Jeremiah 25:26

And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which [are] upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

And all the kings {H4428} of the north {H6828}, far {H7350} and near {H7138}, one {H376} with another {H251}, and all the kingdoms {H4467} of the world {H776}, which are upon the face {H6440} of the earth {H127}: and the king {H4428} of Sheshach {H8347} shall drink {H8354} after {H310} them.

and all the kings of the north, far and near, one after another - indeed, all the kingdoms of the world that there are on the surface of the earth. And the king of Sheshakh will drink last of all.

all the kings of the north, both near and far, one after another—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshach will drink it too.

and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

Jeremiah 25:26 is part of a profound prophecy concerning God's universal judgment upon the nations, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah. This specific verse broadens the scope of the preceding list of condemned nations, emphasizing that God's wrath extends to "all the kings of the north, far and near," and indeed, "all the kingdoms of the world." The verse culminates with the ominous declaration that "the king of Sheshach shall drink after them," signaling a climactic judgment for Babylon itself.

Context

This verse is situated within a lengthy oracle in Jeremiah chapter 25, which summarizes the seventy-year Babylonian captivity and prophesies judgment on Judah and surrounding nations. God commands Jeremiah to give a "cup of the wine of this fury" to all nations (Jeremiah 25:15), signifying a period of divine punishment. While Babylon is initially depicted as God's instrument for disciplining Judah, this chapter makes it clear that Babylon, too, will eventually face its own devastating judgment. The progression from nearby nations to distant ones, and finally to Sheshach, illustrates the comprehensive and inescapable nature of God's decree.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The passage powerfully underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms and their destinies. No nation, however mighty, operates outside His ultimate control.
  • Universal Judgment: God's justice is not limited to Israel or its immediate neighbors but extends to "all the kingdoms of the world." This highlights the principle that all humanity is accountable to the Creator.
  • Retributive Justice: The inclusion of "Sheshach" (Babylon) at the end signifies that even the instruments of God's judgment will themselves be judged for their own wickedness and pride. This theme is further developed in later prophecies against Babylon, such as in Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Sheshach" (שֵׁשַׁךְ) is a prominent linguistic feature. It is widely understood to be a cryptic reference to Babylon, derived through an ancient Hebrew cipher known as Atbash. In Atbash, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet (Aleph) is replaced by the last (Tav), the second (Beth) by the second to last (Shin), and so on. Applying this to "Babylon" (בָּבֶל, Bavel) yields "Sheshach" (שֵׁשַׁךְ). This cryptographic naming may have served several purposes: to signify the certainty of Babylon's fall, to mock its perceived invincibility, or to initially obscure the direct prophetic target until the time was ripe for its revelation, adding a layer of prophetic intrigue.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 25:26 serves as a timeless reminder that God’s justice is comprehensive and inescapable. It teaches us that:

  • Accountability is Universal: Whether a nation or an individual, all are ultimately accountable before God for their actions.
  • Pride Precedes a Fall: Even empires that seem invincible will face judgment if they defy God's will and oppress others. This foreshadows the ultimate fall of Babylon the Great in Revelation.
  • God's Plan Unfolds: Despite the chaos of human history, God is sovereignly working out His purposes, bringing both judgment and redemption in His perfect timing.

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 51:41

    How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

  • Jeremiah 25:9

    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

  • Revelation 18:1

    ¶ And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

  • Revelation 18:24

    And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

  • Jeremiah 25:12

    And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, [that] I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

  • Daniel 5:1

    ¶ Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

  • Daniel 5:31

    And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old.

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