Jeremiah 49:33

And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, [and] a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor [any] son of man dwell in it.

And Hazor {H2674} shall be a dwelling {H4583} for dragons {H8577}, and a desolation {H8077} for {H5704} ever {H5769}: there shall no man {H376} abide {H3427} there, nor any son {H1121} of man {H120} dwell {H1481} in it.

"Hatzor will be a place for jackals to live, desolate forever; no one will settle there any more, no human being will live there again."

โ€œHazor will become a haunt for jackals, a desolation forever. No one will dwell there; no man will abide there.โ€

And Hazor shall be a dwelling-place of jackals, a desolation for ever: no man shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.

Commentary

Jeremiah 49:33 delivers a stark prophecy concerning the future of Hazor, declaring its utter and permanent desolation. This verse is part of a larger section in the Book of Jeremiah where the prophet pronounces God's judgment against various foreign nations.

Context of Jeremiah 49:33

Chapter 49 of Jeremiah contains prophecies against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, and Hazor. The specific prophecy against Kedar and Hazor spans verses 28-33. While there was a prominent city named Hazor in northern Israel, the context here, immediately following a prophecy against Kedar (an Arabian tribe), strongly suggests that this Hazor refers to an Arabian settlement or nomadic stronghold. It was likely a significant center for the people of Kedar, perhaps a fortified oasis or trading post, whose pride and sense of security were about to be shattered by divine decree.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: This verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations, not just Judah. His judgment extends to those who oppose His will or live in pride, demonstrating that no people group is beyond His reach or accountability. This is a recurring theme throughout prophetic books, showing God's control over the rise and fall of kingdoms.
  • Utter Desolation: The imagery of Hazor becoming a "dwelling for dragons" and "a desolation for ever" emphasizes complete and irreversible ruin. It signifies that the place will be uninhabitable by humans, given over to wild animals and emptiness, a stark contrast to its former prominence.
  • Certainty of Prophecy: The definitive nature of the language ("shall be," "shall no man abide") underscores the certainty of God's word. What the Lord declares will undoubtedly come to pass, serving as a powerful reminder of His faithfulness to His pronouncements, whether of blessing or judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV translation of "dragons" for the Hebrew word tannim (ืชึผึทื ึผึดื™ื) in this context often refers not to mythical creatures, but to jackals, wild dogs, or other desert scavengers. This vivid imagery paints a picture of a place so utterly ruined and abandoned that it becomes a habitat for wild, desolate creatures, similar to descriptions found in prophecies against other doomed cities, such as Babylon in Isaiah 13:21. The phrase "desolation for ever" uses the Hebrew shammah l'olam, emphasizing a permanent state of waste and emptiness, signifying that recovery is not expected.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 49:33 serves as a timeless reminder of several truths:

  • God's Justice is Universal: It reinforces that God's moral standards and judgment apply to all humanity, not just a select few. No one is exempt from accountability before Him.
  • The Peril of Pride: While not explicitly stated in this single verse, the broader context of prophecies against nations often highlights pride and self-sufficiency as reasons for divine judgment. Hazor's fate serves as a warning against such attitudes.
  • Trust in God's Word: The unwavering fulfillment of God's prophecies, even against distant nations, strengthens faith in the reliability and authority of His Word. What God declares will come to pass.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 10:22

    Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, [and] a den of dragons.

  • Jeremiah 9:11

    And I will make Jerusalem heaps, [and] a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

  • Jeremiah 51:37

    And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

  • Zephaniah 2:13

    And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, [and] dry like a wilderness.

  • Zephaniah 2:15

    This [is] the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I [am], and [there is] none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, [and] wag his hand.

  • Malachi 1:3

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

  • Zephaniah 2:9

    Therefore [as] I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
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