Jeremiah 25:23

KJV

Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all [that are] in the utmost corners,

KJV (with Strong's)

Dedan {H1719}, and Tema {H8485}, and Buz {H938}, and all that are in the utmost {H7112} corners {H6285},

Complete Jewish Bible

D'dan, Teima, Buz and all who cut the corners of their beards;

Berean Standard Bible

Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair;

American Standard Version

Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that have the corners of their hair cut off;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 25:23 is a precise declaration within a sweeping prophecy of divine judgment, specifically naming Dedan, Tema, and Buz, alongside "all that are in the utmost corners," as recipients of God's wrath. This verse underscores the comprehensive and meticulous scope of God's sovereign judgment, which extends beyond Judah and its immediate neighbors to encompass even distant Arabian tribes, signifying that no nation or people group, regardless of its remoteness or cultural distinctiveness, is exempt from accountability before the Almighty. It highlights the far-reaching consequences of rebellion against God's moral order and the precision of His prophetic word.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 25 marks a pivotal shift in the prophet's message, transitioning from warnings primarily directed at Judah to a broader, universal proclamation of judgment against all nations. The chapter begins by recounting Jeremiah's 23 years of faithful, yet unheeded, prophecy to Judah (Jeremiah 25:1-7), culminating in the declaration of a 70-year Babylonian exile for Judah (Jeremiah 25:8-14). The narrative then introduces the powerful imagery of the "wine cup of God's fury" (Jeremiah 25:15), which Yahweh commands Jeremiah to make all nations drink. Verses 17-26 meticulously list the kings and nations, arranged geographically, who are destined to consume this cup, symbolizing the devastating impact of God's wrath, executed through Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah 25:23 is embedded within this detailed enumeration, specifically targeting remote Arabian tribes, thereby emphasizing the truly comprehensive and inescapable nature of this divine reckoning. The inclusion of these distant peoples reinforces that God's judgment is not limited to those directly involved in Judah's geopolitical sphere but extends to the entire known world.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Jeremiah's prophecy (late 7th to early 6th century BCE) was a period of immense geopolitical flux, characterized by the decline of the Assyrian Empire and the meteoric rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar. Judah found itself precariously positioned between these shifting powers and Egypt. The nations mentioned in Jeremiah 25, including Dedan, Tema, and Buz, were Arabian tribes inhabiting the vast desert regions to the south and east of Judah. Dedan and Tema were particularly significant as prosperous trading centers and oases along the ancient incense routes, known for their wealth derived from caravan trade. Buz is often associated with a region in northern Arabia, possibly related to Edom. The phrase "all that are in the utmost corners" (KJV) or, more accurately, "those who clip the hair on their temples" (NIV/ESV), refers to a distinct cultural practice of certain desert dwellers. This specific hairstyle, often associated with pagan mourning rituals or idolatrous practices, was explicitly forbidden to Israelites in [Leviticus 19:27](/leviticus/19-27 "Leviticus 19:27 - Prohibition Against Shaving Corners of Head"). Their inclusion in this judgment list highlights that God's sovereignty extended even to these seemingly remote, independent, and culturally distinct peoples, who would also experience the devastating reach of the Babylonian conquests, demonstrating that no one was beyond the scope of divine justice.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 25 profoundly contributes to several overarching theological themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Universal Judgment and God's Sovereignty over Nations**. This chapter powerfully refutes any notion that God's authority is confined to Israel, demonstrating His ultimate dominion over all humanity and His right to hold even pagan nations accountable for their sin. The recurring motif of the "wine cup of fury" (Jeremiah 25:15-16) serves as a potent symbol of God's righteous wrath against rebellion and wickedness, a theme echoed in other prophetic warnings like [Isaiah 51:17](/isaiah/51-17 "Isaiah 51:17 - The Cup of Trembling") and apocalyptic visions such as [Revelation 14:10](/revelation/14-10 "Revelation 14:10 - The Winepress of God's Wrath"). Another crucial theme is the **Fulfillment of Prophecy**. The precise naming of numerous nations and the explicit identification of Babylon as God's instrument (Jeremiah 25:9) underscore the meticulous detail and unwavering reliability of God's prophetic word. The inclusion of remote tribes like Dedan, Tema, and Buz reinforces the idea that God's comprehensive plan extends to the "ends of the earth," echoing the psalmist's declaration that the Lord's dominion reaches to [the nations](/psalm/2-8 "Psalm 2:8 - Inheritance of the Nations").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Dedan (Hebrew, _Dᵉdân'_):** H1719, a proper noun referring to both an ancient people and their territory, typically located in northern Arabia. Its derivation is uncertain. In biblical contexts, Dedan is frequently associated with trade routes and desert dwellers, as seen in [Isaiah 21:13](/isaiah/21-13 "Isaiah 21:13 - Oracle Concerning Arabia") and [Ezekiel 27:15](/ekiel/27-15 "Ezekiel 27:15 - Tyre's Trade with Dedan"). Its inclusion in this list highlights the extensive reach of God's judgment to even distant trading communities.
* **utmost (Hebrew, _qâtsats'_):** H7112, a primitive root meaning "to chop off" or "to cut off" (literally or figuratively). While its primary meaning is to sever, in this specific context, it is used idiomatically with "corners" to describe the practice of cutting or shaving the hair at the temples, a distinctive cultural marker of certain nomadic tribes. This verb emphasizes the act of cutting that defines the group.
* **corners (Hebrew, _pêʼâh'_):** H6285, a feminine noun derived from a word meaning "mouth," used figuratively to denote a "direction," "region," or "extremity." When combined with "utmost" (qâtsats) in the phrase "utmost corners," it specifically refers to the "corners of the head" or "temples" where hair might be trimmed or shaved. This term, therefore, denotes the specific physical feature or area of the body that characterizes the people being described.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Dedan, and Tema, and Buz,"**: This opening clause precisely names three distinct Arabian tribes or regions. Dedan and Tema were prominent for their involvement in trade and their strategic locations along vital desert routes. Buz, though less frequently mentioned, is also associated with the Arabian desert. The explicit naming of these specific entities underscores the meticulous and detailed nature of God's prophetic judgment, indicating that the impact of Babylon's conquests would extend far into the Arabian peninsula, affecting even those seemingly isolated communities.
* **"and all [that are] in the utmost corners,"**: This phrase refers to a broader category of people, identified by a unique cultural practice. The Hebrew idiom, literally translated as "those whose corners are cut off" or "those with shaven temples," identifies nomadic desert tribes who distinguished themselves by this particular hairstyle. This practice was explicitly forbidden to Israelites in [Leviticus 19:27](/leviticus/19-27 "Leviticus 19:27 - Prohibition of Shaving Corners of Head"), marking it as a pagan or non-Israelite custom. Its inclusion signifies that God's judgment would reach not only specific named nations but also all peoples, however remote or culturally distinct, who engaged in practices contrary to His divine order, emphasizing the universal scope of His accountability.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 25:23 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message of universal judgment. The most evident is **Enumeration**, as the verse meticulously lists specific tribal names—Dedan, Tema, and Buz—as part of a larger catalog of nations destined to experience God's wrath. This detailed listing imparts an undeniable sense of precision and certainty to the prophecy, highlighting the comprehensive reach of God's decree. The subsequent phrase, "and all that are in the utmost corners," functions as a powerful form of **Metonymy** or **Synecdoche**, where a distinctive physical characteristic (the practice of shaving the temples) stands in for the entire group of people who engage in it. This serves to identify a broader category of remote desert dwellers, underscoring the **Universality** of God's judgment, which extends even to those at the geographical or cultural periphery. The very act of naming these distant and seemingly insignificant tribes further highlights God's **Omniscience** and **Sovereignty**, demonstrating His detailed awareness and ultimate control over all peoples, regardless of their location, perceived importance, or cultural distinctiveness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 25:23 powerfully articulates the foundational theological truth of God's universal sovereignty and His righteous judgment over all nations. It unequivocally dismantles any anthropocentric notion that divine accountability is limited to a select few or to Israel alone, demonstrating that every people group, from mighty empires to remote desert tribes, stands under the ultimate authority of the Creator. This verse, deeply embedded within the "wine cup of fury" prophecy, underscores that God's justice is not arbitrary but a just and necessary response to the widespread wickedness and rebellion of humanity. The judgment pronounced upon these specific nations serves as a powerful foreshadowing of a broader biblical principle: that all humanity is accountable to God's moral law, and ultimately, all will face a reckoning for their actions, whether in this life or the next.

* [Psalm 9:17](/psalm/9-17 "Psalm 9:17 - The Wicked and the Nations")
* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed")
* [Revelation 19:15](/revelation/19-15 "Revelation 19:15 - The Winepress of God's Wrath")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 25:23 serves as a profound and sobering reminder that God's reach and authority are truly boundless, extending to every corner of the earth and encompassing every people group. In a world that often operates with a practical atheism, assuming God is absent, indifferent, or confined to religious spheres, this verse reasserts His active involvement in human history and His ultimate sovereignty over the rise and fall of nations. For us today, it calls for a recognition of universal accountability before God, reminding us that no one is outside His purview or exempt from His divine moral standards. This should inspire both a healthy, reverent fear of the Lord and a deep appreciation for His unwavering justice. Furthermore, it challenges us to critically examine our own lives and the actions of our societies in light of God's righteous judgment, prompting genuine repentance and a turning towards Him. It also significantly broadens our perspective on global missions, affirming that God's concern for salvation extends to "all that are in the utmost corners," urging us to participate actively in bringing the transformative good news of the Gospel to every tribe, tongue, and nation, knowing that God's heart is for all peoples.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the universality of God's judgment in Jeremiah 25:23 challenge or confirm your existing understanding of God's character and His interaction with the world?**
* **In what specific ways might our modern societies, like the ancient nations, be "forgetting God" or acting in ways that could invite divine judgment?**
* **Considering God's universal reach, what is our responsibility, as believers, to those "in the utmost corners" of the world, both geographically and culturally, who have yet to hear the Gospel?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "all that are in the utmost corners" in Jeremiah 25:23?**

Answer: The phrase "all that are in the utmost corners" (KJV) or, more precisely, "those who clip the hair on their temples" (NIV/ESV, reflecting the Hebrew idiom), refers to a specific cultural practice of certain nomadic Arabian tribes. This distinctive hairstyle, involving shaving or trimming the hair at the temples, was a marker of their identity and often associated with pagan rituals or mourning customs, explicitly distinguishing them from the Israelites, to whom such practices were forbidden (see [Leviticus 19:27](/leviticus/19-27 "Leviticus 19:27 - Prohibition of Shaving Corners of Head")). Its significance in Jeremiah 25:23 is multifaceted: first, it precisely identifies a particular group of remote desert dwellers, demonstrating the detailed knowledge and comprehensive scope of God's prophecy. Second, it powerfully underscores the universality of God's judgment, indicating that His wrath would reach not only major empires and Israel's immediate neighbors but also distant, seemingly isolated peoples who practiced customs contrary to His divine law. It emphasizes that no nation, culture, or people group is beyond God's sovereign authority and accountability, and that His justice extends to the uttermost parts of the earth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 25:23 speaks of God's temporal judgment on specific nations through the Babylonian conquest, its deeper Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the universal scope of both God's judgment and His redemptive salvation, ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ. The "wine cup of God's fury" that these nations are compelled to drink foreshadows the ultimate cup of wrath that Jesus Himself voluntarily drank on the cross, bearing the full weight of the sin of the world (compare [Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")). Through His sacrificial death, Christ absorbed the righteous judgment due to all humanity, making a way for reconciliation and peace with God. Furthermore, the inclusion of "all that are in the utmost corners" in this prophecy of judgment finds its glorious redemptive counterpart in the New Testament's universal proclamation of the Gospel. Just as God's judgment reached the most remote tribes, so too does His offer of salvation extend to the uttermost parts of the earth through the atoning work of the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). This is vividly portrayed in the Great Commission, where disciples are commanded to make disciples of [all nations](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission"), and in the heavenly vision of people from [every tribe and language and people and nation](/revelation/5-9 "Revelation 5:9 - The Lamb's Worthiness") redeemed and worshipping before the throne, ensuring that people from every background can be brought into His eternal kingdom.

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 9:26

Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all [that are] in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all [these] nations [are] uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel [are] uncircumcised in the heart.

Jeremiah 49:32

And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them [that are] in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 49:8

Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that] I will visit him.

Job 6:19

The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.

Genesis 22:21

Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,

Ezekiel 25:13

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.

Genesis 10:7

And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.