Jeremiah 25:15

Jeremiah 25:15 introduces a powerful and somber prophetic vision given to Jeremiah, the prophet of God. In this verse, the LORD God of Israel commands Jeremiah to take a "wine cup of this fury" from His hand and make all the nations to whom he is sent drink from it. This vivid imagery symbolizes divine judgment and the severe consequences awaiting nations that have defied God.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Jeremiah chapter 25, which serves as a pivotal point in the book. It immediately follows a declaration concerning Judah's seventy years of servitude to Babylon (Jeremiah 25:11). After Judah's punishment, the prophecy then shifts to encompass the judgment of various surrounding nations, including Egypt, Philistia, Edom, Moab, Ammon, and ultimately, Babylon itself. Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet," was commissioned during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time when both Judah and its neighbors were deeply entrenched in idolatry and injustice. His role was to deliver God's messages of warning and impending judgment, even when unpopular.

Key Themes

• Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The verse powerfully asserts God's absolute authority not only over Israel but over all nations. He is the ultimate dispenser of justice, and no nation is beyond His reckoning. The "wine cup of fury" signifies His righteous indignation against sin and rebellion.
• Prophetic Commission: Jeremiah is not merely a passive observer but an active participant in God's decree. He is commanded to deliver this cup, emphasizing the prophet's crucial role as God's messenger, even when the message is one of impending doom. This mirrors his initial call to "root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant" (Jeremiah 1:10).
• The Consequences of Sin: The imagery underscores that persistent disobedience and wickedness, whether by God's own people or by pagan nations, will inevitably lead to divine retribution. The nations are compelled to "drink" the cup, signifying their full experience of God's wrath.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "wine cup of this fury" translates from the Hebrew kos chemah (כּוֹס חֵמָה). Kos means "cup," and chemah denotes "heat," "wrath," or "fury." It is a potent metaphor, not for literal wine, but for the overflowing measure of God's intense anger and indignation against sin. The act of "drinking" the cup signifies the full, inescapable experience of the decreed punishment. This imagery is found elsewhere in Scripture, such as in Psalm 75:8 where the wicked are said to drink the dregs of God's cup, and in Isaiah 51:17, where Jerusalem is depicted as having drunk the "cup of trembling."

Practical Application

Jeremiah 25:15 serves as a timeless reminder of God's holiness and justice. It teaches us that God holds all nations accountable for their actions, not just those who explicitly claim to know Him. For us today, this verse emphasizes:

• The Seriousness of Sin: God does not overlook wickedness, whether in individuals or in societies. There are real and often painful consequences for turning away from His ways.
• God's Universal Sovereignty: We are reminded that God is sovereign over all earthly powers and events. He uses nations as instruments of His will, even to execute judgment (Habakkuk 1:6).
• Call to Repentance: While this verse speaks of judgment, the underlying message of all prophetic warnings is a call to repentance and turning back to God. For those who acknowledge Him, there is grace and forgiveness instead of wrath.