Jeremiah 49:20

KJV

Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore hear {H8085} the counsel {H6098} of the LORD {H3068}, that he hath taken {H3289} against Edom {H123}; and his purposes {H4284}, that he hath purposed {H2803} against the inhabitants {H3427} of Teman {H8487}: Surely the least {H6810} of the flock {H6629} shall draw them out {H5498}: surely he shall make their habitations {H5116} desolate {H8074} with them.

Complete Jewish Bible

So hear the plan of ADONAI that he has devised against Edom, and his purpose that he will accomplish against those who live in Teman: the least of the flock will drag them away; their own pasture will be in shock at them.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore hear the plans that the LORD has drawn up against Edom and the strategies He has devised against the people of Teman: Surely the little ones of the flock will be dragged away; certainly their pasture will be made desolate because of them.

American Standard Version

Therefore hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they shall drag them away, even the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 49:20 serves as a profound declaration of Yahweh's unyielding judgment against the proud nation of Edom, specifically targeting its inhabitants in the renowned city of Teman. The verse emphatically asserts the divine origin and unalterable certainty of this impending desolation, revealing that even the most insignificant and unexpected instrument will be sufficient to bring about Edom's utter ruin and the complete devastation of their seemingly impregnable habitations, thereby underscoring God's absolute and unchallenged sovereignty over all nations and their destinies.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Jeremiah's extensive collection of oracles against foreign nations (Jeremiah 46-51), which collectively demonstrate Yahweh's universal dominion, extending His authority far beyond Israel and Judah to encompass all peoples. The specific oracle against Edom (Jeremiah 49:7-22) is a powerful indictment, following pronouncements against Egypt, Philistia, Moab, and Ammon, and preceding those against Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Babylon. Within this Edomite prophecy, Jeremiah 49:20 functions as a climactic and definitive statement, reinforcing earlier declarations of Edom's wisdom failing and their pride being brought low, as vividly portrayed in [Jeremiah 49:7-11](/jeremiah/49-7-11 "Jeremiah 49:7-11 - Edom's Wisdom and Downfall"). It serves to underscore the divine resolve and the certainty of the promised destruction, leaving no doubt about the outcome.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Edom, situated in the rugged, mountainous region southeast of the Dead Sea, was a nation descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother, establishing a long-standing and often hostile relationship with Israel. Their history was marked by animosity, including their refusal to grant passage to the Israelites during the Exodus ([Numbers 20:14-21](/numbers/20-14-21 "Numbers 20:14-21 - Edom Refuses Passage to Israel")) and their later rejoicing in Judah's downfall. Edom was renowned for its formidable natural defenses, particularly its rock-cut cities like Petra, which fostered a deep-seated sense of impregnability and immense national pride among its people. Teman, a prominent city within Edom, was particularly noted for its wise men (cf. [Job 2:11](/job/2-11 "Job 2:11 - Eliphaz the Temanite")), making its specific mention in this prophecy a pointed challenge to Edom's intellectual and strategic self-assurance. The verse directly confronts a cultural context where nations boasted of their military might and geographical security, highlighting the ultimate futility of human defenses against the sovereign decree of God.
* **Key Themes:** The central themes woven throughout Jeremiah 49:20 and the broader oracle against Edom are multifaceted. Foremost is **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, unequivocally asserting that God's authority extends over all nations, not merely Israel, and that He holds every people accountable for their actions. Edom's pervasive pride and arrogant self-reliance, famously depicted in [Obadiah 1:3-4](/obadiah/1-3-4 "Obadiah 1:3-4 - Edom's Pride and Downfall"), are directly confronted and shattered by God's unyielding "counsel" and "purposes." Another crucial theme is **Humiliation and Desolation**, as the prophecy foretells Edom's complete and utter downfall, brought about by an unexpectedly weak or insignificant force ("the least of the flock"). This emphasizes the profound depth of their humiliation, contrasting sharply with their perceived strength and renowned wisdom, as highlighted in [Jeremiah 49:7](/jeremiah/49-7 "Jeremiah 49:7 - Edom's Wisdom"). The verse also subtly but powerfully conveys **God's Justice**, presenting the judgment on Edom as a righteous and inevitable consequence of their historical antagonism towards Israel and their general wickedness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **counsel (Hebrew, _ʻêtsâh'_):** From the root `yâʻats` (H3289), meaning to advise, deliberate, or resolve. This term signifies a well-considered, deliberate plan or purpose. When applied to the LORD, it profoundly emphasizes God's infinite wisdom, intentionality, and sovereign decision-making. It indicates that His actions are not impulsive or reactive but are the result of divine deliberation and an unchangeable, fixed resolve, guaranteeing the certainty of their execution.
* **purposes (Hebrew, _machăshâbâh'_):** From the root `châshab` (H2803), which means to think, contrive, or devise. This word denotes a concrete plan, intention, or scheme. In the context of God, it reinforces the idea of His deliberate and fixed intentions, highlighting the certainty and meticulous execution of His will. Unlike human plans, God's purposes are infallible and will inevitably come to pass, whether for the good of His people or for the judgment of the wicked.
* **least of the flock (Hebrew, _tsâʻîyr ha-tsôʼn'_):** `tsâʻîyr` (H6810) means "little," "small," or "insignificant," while `tsôʼn` (H6629) refers to a "flock" of sheep or goats, often used collectively. This phrase is a profoundly powerful metaphor, suggesting that even the weakest, most insignificant, or seemingly harmless element—perhaps a small, contemptible group or an unexpected, humble instrument—will be more than sufficient to utterly defeat and dislodge the mighty Edomites. This underscores the overwhelming power of God's judgment and the depth of Edom's impending humiliation, as their downfall will not come from a formidable foe but from something they would utterly disdain.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom;":** This opening imperative serves as an urgent summons to profound attention, immediately establishing the divine origin and absolute certainty of the message. The "counsel of the LORD" highlights God's deliberate, sovereign, and unalterable decision-making, indicating that the impending judgment against Edom is not arbitrary or impulsive but a well-considered, eternal decree from the Almighty, rooted in His perfect justice and knowledge.
* **"and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman:":** This clause functions as a powerful reiteration and intensification of the preceding one, employing synonymous parallelism to underscore the fixed and unyielding intentions of God. The specific mention of "Teman," a city renowned for its wisdom and strategic importance within Edom, pointedly targets the very heart of Edomite strength and pride, emphatically declaring that even their celebrated wisdom and formidable strategic defenses will prove utterly powerless against God's determined and meticulously planned will.
* **"Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: ":** This striking and highly ironic declaration introduces the unexpected and seemingly insignificant instrument of Edom's catastrophic downfall. "The least of the flock" metaphorically suggests a force that is utterly contemptible, weak, or insignificant in human terms. The verb "draw them out" implies being forcibly dragged away from their secure strongholds, perhaps like sheep being pulled from a fold for slaughter, or even being led into exile, signifying their complete vulnerability, lack of resistance, and the ease with which their mighty defenses will be breached.
* **"surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.":** This concluding clause pronounces the ultimate and comprehensive outcome: total and irreversible desolation. "Habitations" refers not only to their personal dwellings but also to their secure fortresses, their cities, and their entire settled environment, all of which will be laid waste. The powerful phrase "with them" emphasizes that the destruction will encompass both the people themselves and their entire physical environment, leaving nothing untouched or spared. This serves as a stark testament to the completeness, severity, and finality of God's judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 49:20 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment with maximum impact. The most striking is **Irony**, particularly evident in the phrase "the least of the flock shall draw them out." Edom, a nation celebrated for its impregnable mountain fortresses and military prowess, is ironically depicted as being overcome by something utterly insignificant, highlighting the vast disparity between their perceived strength and their actual vulnerability before an omnipotent God. This also borders on **Hyperbole**, exaggerating the weakness of the instrument of judgment to emphasize the absolute and effortless power of God in executing His will. The repetition of the emphatic "surely" (implied by the Hebrew structure, though only once in KJV) serves as a powerful **Asseveration** or **Affirmation**, reinforcing the absolute certainty and inevitability of the prophecy's fulfillment. Furthermore, the portrayal of God having "counsel" and "purposes" is a form of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like cognitive processes of planning and deliberation to God. This device makes His intentionality, wisdom, and deliberateness more comprehensible and relatable to the human audience, while simultaneously underscoring the unchangeable nature of His divine decrees.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 49:20 profoundly articulates the theological truth of God's absolute and unchallenged sovereignty over all nations, demonstrating unequivocally that no human power, no matter how fortified, wise, or prideful, can ultimately withstand His determined counsel and purposes. It underscores that God is not merely the covenant God of Israel but the Lord of all creation, holding every nation accountable for its actions, particularly its pride, self-reliance, and hostility towards His chosen people. The prophecy against Edom stands as a timeless and sobering warning against arrogance and trusting in one's own strength, illustrating that divine justice will ultimately prevail, often through unexpected or seemingly insignificant means, bringing low those who exalt themselves and challenging the very foundations of human presumption.

* [Isaiah 46:10](/isaiah/46-10 "Isaiah 46:10 - God Declares the End from the Beginning") - "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:"
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction") - "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
* [Obadiah 1:3-4](/obadiah/1-3-4 "Obadiah 1:3-4 - Edom's Pride and Downfall") - "The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 49:20 calls us to a profound and necessary reflection on the majestic nature of God and our humble place before Him. It serves as a stark and enduring reminder that true security, lasting peace, and ultimate triumph lie not in human strength, strategic advantage, accumulated wealth, or even intellectual prowess, but solely in the sovereign and unassailable will of the Almighty. Edom's dramatic downfall, orchestrated by "the least of the flock," directly challenges our innate human tendency to trust in visible power, to rely on our own capabilities, and to dismiss or underestimate the seemingly insignificant. It powerfully teaches us that God, in His infinite wisdom, often chooses the humble, the weak, or the unexpected to accomplish His grand and eternal purposes, thereby confounding the wisdom of the proud and demonstrating His unparalleled might. This truth should cultivate within us a deep and abiding humility, fostering a radical reliance on God's power rather than our own, and instilling a firm conviction that His justice and His plans will ultimately prevail, even when circumstances appear to suggest otherwise. For those facing seemingly insurmountable opposition or feeling overwhelmed, this verse offers immense hope: God can indeed use the "least of the flock" to bring down the mightiest adversaries and accomplish His perfect will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life do I tend to rely on my own strength, wisdom, or resources rather than wholeheartedly trusting in God's sovereign counsel and provision?**
* **How does the profound idea of God using "the least of the flock" to achieve His purposes challenge my conventional perceptions of power, effectiveness, and success in God's kingdom?**
* **What particular "habitations" (areas of perceived security, pride, or self-sufficiency) in my life might God be seeking to make "desolate" so that I might rely more fully and exclusively on Him?**
* **How can I more consistently and intentionally align my personal plans, aspirations, and daily purposes with the declared counsel and unshakeable purposes of the LORD?**

### FAQ
**Who were Edom and Teman, and why were they targeted by God's judgment?**

Answer: Edom was an ancient nation located in the rugged, mountainous region southeast of the Dead Sea, descended from Esau, Jacob's twin brother (see [Genesis 36](/genesis/36 "Genesis 36 - The Descendants of Esau")). Their relationship with Israel was consistently marked by deep-seated hostility, a refusal to offer aid, and even malicious rejoicing in Israel's misfortunes, particularly during the Babylonian conquest of Judah (as lamented in [Psalm 137:7](/psalm/137-7 "Psalm 137:7 - Remember Edom, O Lord")). Teman was a significant and prominent city within Edom, renowned for its wisdom and strategic location. God's severe judgment against Edom, as extensively detailed in Jeremiah 49 and the entire book of [Obadiah](/obadiah/1 "Obadiah - The Prophecy Against Edom"), was primarily due to their intense national pride, their perceived invincibility based on their formidable mountainous strongholds, and their persistent, malicious actions against their "brother" nation, Israel. This judgment served to powerfully demonstrate God's universal sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to justice for His people.

**What is the profound significance of "the least of the flock" in this prophecy?**

Answer: The phrase "the least of the flock" is a profoundly powerful and ironic metaphorical expression signifying an instrument that is utterly insignificant, weak, or contemptible in human terms. Its profound significance lies in highlighting the overwhelming and effortless power of God, as well as the depth of Edom's impending humiliation. It emphatically suggests that God does not require mighty armies, overwhelming force, or formidable human agents to accomplish His divine will; even the most humble, unexpected, or seemingly inconsequential means will be more than sufficient to dismantle the proudest and most secure nations. This vivid imagery underscores the ease and certainty with which God will execute His judgment, making Edom's defeat all the more humiliating precisely because it was not brought about by a formidable and respected foe, but by something they would have utterly disdained and overlooked.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 49:20, while a specific prophecy of judgment against the proud nation of Edom, finds its most profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the paradoxical nature of God's ultimate victory over sin and death, and the seemingly "insignificant" instrument He chose to achieve it. Just as "the least of the flock" was prophesied to draw out the arrogant Edomites from their secure strongholds, so too did God choose a seemingly "insignificant" and "despised" means to conquer the greatest adversaries of humanity: sin, death, and the devil. Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") who takes away the sin of the world, came not in military might, earthly splendor, or kingly power, but in profound humility and apparent weakness, born in a humble manger and dying a criminal's death on a cross. He was, in the eyes of the world, the "least" and most unlikely of instruments, a "root out of dry ground" with "no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him" ([Isaiah 53:2-3](/isaiah/53-2-3 "Isaiah 53:2-3 - The Suffering Servant")). Yet, through His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, this "least" and most humble of instruments utterly "drew out" and decisively defeated the powers of darkness, making desolate the spiritual strongholds of evil and liberating humanity from its bondage. His victory, achieved through apparent weakness and humiliation, perfectly embodies the divine principle that God "has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong" ([1 Corinthians 1:27](/1-corinthians/1-27 "1 Corinthians 1:27 - God Chooses the Weak and Foolish")). Thus, the judgment on Edom, executed by the "least of the flock," serves as a powerful Old Testament foreshadowing of the ultimate triumph of God's counsel and purposes through the unexpected humility and sacrificial love of Christ, who, by becoming the "least," secured the greatest and most eternal victory for all who believe and trust in Him.

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 50:45

Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make [their] habitation desolate with them.

Malachi 1:3

And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.

Malachi 1:4

Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

Jeremiah 49:7

¶ Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; [Is] wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

Acts 4:28

For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

Isaiah 14:24

¶ The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:

Isaiah 14:27

For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? and his hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back?