the wine of this fury" and make all nations drink it. This imagery powerfully conveys the universal scope of God's impending judgment, with Jeremiah acting as the instrument of divine will.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Wrath: The "cup" is a powerful biblical metaphor representing the outpouring of God's righteous anger against sin and rebellion. It signifies the inevitable consequences for nations that have defied Him and oppressed His people.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: This verse highlights that the LORD's authority extends far beyond Israel, encompassing all nations. He is the ultimate ruler, orchestrating the destinies of kingdoms and holding them accountable for their actions. This theme is echoed throughout scripture, emphasizing God's sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms.
  • Prophetic Obedience: Jeremiah's act of taking the cup "at the LORD'S hand" and making the nations drink demonstrates his faithful obedience to God's difficult and unpopular commission. He serves as God's instrument in delivering this message of impending doom, fulfilling his role as prophet, as established in his initial call and commission.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "cup," kos (כּוֹס), is frequently used in the Old Testament to symbolize destiny or fate. In this context, it unequivocally represents a destiny of divine wrath and judgment. The imagery of drinking from a cup of wrath is a vivid and common biblical motif, emphasizing the full, inescapable experience of God's indignation upon those who have rebelled against Him.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 25:17 serves as a sober reminder that God is just and holds all people and nations accountable for their actions. While the immediate context is ancient Near Eastern politics and the impending Babylonian conquest, the principle remains: rebellion against God's standards inevitably leads to consequences. For believers, it underscores the importance of heeding God's warnings and living in obedience to His commands. It also reminds us of God's ultimate control over history and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, offering comfort that He is sovereign even amidst global turmoil and the rise and fall of earthly powers.

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 1:10

    See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

  • Jeremiah 25:28

    And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

  • Jeremiah 46:1

    ¶ The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

  • Jeremiah 46:28

    Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I [am] with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

  • Jeremiah 27:3

    And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;

  • Ezekiel 43:3

    And [it was] according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, [even] according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions [were] like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face.

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