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Judgment on Edom
Jeremiah 49:7–22 is a prophecy about Edom. The passage asks what has become of Edom’s wisdom, then announces coming judgement, showing that pride, security and human counsel cannot stand when Yahweh speaks.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Jeremiah reports what Yahweh says about Edom, including Teman, Dedan and Bozrah. The message moves from questions about vanished wisdom to images of exposure, desolation, battle and fear. The passage remains prophecy and teaching about Yahweh’s announced judgement.
Jeremiah 49:7–22Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh’s judgement reaches even those who seem secure, and human wisdom and pride cannot prevent what he has purposed.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Wisdom fails and calamity comesThe prophecy begins with questions about Edom’s wisdom, especially in Teman. If counsel has perished, then the people’s trusted understanding has failed.
Explanation
The prophecy begins with questions about Edom’s wisdom, especially in Teman. If counsel has perished, then the people’s trusted understanding has failed. Dedan is told to flee and hide, because Yahweh says he will bring calamity on Esau when he visits him. The message starts by exposing weakness where strength was expected.
02Judgement will be thorough, yet Yahweh speaks of careJeremiah compares ordinary robbers and grape gatherers, who would usually leave something behind, with the fuller exposure coming on Esau.
Explanation
Jeremiah compares ordinary robbers and grape gatherers, who would usually leave something behind, with the fuller exposure coming on Esau. His hidden places will be uncovered, and he will not be able to hide. Yet in the middle of this, Yahweh says fatherless children will be preserved alive and widows may trust in him.
03Edom will not escape the cupYahweh says that if others must drink the cup, Edom will certainly not go unpunished. Bozrah and its cities are declared a waste.
Explanation
Yahweh says that if others must drink the cup, Edom will certainly not go unpunished. Bozrah and its cities are declared a waste. Nations are called to battle, and Edom is made small and despised. The passage says pride has deceived Edom, even though it lived in high rocky places and seemed secure.
04Yahweh’s purpose will standEdom will become an astonishment, and its ruin is compared to the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Explanation
Edom will become an astonishment, and its ruin is compared to the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah. The passage then stresses Yahweh’s unmatched authority: no one can summon him or stand before him. His counsel against Edom will be carried out, and even its mighty men will lose heart when judgement comes against Bozrah.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does the opening question about Teman suggest about Edom’s supposed strength?
Look at how the passage links Teman with wisdom and counsel, then notice that this wisdom is described as gone.
02How does the comparison with grape gatherers and thieves make Yahweh’s judgement sound different?
Notice that those examples would normally leave something behind, but Esau’s hidden places are instead uncovered and he cannot hide.
03Which words in this passage show that Edom’s high position could not protect it?
Focus on the description of rocky heights and the direct statement that pride deceived Edom and Yahweh would bring it down.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 49:7–22
7Of Edom, Yahweh of Armies says: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
8Flee! Turn back! Dwell in the depths, inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau on him when I visit him.
9If grape gatherers came to you, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? If thieves came by night, wouldn’t they steal until they had enough?
10But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he will not be able to hide himself. His offspring is destroyed, with his brothers and his neighbors; and he is no more.
11Leave your fatherless children. I will preserve them alive. Let your widows trust in me.”
12For Yahweh says: “Behold, they to whom it didn’t pertain to drink of the cup will certainly drink; and are you he who will altogether go unpunished? You won’t go unpunished, but you will surely drink.
13For I have sworn by myself,” says Yahweh, “that Bozrah will become an astonishment, a reproach, a waste, and a curse. All its cities will be perpetual wastes.”
14I have heard news from Yahweh, and an ambassador is sent among the nations, saying, “Gather yourselves together! Come against her! Rise up to the battle!”
15“For, behold, I have made you small among the nations, and despised among men.
16As for your terror, the pride of your heart has deceived you, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill, though you should make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there,” says Yahweh.
17“Edom will become an astonishment. Everyone who passes by it will be astonished, and will hiss at all its plagues.
18As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and its neighbor cities,” says Yahweh, “no man will dwell there, neither will any son of man live therein.
19“Behold, he will 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 whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it. For who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who will stand before me?”
20Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Edom, and his purposes that he has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely they will drag them away, the little ones of the flock. Surely he will make their habitation desolate over them.
21The earth trembles at the noise of their fall; there is a cry, the noise which is heard in the Red Sea.
22Behold, he will come up and fly as the eagle, and spread out his wings against Bozrah. The heart of the mighty men of Edom at that day will be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.