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Jeremiah 49:19

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Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who [is] a chosen [man, that] I may appoint over her? for who [is] like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who [is] that shepherd that will stand before me?

Behold, he shall come up {H5927} like a lion {H738} from the swelling {H1347} of Jordan {H3383} against the habitation {H5116} of the strong {H386}: but I will suddenly {H7280} make him run away {H7323} from her: and who is a chosen {H977} man, that I may appoint {H6485} over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time {H3259}? and who is that shepherd {H7462} that will stand {H5975} before {H6440} me?

It will be like a lion coming up from the thickets of the Yarden against a strong settlement: in an instant I will chase him away and appoint over it whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who can call me to account? What shepherd can stand up to me?"

Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that will stand before me?

Commentary

The commentary on Jeremiah 49:19 KJV delivers a powerful prophetic declaration concerning God's judgment and His unrivaled sovereignty over nations.

Context

This verse is part of a series of prophecies against foreign nations found in Jeremiah chapters 46-51. Specifically, Jeremiah 49 details pronouncements against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam. Verse 19 is most often interpreted in the context of God's judgment against Edom, a nation known for its pride and seemingly impregnable fortresses carved into rocky terrain (like Petra). The "he" coming up "like a lion from the swelling of Jordan" refers to an invading force, typically understood as Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army, whom God uses as His instrument of judgment. The "swelling of Jordan" vividly describes the Jordan River's seasonal overflow, which would drive lions out of their dense thickets along its banks, causing them to emerge with sudden ferocity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The central message is God's absolute control over the rise and fall of nations. He orchestrates events and uses even powerful empires as tools for His purposes. The "lion" signifies the swift, overwhelming, and terrifying nature of the judgment He brings.
  • Irresistible Power: The rhetorical questions – "who is like me?", "who will appoint me the time?", "who is that shepherd that will stand before me?" – underscore God's incomparable power and authority. No earthly ruler or military might can withstand or challenge His divine will.
  • Futility of Human Strength and Pride: Despite Edom's "strong habitation," their fortifications and self-reliance are utterly useless against God's decreed judgment. This highlights the vanity of human pride when confronted with divine power.
  • God's Ultimate Control: Even the destructive force (the "lion") is under God's command: "but I will suddenly make him run away from her." God raises up and casts down, maintaining ultimate control over all instruments of His will. This imagery of a destructive force being divinely directed is also seen in Jeremiah 50:44, which uses almost identical language.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "swelling of Jordan" (Hebrew: גְּאוֹן הַיַּרְדֵּן, geon hayYarden) literally means "the pride" or "majesty" of the Jordan. It refers to the dense, lion-infested thickets along the riverbanks, which would be flooded during the spring thaw, driving out the lions. This imagery evokes a sudden, terrifying, and unstoppable emergence.
  • "Habitation of the strong" (Hebrew: נְוֵה אֵיתָן, n'weh eitan) signifies a strong, enduring dwelling place, emphasizing the perceived invincibility of the target nation's fortresses or settlements.
  • The series of rhetorical questions, "who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?", are a powerful declaration of God's unique and incomparable nature. A "shepherd" here represents a leader or ruler, challenging any earthly authority to contend with God. This echoes God's unmatched power and wisdom seen in passages like Daniel 4:35.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 49:19 serves as a profound reminder of God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and circumstances. For believers, it offers assurance that God is ultimately in control, even when facing seemingly overwhelming forces or chaotic world events. For those who rely on their own strength or pride, it is a sober warning that no human endeavor or fortification can ultimately stand against the divine will. This verse calls us to humility, recognizing God's unmatched power and wisdom, and to trust in His perfect timing and purposes, knowing that He raises up and brings down nations according to His grand design.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 12:5 (6 votes)

    If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

  • Jeremiah 30:21 (4 votes)

    And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who [is] this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.

  • Exodus 15:11 (3 votes)

    Who [is] like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who [is] like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful [in] praises, doing wonders?

  • Joshua 3:15 (3 votes)

    And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)

  • Job 41:10 (3 votes)

    None [is so] fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?

  • Job 9:19 (3 votes)

    If [I speak] of strength, lo, [he is] strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time [to plead]?

  • Jeremiah 50:44 (3 votes)

    Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who [is] a chosen [man, that] I may appoint over her? for who [is] like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who [is] that shepherd that will stand before me?