Single lesson
Jeremiah 25: Seventy Years of Captivity
Jeremiah 25:1–14; Jeremiah 25:15–33; Jeremiah 25:34–38
Jeremiah 25:1–14 is a prophetic word to Judah and Jerusalem explaining why judgement is coming. The passage also says Babylon’s rule will last for a set time, and that Babylon too will later face Yahweh’s judgement. This lesson also brings together The Cup of God’s Wrath, The Cry of the Shepherds.
Before you teach
The message is dated to a particular year and spoken by Jeremiah to all the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Jeremiah says Yahweh’s word had come to him for twenty-three years, and that Yahweh had also sent other prophets. The repeated problem in this passage is that the people did not listen.
Explain the central teaching of Jeremiah 25: Seventy Years of Captivity, using two details from the reading. This passage teaches that Yahweh’s announced judgement answers persistent refusal to hear his word, and that even Babylon remains under his authority and judgement. 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. This passage teaches that Yahweh’s judgement reaches leaders, their flock imagery, and the land itself, and it cannot be escaped.
Welcome: Jeremiah 25: Seventy Years of Captivity
5 minIntroduce “Seventy Years of Captivity”, “The Cup of God’s Wrath”, “The Cry of the Shepherds” and locate Jeremiah 25:1–14; Jeremiah 25:15–33; Jeremiah 25:34–38. This passage teaches that Yahweh’s announced judgement answers persistent refusal to hear his word, and that even Babylon remains under his authority and judgement. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Jeremiah 25:1, Jeremiah 25:8, Jeremiah 25:14
Read and explain the passage
12 minSeventy Years of Captivity (Jeremiah 25:1–14): The passage begins by placing Jeremiah’s word in a specific year and directing it to all the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Jeremiah says Yahweh’s word had come to him for twenty-three years, and he had spoken repeatedly. Yahweh had also sent other prophets, yet the people did not listen.
The Cup of God’s Wrath (Jeremiah 25:15–33): 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.
The Cry of the Shepherds (Jeremiah 25:34–38): The passage begins with urgent commands: “Wail”, “cry”, and “wallow in dust”. Shepherds and leaders of the flock are addressed directly. In this prophecy, these are leadership images. Their “days” have fully come, and they will fall “like fine pottery”, a picture of something valuable yet easily broken.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Seventy Years of Captivity”, “The Cup of God’s Wrath”, “The Cry of the Shepherds”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Jeremiah 25:1, Jeremiah 25:2, Jeremiah 25:3, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 25:15, Jeremiah 25:16, Jeremiah 25:34
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “What repeated response from the people explains why judgement is announced in this passage?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. This passage teaches that Yahweh’s judgement reaches leaders, their flock imagery, and the land itself, and it cannot be escaped. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Jeremiah 25:3, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 25:7, Jeremiah 25:8, Jeremiah 25:18, Jeremiah 25:29, Jeremiah 25:35, Jeremiah 25:38
Make and respond: Vision and message evidence map
12 minWork on “Jeremiah 25: Seventy Years of Captivity: Vision and message evidence map”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Seventy Years of Captivity”, “The Cup of God’s Wrath”, “The Cry of the Shepherds” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Jeremiah 25:1, Jeremiah 25:20, Jeremiah 25:38
Closing: return to The Cry of the Shepherds
3 minRevisit Jeremiah 25:34–38. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about The Cry of the Shepherds and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Jeremiah 25:34, Jeremiah 25:36, Jeremiah 25:38
Questions to explore
What repeated response from the people explains why judgement is announced in this passage?
Look for the repeated statements that they did not listen to Jeremiah or to Yahweh’s other prophets.
Jeremiah 25:3, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 25:7, Jeremiah 25:8
What 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.
Jeremiah 25:18, Jeremiah 25:29
What effect does the lion comparison have at the end of the passage?
It strengthens the picture of powerful action, fitting the earlier statement that there is no way to flee or escape.
Jeremiah 25:35, Jeremiah 25:38
Make, think or respond
Jeremiah 25: Seventy Years of Captivity: Vision and message evidence map
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “What the passage describes”, “What is explained in the text”, “What question remains”.
- Read Jeremiah 25:1–14; Jeremiah 25:15–33; Jeremiah 25:34–38. Use “Seventy Years of Captivity”, “The Cup of God’s Wrath”, “The Cry of the Shepherds” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Circle an explanation the passage itself provides. Leave unexplained details as questions for further reading.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Jeremiah 25: Seventy Years of Captivity connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Seventy Years of Captivity”, “The Cup of God’s Wrath”, “The Cry of the Shepherds” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Jeremiah 25:1–14; Jeremiah 25:15–33; Jeremiah 25:34–38. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Jeremiah 25:1–14; Jeremiah 25:15–33; Jeremiah 25:34–38. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Jeremiah 25
1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (this was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),
2 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened.
4 Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear),
5 saying, “Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forever more.
6 Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no harm.”
7 “Yet you have not listened to me,” says Yahweh, “that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.”
8 Therefore Yahweh of Armies says: “Because you have not heard my words,
9 behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,” says Yahweh, “and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around. I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.
11 This whole land will be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
12 “It will happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,” says Yahweh, “for their iniquity. I will make the land of the Chaldeans desolate forever.
13 I will bring on that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
14 For many nations and great kings will make bondservants of them, even of them. I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.”
15 For 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.
16 They will drink, and reel back and forth, and be insane, because of the sword that I will send among them.”
17 Then I took the cup at Yahweh’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Yahweh had sent me:
18 Jerusalem, 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;
19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, with his servants, his princes, and all his people;
20 and 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;
21 Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon;
22 and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;
23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have the corners of their beard cut off;
24 and all the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness;
25 and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;
26 and 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.” ’
28 It 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.
29 For, 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.
31 A 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.”
32 Yahweh 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.”
33 The 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.
34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry. Wallow in dust, you leader of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions have fully come, and you will fall like fine pottery.
35 The shepherds will have no way to flee. The leader of the flock will have no escape.
36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leader of the flock, for Yahweh destroys their pasture.
37 The peaceful folds are brought to silence because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
38 He has left his covert, as the lion; for their land has become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppression, and because of his fierce anger.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.