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The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, that is, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
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This word was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah to all the people of Judah and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:
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“From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, for twenty-three years, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken it to you again and again, but you have not listened.
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The LORD has also sent to you all his servants, the prophets, again and again, but you have not listened or paid attention.
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They said, Turn back, each of you, from your evil way and from your evil deeds; then you will remain in the land that the LORD gave to you and to your fathers, from forever to forever.
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Do not go after other gods to serve and bow down to them; do not provoke Me with the work of your hands, so that I may not bring disaster upon you.
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But you have not listened to Me, declares the LORD, so that you have provoked Me with the work of your hands to your own harm.
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Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not listened to My words,
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behold, I will summon all the peoples of the north — declares the LORD — and send for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant; and I will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror, a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
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I will remove from among them the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp.
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This whole land shall become a ruin and a desolation, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
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Then after seventy years are completed, declares the LORD, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation for their guilt, and the land of the Chaldeans; I will make it everlasting desolations.
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I will bring upon this land all that I have spoken against it, everything written in this book, all that Jeremiah prophesied against all these nations.”
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For they themselves shall also become servants to many nations and great kings; and I will repay them according to their deeds and according to the work of their hands.”
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Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of this wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.
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So that they may drink, stagger, and be confused because of the sword that I am sending among them.”
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Then I took the cup from the hand of the LORD, and made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink it,
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to Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with its kings and its officials, to make them a ruin, a desolation, a thing to be hissed at and a curse, as it is this day;
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to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, with his servants, his officials, and all his people;
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and to all the mixed peoples; to all the kings of the land of Uz; to all the kings of the land of the Philistines, namely Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
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to Edom, Moab, and the sons of Ammon;
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to all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and to the kings of the coastlands across the sea;
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to Dedan, Tema, Buz, and to all who cut the corners of their hair;
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to all the kings of Arabia who dwell in the wilderness;
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to all the kings of Zimri, to all the kings of Elam, and to all the kings of Media;
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to all the kings of the north, near and far, one after another, and to all the kingdoms of the world that are on the face of the earth; and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.
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Then you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink, and be drunk, and vomit! Fall down and do not rise again, because of the sword that I am sending among you!
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But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD of hosts: You must drink it!
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For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by My name; and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning the sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of hosts.
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And you, prophesy all these words against them, and say to them:
The LORD will roar from on high and utter His voice from His holy habitation;
He will roar mightily against His pasture,
a shout, like those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
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The sound of war will reach to the ends of the earth, for the LORD has a case against the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh. The wicked he will give over to the sword, declares the LORD.
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Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Behold, disaster is spreading from nation to nation, and a great storm is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth.
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On that day those slain by the LORD shall lie scattered from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, gathered, or buried; they shall become dung on the ground.
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Wail and cry out, O shepherds! Roll in the dust, O leaders of the flock! For your time has fully come, and you shall be slaughtered, and you shall fall like a choice ram.
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There shall be no refuge left for the shepherds, nor any escape for the leaders of the flock.
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Listen! The shepherds cry out, the leaders of the flock wail! For the LORD has laid waste their pasture,
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and the peaceful pastures are made desolate because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
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Like a lion he has left his lair, for their land has become a desolation because of the oppressing sword, because of his fierce anger.”
⚖️📖🔥 Summary of Jeremiah 25 – 70 Years of Exile & the Cup of the Lord’s Wrath
Jeremiah 25 is a key chapter that foretells the 70-year exile to Babylon, as well as a symbolic picture of the Lord’s wrath against all nations, not only Judah. Jeremiah had spoken the word of the Lord for 23 years, but the people would not listen. Now the time of judgment has come: Babylon will be the instrument of the Lord’s wrath, yet in the end it too will be judged. This chapter broadens Jeremiah’s prophecy from Judah to the whole world, affirming that the Lord is Judge over all nations.
📌 1. 23 Years of Ignored Prophecy (verses 1–7)
“The LORD has spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.”
➡️ For 23 years Jeremiah counseled Judah, yet they remained stubborn and did not repent.
➡️ They continued to worship idols, rejected counsel, and lived in social and spiritual sin.
🎯 The time of grace does not last forever; persistent refusal brings the Lord’s wrath.
📌 2. Prophecy of 70 Years of Exile (verses 8–11)
“I will make this land a ruin… and this nation shall serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.”
➡️ Because of disobedience, Judah will be conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, whom the Lord calls “My servant” (because he is used as an instrument of judgment).
➡️ The exile will last 70 years, marking a time of punishment and purification.
🎯 Even a pagan ruler can become an instrument in the hand of God — His authority extends over all things.
📌 3. Judgment on Babylon After 70 Years (verses 12–14)
“After seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon…”
➡️ Though Babylon is God’s instrument, they too will be punished for their pride and violence.
🎯 God does not excuse His instrument for doing evil — all nations remain accountable for their deeds.
📌 4. The Cup of the Lord’s Wrath (verses 15–29)
“Take this cup of wine from My hand, and make all the nations drink it…”
➡️ Jeremiah is commanded to give the “drink of wrath” to all nations, a sign that they will experience God’s judgment.
➡️ It begins with Jerusalem, then spreads to all the nations: Egypt, Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon, even the king of the land of the North.
🎯 God is not only the Judge of Israel, but the Judge of the whole earth — no nation is exempt from His justice.
📌 5. The Lord Roars like a Lion (verses 30–38)
“The LORD roars from His dwelling…”
➡️ The image of God as a divine Lion roaring shakes the nations — a sign that judgment is near.
➡️ There will be great turmoil, bloodshed, and destruction because of the Lord’s wrath.
🎯 The day of the Lord is not only a symbol of hope, but also a serious warning for all who live in sin.
📖 Main Teaching
- God’s patience is great, but not without limit
- Continual rejection of the word brings judgment
- The Lord uses the nations that do not know Him as instruments, yet still holds them accountable
- No nation escapes the judgment of the Lord
- “The Day of the Lord” is a global reality — not only for Judah, but for the whole world
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 2 Peter 3:9–10
“The Lord is patient… but the Day of the Lord will come like a thief.”
➡️ In line with Jeremiah 25: patience does not mean that God will not act.
📖 Revelation 14:10
“…will drink the wine of God’s wrath…”
➡️ The cup of the Lord’s wrath in Jeremiah is fulfilled in the final judgment according to the Book of Revelation.
📖 Romans 2:6–8
“He will repay each person according to what they have done.”
➡️ God’s judgment is just and comprehensive — it shows no partiality by nation or status.
📖 Luke 21:24
“They will be taken away as captives…”
➡️ Jesus acknowledged the truth of Jeremiah’s prophecy: the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile did indeed happen, but it will end in restoration through Christ.
🕊️ “For twenty-three years… I have spoken to you again and again.” – Jeremiah 25:3
🕊️ “They shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.” – Jeremiah 25:11
🕊️ “Take this cup of wine from my hand…” – Jeremiah 25:15
🕊️ “The LORD roars from His dwelling place…” – Jeremiah 25:30
