Read & explore together
The Cup of God’s Wrath
Jeremiah 25:15–33 uses the picture of a cup to announce Yahweh’s judgment. The passage moves from Judah to many nations, showing that the message is not local only but reaches across the earth.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In this passage, Yahweh tells Jeremiah to take a cup of the wine of wrath from his hand and make the nations drink it. The passage itself explains that this image points to the sword, judgment, and punishment that Yahweh says he will send among them.
Jeremiah 25:15–33Main takeaway
This prophecy teaches that Yahweh’s judgment begins with his own named city and extends to all nations, and no nation can simply refuse his verdict.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01The cup stands for coming judgmentYahweh tells Jeremiah to take a cup of the wine of wrath and make the nations drink. The next verse explains the effect: they will reel, stagger, and be driven mad because of the sword Yahweh will send.
Explanation
Yahweh tells Jeremiah to take a cup of the wine of wrath and make the nations drink. The next verse explains the effect: they will reel, stagger, and be driven mad because of the sword Yahweh will send. The cup is therefore a prophetic picture of unavoidable judgment, not an ordinary drink.
02Judah is named before the surrounding nationsJeremiah says he took the cup and made the nations drink, beginning with Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and princes.
Explanation
Jeremiah says he took the cup and made the nations drink, beginning with Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, its kings and princes. Their judgment is described with strong words such as desolation, astonishment, hissing, and curse. After that, the list spreads through Egypt and many nearby peoples and kingdoms.
03The judgment reaches far and cannot be declinedThe list keeps widening to Tyre, Sidon, Arabia, Elam, the Medes, the kings of the north, and even all the kingdoms of the world on the earth’s surface.
Explanation
The list keeps widening to Tyre, Sidon, Arabia, Elam, the Medes, the kings of the north, and even all the kingdoms of the world on the earth’s surface. If any refuse the cup, Jeremiah must say, “You shall surely drink.” The message is that Yahweh’s announced judgment cannot be escaped by refusal.
04Yahweh judges all the earthYahweh says he begins with the city called by his name, so other nations will not go unpunished.
Explanation
Yahweh says he begins with the city called by his name, so other nations will not go unpunished. Then the picture changes to Yahweh roaring, raising a shout like grape treaders, and bringing judgment with a noise to the ends of the earth. The closing verses are severe, describing widespread death without lament or burial.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does the passage say the nations will reel and fall after drinking the cup?
Look for the passage’s own explanation of the image: the cup points to the sword Yahweh says he will send among them.
02What is important about Jerusalem and Judah being named before the other nations?
Notice that Yahweh says he begins with the city called by his name before speaking of punishment for the inhabitants of the earth.
03How does the passage show that this prophecy reaches beyond one region?
Trace the widening list of peoples and then read the lines about all the kingdoms of the world and the ends of the earth.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 25:15–33
15For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.
16They will drink, and reel back and forth, and be insane, because of the sword that I will send among them.”
17Then I took the cup at Yahweh’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Yahweh had sent me:
18Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, with its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is today;
19Pharaoh king of Egypt, with his servants, his princes, and all his people;
20and all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
21Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon;
22and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;
23Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have the corners of their beard cut off;
24and all the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness;
25and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;
26and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are on the surface of the earth. The king of Sheshach will drink after them.
27“You shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says: “Drink, and be drunk, vomit, fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.” ’
28It shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then you shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “You shall surely drink.
29For, behold, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should you be utterly unpunished? You will not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says Yahweh of Armies.” ’
30“Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and tell them, “ ‘Yahweh will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation. He will mightily roar against his fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
31A noise will come even to the end of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with the nations. He will enter into judgment with all flesh. As for the wicked, he will give them to the sword,” ’ says Yahweh.”
32Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, evil will go out from nation to nation, and a great storm will be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth.”
33The slain of Yahweh will be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They won’t be lamented. They won’t be gathered or buried. They will be dung on the surface of the ground.