Jeremiah 25:19

KJV

Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;

KJV (with Strong's)

Pharaoh {H6547} king {H4428} of Egypt {H4714}, and his servants {H5650}, and his princes {H8269}, and all his people {H5971};

Complete Jewish Bible

Pharaoh king of Egypt, with his servants and leaders and all his people, both native

Berean Standard Bible

Pharaoh king of Egypt, his officials, his leaders, and all his people;

American Standard Version

Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 25:19 names "Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people" as one of the significant nations destined to drink from the "cup of the wine of God's fury," symbolizing divine judgment. This verse is embedded within a comprehensive prophetic oracle delivered by Jeremiah, which declares God's universal sovereignty and His impending wrath upon Judah and an extensive list of surrounding kingdoms, with Egypt representing a formidable, yet ultimately accountable, global power.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 25 functions as a pivotal prophetic oracle, marking the culmination of Jeremiah's initial prophecies and foreshadowing the seventy-year Babylonian captivity of Judah. The immediate literary context for verse 19 is the "cup of wrath" vision, detailed in [Jeremiah 25:15-29](/jeremiah/25-15-29 "Jeremiah 25:15-29 - The Cup of God's Wrath"), where God commands Jeremiah to administer a symbolic cup of judgment to various nations. This divine judgment commences with Jerusalem and Judah, as explicitly stated in [Jeremiah 25:18](/jeremiah/25-18 "Jeremiah 25:18 - Judgment on Jerusalem"), before extending outward to encompass a comprehensive enumeration of kingdoms and their leaders. The inclusion of Egypt within this extensive list powerfully underscores the global reach of God's impending judgment, demonstrating that no nation, irrespective of its perceived power, historical significance, or geographical isolation, is exempt from divine accountability. The meticulous naming of nations highlights the deliberate, precise, and comprehensive nature of God's sovereign decree.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** At the time of this prophecy, likely around 605 BCE (the fourth year of King Jehoiakim's reign), the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East was undergoing a dramatic shift. The burgeoning power of Babylon, under Nebuchadnezzar, had decisively defeated Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish in 605 BCE, effectively ending Egypt's dominance in the region. Egypt, under Pharaoh Necho II, had long been a formidable empire with a rich history of interaction, often adversarial, with Israel and Judah. Culturally, Egypt was renowned for its deeply entrenched polytheistic religion, its powerful pharaohs who were revered as divine manifestations, and its advanced civilization. For Judah, Egypt frequently represented a dangerous temptation to trust in human alliances and military strength rather than in God's protective providence, as vividly cautioned in passages like [Isaiah 30:1-3](/isaiah/30-1-3 "Isaiah 30:1-3 - Woe to Rebellious Children"). Jeremiah's prophecy against Egypt, therefore, would have been particularly striking and impactful, as it targeted a nation that had historically exerted significant influence over Judah and was considered a bastion of worldly strength and security.

* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 25:19 contributes profoundly to several foundational themes within the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty Over Nations**, which unequivocally asserts that God's authority extends far beyond His covenant people, Israel, to encompass all world powers, including the mighty and ancient empire of Egypt. This truth profoundly challenges any humanistic notion of national invincibility, autonomy, or self-determination apart from God's ultimate and overarching rule. Another crucial theme is **Universal Accountability**, as the judgment is not confined to Judah but extends impartially to all peoples who have engaged in wickedness, idolatry, or oppression. The comprehensive inclusion of "Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people" powerfully illustrates that God's judgment is sweeping, affecting all levels of society, from the highest ruler to the common citizen. Finally, the specific naming of powerful nations like Egypt reinforces the theme of the **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, demonstrating the precise, certain, and inevitable nature of God's prophetic word, a concept further explored in the detailed prophecies against Egypt in [Ezekiel 29-32](/zekiel/29-32 "Ezekiel 29-32 - Prophecies Against Egypt"). These judgments were historically realized, serving as an undeniable testament to God's faithfulness and His omnipotence to execute His word.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pharaoh (Egyptian, _Parʻôh'_):** This term is not a personal name but a dynastic title for the king of Egypt. Its inclusion here signifies the entire political and national entity of Egypt, embodied by its supreme ruler. The use of this specific title emphasizes the enduring office and the continuity of Egyptian power, which God is now bringing under His sovereign judgment.
* **Egypt (Hebrew, _Mitsrayim'_):** This term refers to both Upper and Lower Egypt, representing the entire geographical and political nation. In biblical contexts, Egypt frequently symbolizes worldly power, human pride, and a consistent source of temptation for Israel to rely on human strength and alliances rather than on divine providence. Its explicit mention highlights that God's judgment extends even to the most powerful and idolatrous nations of the ancient world.
* **people (Hebrew, _ʻam'_):** This word denotes a people as a congregated unit, a nation, or a collective body. In this context, "all his people" signifies the entire populace of Egypt, from the common citizen to the highest official. This comprehensive phrasing underscores the sweeping and inescapable nature of God's judgment, indicating that no one within the nation would be exempt from the impending divine wrath.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Pharaoh king of Egypt":** This clause precisely identifies the primary target of the impending judgment, the reigning monarch of Egypt, who embodies the nation's power, pride, and its historical resistance to God's will. It specifically names the most prominent figure of the Egyptian empire, signifying that the judgment begins at the very top.
* **"and his servants":** This refers to the king's personal attendants, administrators, and those directly serving the royal household and its operations. Their inclusion indicates that the judgment would affect those intimately connected to the seat of power and responsible for executing its decrees.
* **"and his princes":** This denotes the high-ranking officials, military commanders, and the governing elite of Egypt. These were the key decision-makers and the pillars of the nation's strength and stability, and their inclusion signifies that no level of authority, influence, or military might would escape God's comprehensive decree.
* **"and all his people":** This final, encompassing phrase broadens the scope of the judgment to include the entire populace of Egypt, from the highest echelons of power to the common citizen. It profoundly emphasizes the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the divine judgment, indicating that the entire nation would experience the devastating consequences of its corporate actions and God's righteous wrath.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 25:19 masterfully employs several literary devices to amplify its prophetic impact and convey the scope of God's judgment. The most prominent is **Enumeration**, as the verse meticulously lists various segments of Egyptian society: "Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people." This detailed and exhaustive listing emphasizes the comprehensive and inescapable nature of God's judgment, ensuring that no individual or group within the nation is overlooked. There is also a clear element of **Synecdoche**, where "Pharaoh king of Egypt" serves as a powerful representation of the entire nation, with the ruler standing in for the whole entity, embodying its identity and destiny. Furthermore, the very mention of "Egypt" carries profound **Symbolism**, representing not merely a geographical location but a historical adversary to God's people, a source of worldly pride and idolatry, and a nation that often led Israel astray. This makes its inclusion in the list of nations destined for judgment particularly poignant and illustrative of God's universal justice.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 25:19 powerfully articulates the profound theological truth of God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His unwavering, impartial justice. It unequivocally demonstrates that divine judgment is not exclusively limited to His covenant people, Israel, but extends comprehensively to every kingdom and people group, holding them fully accountable for their actions, their pride, and their idolatry. This truth fundamentally challenges any humanistic worldview that posits national autonomy, invincibility, or self-sufficiency, asserting instead that all earthly powers are ultimately subservient to the King of kings. The inclusion of Egypt, a historically dominant, often arrogant, and idolatrous empire, serves as a stark and enduring reminder that no nation, however mighty, can escape the righteous scrutiny and ultimate decree of the Almighty God. This universal accountability underscores the inherent moral order of the cosmos, where divine justice will ultimately prevail over all human rebellion and sin.

* [Ezekiel 29:1-2](/zekiel/29-1-2 "Ezekiel 29:1-2 - Prophecy Against Pharaoh and Egypt")
* [Isaiah 30:1-3](/isaiah/30-1-3 "Isaiah 30:1-3 - Woe to Rebellious Children")
* [Psalm 9:17](/psalms/9-17 "Psalm 9:17 - The Wicked Shall Be Turned Into Hell")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 25:19, with its declaration of impending judgment against a powerful nation like Egypt, offers profound and enduring lessons for contemporary believers and societies. It serves as a potent reminder that God remains eternally sovereign over all global affairs, even when human events appear chaotic, unjust, or beyond human control. In an era marked by rapid geopolitical shifts, fervent nationalistic sentiments, and the inevitable rise and fall of empires, this verse calls us to place our ultimate trust not in human leaders, military might, economic prowess, or political ideologies, but in the unfailing justice and absolute control of the Lord of Hosts. It challenges us to critically examine our own allegiances and to recognize that both individuals and nations are ultimately accountable to a righteous and holy God. This sobering truth should inspire profound humility in the face of divine power and a steadfast reliance on God's ultimate plan, knowing with certainty that He will indeed set all things right, bringing justice to the oppressed and humbling the proud. Furthermore, it encourages fervent intercession for nations and their leaders, recognizing God's supreme authority to shape their destinies according to His perfect will and redemptive purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God's universal sovereignty over nations impact your view of current global events and political landscapes?**
* **In what specific ways might our own nation or society be prone to the kind of pride, self-reliance, or idolatry that God judges?**
* **How does knowing that God holds all nations accountable inspire and shape your prayers for leaders, governments, and international relations?**
* **What practical steps can you personally take to live in a way that consistently acknowledges God's ultimate authority over all earthly powers and systems?**

### FAQ
**Why is Egypt specifically mentioned in this list of nations to be judged?**

Answer: Egypt is specifically mentioned due to its unparalleled historical prominence as a major regional power and its long, complex, and often fraught relationship with Israel. For centuries, Egypt had been either an oppressive force (as during the Exodus, recounted in [Exodus 1](/exodus/1 "Exodus 1 - The Enslavement of Israel")) or an unreliable and deceptive ally, frequently tempting Israel to trust in human strength and alliances rather than in God's divine deliverance (e.g., [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to Those Who Go Down to Egypt for Help")). Furthermore, Egypt's pervasive pride, its deep-seated idolatry, and its pharaohs' audacious claims to divinity made it a prime example of a nation in direct opposition to the one true God. Its explicit inclusion in this list of judgments powerfully underscores God's absolute sovereignty over even the most powerful, self-sufficient, and seemingly invincible nations, demonstrating unequivocally that no earthly entity is beyond His righteous scrutiny and ultimate judgment.

**What does the "cup of the wine of this fury" symbolize in Jeremiah 25?**

Answer: The "cup of the wine of this fury" (referenced in [Jeremiah 25:15](/jeremiah/25-15 "Jeremiah 25:15 - The Cup of God's Wrath")) is a potent and recurring symbolic image throughout Scripture, representing God's righteous wrath and impending, inescapable judgment. When Jeremiah is commanded to make the nations drink from it, it signifies that they will experience the full and devastating measure of divine punishment for their wickedness, idolatry, oppression, and rebellion against God's moral order. This powerful metaphor is found elsewhere in prophetic literature, such as in [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "Isaiah 51:17 - Awake, Awake, Stand Up, O Jerusalem") where Jerusalem is called to drink from the cup of trembling, and most vividly in [Revelation 14:10](/revelation/14-10 "Revelation 14:10 - The Wine of God's Wrath"), where it depicts the eternal and devastating consequences of God's holy indignation against sin. It consistently portrays the inescapable and comprehensive nature of God's justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 25:19 speaks directly of God's temporal judgment on the ancient nation of Egypt, its prophetic scope ultimately points to the universal and final judgment administered by Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, God demonstrated His sovereign rule over nations through specific historical interventions and the rise and fall of empires, but the ultimate and perfect fulfillment of His righteous rule and judgment is found in the person and redemptive work of Christ. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is simultaneously the one to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been irrevocably given ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")). He is the divinely appointed judge of both the living and the dead ([Acts 10:42](/acts/10-42 "Acts 10:42 - Jesus Appointed Judge")). The comprehensive judgment described in Jeremiah, affecting "Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people," powerfully foreshadows the glorious day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father ([Philippians 2:10-11](/philipians/2-10-11 "Philippians 2:10-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow")). Ultimately, the "cup of fury" that nations like Egypt were compelled to drink finds its most profound theological echo in the cup of God's wrath that Christ Himself willingly drank on the cross, taking upon Himself the full measure of judgment justly due to all humanity ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")). Thus, Jeremiah 25:19 not only declares God's universal sovereignty but also anticipates the glorious coming of the King of kings and Lord of lords, who will ultimately execute perfect justice and establish His eternal kingdom over all creation ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")).

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 46:13

The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come [and] smite the land of Egypt.

Jeremiah 46:26

And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 46:2

Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

Nahum 3:8

¶ Art thou better than populous No, that was situate among the rivers, [that had] the waters round about it, whose rampart [was] the sea, [and] her wall [was] from the sea?

Nahum 3:10

Yet [was] she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

Ezekiel 29:1

¶ In the tenth year, in the tenth [month], in the twelfth [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 29:21

In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.