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The Coming Captivity of Judah
Jeremiah 10:17–25 speaks as prophecy and prayer about coming distress for Judah. The passage moves from a warning to prepare, to grief over ruin, to an appeal for Yahweh’s correction with mercy and justice.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, people living under siege are told to gather their belongings. Yahweh says he will sling out the inhabitants and bring distress. The words then express deep loss, explain failed leadership, announce destructive news from the north, and end with prayer to Yahweh about human weakness, correction, and wrath.
Jeremiah 10:17–25Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Judah’s coming desolation is serious, that failed leaders did not seek Yahweh, and that the right response is to ask Yahweh for correction with mercy.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A warning to prepare for removalThe passage begins with an urgent command to gather belongings while living under siege. Yahweh then explains why: he will “sling out” the inhabitants and distress them so that they feel it.
Explanation
The passage begins with an urgent command to gather belongings while living under siege. Yahweh then explains why: he will “sling out” the inhabitants and distress them so that they feel it. The language is not a travel plan but a forceful warning of being thrown out of the land.
02Grief over ruin and separationThe voice then cries out over a serious wound and accepts that this grief must be borne. The ruined tent and broken cords picture collapse and loss of stability.
Explanation
The voice then cries out over a serious wound and accepts that this grief must be borne. The ruined tent and broken cords picture collapse and loss of stability. The children being gone and no one left to spread the tent show emptiness, separation, and helplessness.
03Leaders failed to seek YahwehThe reason given is that the shepherds became brutish and did not inquire of Yahweh. In this passage, “shepherds” are leaders of people, since their failure is followed by scattered flocks.
Explanation
The reason given is that the shepherds became brutish and did not inquire of Yahweh. In this passage, “shepherds” are leaders of people, since their failure is followed by scattered flocks. Because they did not seek Yahweh, they did not prosper, and those under their care were scattered.
04News of desolation and a prayer for mercyNews comes from the north country, bringing a great commotion that will make Judah’s cities desolate.
Explanation
News comes from the north country, bringing a great commotion that will make Judah’s cities desolate. The passage then turns to prayer: human beings cannot direct their own steps, so the speaker asks Yahweh to correct gently, not in anger. It ends by asking Yahweh to pour out wrath on nations that have devoured Jacob and laid waste his home.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Yahweh say he will do to the inhabitants of the land, and how is it described?
Look at the strong image in verse 18 and connect it with the command to gather belongings in verse 17.
02How do the tent, cords, and curtains help describe the loss in this passage?
Use the images in verse 20 to explain what has been broken down and what is missing.
03What two requests are made to Yahweh at the end of the passage?
Notice the prayer first asks for correction with gentleness, then asks for wrath on those who have devoured Jacob.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 10:17–25
17Gather up your wares out of the land, you who live under siege.
18For Yahweh says, “Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and will distress them, that they may feel it.”
19Woe is me because of my injury! My wound is serious; but I said, “Truly this is my grief, and I must bear it.”
20My tent has been destroyed, and all my cords are broken. My children have gone away from me, and they are no more. There is no one to spread my tent any more, to set up my curtains.
21For the shepherds have become brutish, and have not inquired of Yahweh. Therefore they have not prospered, and all their flocks have scattered.
22The voice of news, behold, it comes, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a dwelling place of jackals.
23Yahweh, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
24Yahweh, correct me, but gently; not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing.
25Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, and on the families that don’t call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob. Yes, they have devoured him, consumed him, and have laid waste his habitation.