Jeremiah 49:8

Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that] I will visit him.

Flee {H5127} ye, turn back {H6437}, dwell {H3427} deep {H6009}, O inhabitants {H3427} of Dedan {H1719}; for I will bring {H935} the calamity {H343} of Esau {H6215} upon him, the time {H6256} that I will visit {H6485} him.

Flee! Turn back! Hide yourselves well, you who live in D'dan; for I am bringing calamity on 'Esav, when the time for me to punish him comes.

Turn and run! Lie low, O dwellers of Dedan, for I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him.

Flee ye, turn back, dwell in the depths, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I shall visit him.

Jeremiah 49:8 delivers a stark prophetic warning, primarily directed at the inhabitants of Dedan, a people closely associated with the Edomites, descendants of Esau. The verse commands them to "flee ye, turn back, dwell deep," indicating a desperate need to seek refuge from an impending divine judgment. This judgment is explicitly linked to "the calamity of Esau," signifying the severe punishment destined for Edom.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in the Book of Jeremiah (chapters 46-51) containing prophecies against various foreign nations. Following a detailed pronouncement against Edom (Jeremiah 49:7-22), this verse specifically addresses Dedan, an Arabian tribe often allied with or influenced by Edom. Edom, descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, had a long history of animosity towards Israel, often reveling in their misfortunes (as seen in Obadiah 1:12). God's judgment against Edom and its allies like Dedan is a recurring theme in prophetic literature, highlighting divine justice against those who oppose His purposes and people.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The central message is God's impending and unavoidable judgment. The command to "flee" and "dwell deep" underscores the severity of the coming destruction, indicating that no place will be safe from divine wrath.
  • The Calamity of Esau (Edom): This phrase highlights the specific target of God's punishment. Edom's pride, cruelty, and hostility towards Israel led to their prophesied downfall, a warning to all nations against arrogance and opposition to God's chosen people.
  • God's Sovereignty and Timing: The phrase "the time that I will visit him" emphasizes that this judgment is not random but part of God's sovereign plan, executed at His appointed time. God's visitations can be for blessing or for judgment, and here it is clearly the latter.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "dwell deep" (Hebrew: ʿaməqū - עַמְּק֣וּ) suggests to go deep, profound, or hidden. It vividly portrays the desperate measures people would take to escape, seeking refuge in caves, deserts, or other inaccessible places.
  • The word "visit" (Hebrew: pāqaḏ - פָקַד) is a multifaceted term that can mean to inspect, appoint, muster, or attend to. In contexts of judgment, as here, it implies a divine inspection that leads to reckoning and punishment. It signifies God's active involvement in bringing about the prophesied consequences.

Significance and Application

Jeremiah 49:8 serves as a powerful reminder of God's justice and His ultimate sovereignty over all nations. It teaches that no nation or people, no matter how remote or secure they feel, is exempt from divine accountability for their actions, especially when those actions involve cruelty or opposition to God's will. For believers today, this verse reinforces the truth that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately bring all things to account. It calls us to trust in His justice and to align ourselves with His purposes, recognizing that vengeance belongs to the Lord, and His judgment is sure and timely.

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 25:23

    Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all [that are] in the utmost corners,

  • Jeremiah 46:21

    Also her hired men [are] in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, [and] are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, [and] the time of their visitation.

  • Isaiah 21:13

    ¶ The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.

  • Jeremiah 49:30

    Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.

  • Jeremiah 49:32

    And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them [that are] in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 48:28

    O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove [that] maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.

  • Amos 9:1

    ¶ I saw the Lord standing upon the altar: and he said, Smite the lintel of the door, that the posts may shake: and cut them in the head, all of them; and I will slay the last of them with the sword: he that fleeth of them shall not flee away, and he that escapeth of them shall not be delivered.

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