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;

And send {H7971} them to the king {H4428} of Edom {H123}, and to the king {H4428} of Moab {H4124}, and to the king {H4428} of the Ammonites {H1121}{H5983}, and to the king {H4428} of Tyrus {H6865}, and to the king {H4428} of Zidon {H6721}, by the hand {H3027} of the messengers {H4397} which come {H935} to Jerusalem {H3389} unto Zedekiah {H6667} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063};

Send [similar yokes] to the kings of Edom, of Mo'av, of the people of 'Amon, of Tzor, and of Tzidon by means of the envoys they send to Yerushalayim, and to Tzidkiyahu king of Y'hudah.

Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.

and send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the children of Ammon, and to the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon, by the hand of the messengers that come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah:

Jeremiah 27:3 is part of a powerful prophetic action where the prophet Jeremiah is commanded by God to send messages to surrounding nations, urging them to submit to the rising power of Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. This verse specifically lists the recipients of this divine mandate: the kings of Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, Tyre, and Sidon, delivered through their own diplomatic envoys present in Jerusalem before King Zedekiah of Judah.

Context

This verse is situated in the early years of King Zedekiah's reign in Judah (around 597-586 BC), a period marked by political instability and the increasing dominance of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Jeremiah's message, initiated by the symbolic act of wearing yokes and bonds (as seen in Jeremiah 27:2), was radically counter-intuitive to the prevailing political aspirations of the time. These foreign messengers likely came to Jerusalem to forge alliances with Zedekiah against Babylon, hoping to throw off Babylonian subjugation. However, God, through Jeremiah, declares that He has given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, whom He calls "my servant" (Jeremiah 25:9), and that resistance would lead to destruction. The message of Jeremiah 27:3 is a direct divine counter-proposal to their earthly schemes.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute control over all nations and their rulers, including pagan kings and empires. He orchestrates world events according to His divine plan, raising up and bringing down kingdoms as He wills (compare with Daniel 2:21).
  • Submission to God's Will: The central command is for these nations, alongside Judah, to submit to Babylon. This difficult instruction underscores the importance of obeying God's revealed will, even when it seems illogical, humiliating, or contrary to human wisdom.
  • Prophetic Warning and Judgment: The message carried by Jeremiah is a stern warning that resisting God's appointed instrument (Nebuchadnezzar) would result in severe judgment, including famine, sword, and pestilence.
  • International Scope of God's Plan: God's prophetic word is not confined to Judah but extends to surrounding nations, demonstrating His universal authority and concern for all peoples.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "And send them" (וְשָׁלַחְתָּם - v'shalachtam) emphasizes the direct, authoritative nature of God's command to Jeremiah. The use of "messengers" (מַלְאָכִים - mal'akhim) here refers to the foreign envoys, highlighting that Jeremiah is using their own channels of communication to deliver a message directly from the God of Israel to their respective kings. The listed nations – Edom, Moab, Ammonites, Tyre, and Sidon – represent a cross-section of Judah's traditional neighbors and sometimes adversaries, all of whom were caught in the geopolitical struggles of the ancient Near East. Their inclusion underscores the comprehensive reach of God's decree.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 27:3 reminds us that God remains sovereign over all earthly powers and political landscapes. For believers today, this verse encourages trust in God's ultimate control, even amidst turbulent global events or challenging personal circumstances. It calls us to discern and submit to God's will, even when it requires humility or goes against popular opinion. Just as God used Nebuchadnezzar for His purposes, He can use any instrument to achieve His divine plan, often in ways we don't expect or understand. Our call is to seek His wisdom and obey, trusting that His ways are always ultimately for good.

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.

  • Amos 1:9

    Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away [the punishment] thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:

  • Amos 2:3

    And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 25:19

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

  • 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.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:13

    And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.

  • Ezekiel 29:18

    Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:

  • Ezekiel 25:1

    ¶ The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

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