Jeremiah 49:23

¶ Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; [there is] sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Concerning Damascus {H1834}. Hamath {H2574} is confounded {H954}, and Arpad {H774}: for they have heard {H8085} evil {H7451} tidings {H8052}: they are fainthearted {H4127}; there is sorrow {H1674} on the sea {H3220}; it cannot {H3201} be quiet {H8252}.

Concerning Dammesek: "Hamat and Arpad are confused; having heard bad news, they dissolve in fear, like the churning sea, which cannot calm itself.

Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed.

Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.

Jeremiah 49:23 is a prophetic oracle concerning Damascus, the ancient capital of Aram (Syria), and its surrounding cities. This verse vividly portrays the panic and distress that will overwhelm these regions upon hearing news of an impending catastrophe, likely the advance of the Babylonian army.

Context of Jeremiah 49:23

This verse is part of a significant section in the book of Jeremiah (chapters 46-51) containing prophecies against various foreign nations. Following judgments against Ammon and Edom, Jeremiah turns his attention to Damascus. Historically, Damascus was a powerful and strategic city, often a rival or threat to Israel. The "evil tidings" refer to the terrifying news of an overwhelming military force, understood by many commentators to be Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army, which served as God's instrument of judgment against many nations in the ancient Near East. This prophecy underscores God's sovereignty over all nations, not just Israel.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment on Nations

    The prophecy against Damascus, like those against other nations in Jeremiah, demonstrates that God's authority extends beyond His chosen people to encompass all the earth. He holds all nations accountable for their actions and pride, using powerful empires to execute His righteous judgment.

  • Overwhelming Fear and Despair

    The verse uses strong imagery to convey the depth of terror: "confounded," "fainthearted," and "sorrow on the sea." This describes a complete loss of courage and a state of utter panic and hopelessness in the face of inevitable destruction. The news itself ("evil tidings") is enough to shatter their resolve.

  • The Scope of Disaster

    The mention of Hamath and Arpad alongside Damascus indicates that the judgment would not be confined to the capital alone but would spread throughout the region, creating widespread devastation and distress.

Linguistic Insights

  • Confounded (KJV): The Hebrew word is bosh (בוש), which means to be ashamed, dismayed, or disappointed. It suggests a sudden and humiliating collapse of confidence and security.
  • Fainthearted (KJV): From the Hebrew masas (מסס), meaning "to melt" or "dissolve." It vividly portrays their courage and strength melting away, leaving them utterly without spirit or resolve.
  • Sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet: This phrase is often interpreted metaphorically. "The sea" here likely represents a vast, overwhelming, and turbulent state of trouble or distress among the people, akin to a stormy, restless ocean that cannot find peace or calm. It emphasizes the pervasive and unceasing nature of their anguish.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 49:23 serves as a powerful reminder of God's universal justice and His ultimate control over human history. Even powerful nations like Damascus, confident in their strength and alliances, are subject to His divine decrees. For believers today, this passage underscores the importance of humility and recognizing that true security is found not in worldly power or possessions, but in God alone. It also reminds us that the "tidings" we hear can either bring peace or distress, depending on where our hope is placed. Ultimately, those who trust in the Lord will not be "fainthearted" even amidst global turmoil, for their peace is not dependent on circumstances.

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.

  • 2 Kings 18:34

    Where [are] the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where [are] the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

  • Isaiah 10:9

    [Is] not Calno as Carchemish? [is] not Hamath as Arpad? [is] not Samaria as Damascus?

  • Isaiah 57:20

    But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

  • Genesis 14:15

    And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which [is] on the left hand of Damascus.

  • 2 Kings 19:13

    Where [is] the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?

  • Numbers 13:21

    ¶ So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin unto Rehob, as men come to Hamath.

  • Nahum 2:10

    She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

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