Jeremiah 25:29
New International Version
See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.’

New Living Translation
I have begun to punish Jerusalem, the city that bears my name. Now should I let you go unpunished? No, you will not escape disaster. I will call for war against all the nations of the earth. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!’

English Standard Version
For behold, I begin to work disaster at the city that is called by my name, and shall you go unpunished? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of hosts.’

Berean Standard Bible
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’

King James Bible
For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

New King James Version
For behold, I begin to bring calamity on the city which is called by My name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the LORD of hosts.’

New American Standard Bible
For behold, I am beginning to inflict disaster on this city which is called by My name, so should you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares the LORD of armies.’

NASB 1995
“For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares the LORD of hosts.’

NASB 1977
“For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares the LORD of hosts.’

Legacy Standard Bible
For behold, I am beginning to bring evil against this city which is called by My name. But shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment, for I am calling for a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares Yahweh of hosts.’

Amplified Bible
For behold, I am beginning to work disaster in the city which is called by My Name, and shall you go unpunished? You will not be exempt from punishment, for I am calling for a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” says the LORD of hosts.’

Christian Standard Bible
For I am already bringing disaster on the city that bears my name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth. This is the declaration of the LORD of Armies.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For I am already bringing disaster on the city that bears My name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth"—this is the declaration of the LORD of Hosts.

American Standard Version
For, lo, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith Jehovah of hosts.

Contemporary English Version
Starting with my own city of Jerusalem, everyone on earth will suffer from war. So there is no way I will let you escape unharmed."

English Revised Version
For, lo, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I am going to bring disaster on the city that is named after me. Do you think you'll go unpunished? You will not go unpunished! I'm declaring war on all those who live on earth, declares the LORD of Armies.'

Good News Translation
I will begin my work of destruction in my own city. Do they think they will go unpunished? No, they will be punished, for I am going to send war on all the people on earth. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken.

International Standard Version
Look, I'm beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and do you actually think you will avoid punishment? You won't avoid punishment because I'm summoning the sword against all those who live in the land," declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies.'"

Majority Standard Bible
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.?

NET Bible
For take note, I am already beginning to bring disaster on the city that I call my own. So how can you possibly avoid being punished? You will not go unpunished! For I am proclaiming war against all who live on the earth. I, the LORD who rules over all, affirm it!'

New Heart English Bible
For, look, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth,"' says the LORD of hosts.

Webster's Bible Translation
For lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

World English Bible
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.”’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For behold, in the city over which My Name is called, "" I am beginning to bring ruin, "" And are you entirely acquitted? You are not acquitted, for I am proclaiming a sword, "" For all inhabitants of the land,” "" A declaration of YHWH of Hosts.

Young's Literal Translation
For lo, in the city over which My name is called, I am beginning to do evil, And ye -- ye are entirely acquitted! Ye are not acquitted, for a sword I am proclaiming, For all inhabitants of the land, An affirmation of Jehovah of Hosts.

Smith's Literal Translation
For behold me beginning to do evil upon the city which my name was called upon it; and shall ye being acquitted be unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished, for I call a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, says Jehovah of armies.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For behold I begin to bring evil on the city wherein my name is called upon: and shall you be as innocent and escape free? you shall not escape free: for I will call for the sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For behold, I am beginning to afflict the city in which my name has been invoked, and will you be innocent and immune? You will not be immune! For I will call the sword over all the inhabitants of the earth, says the Lord of hosts.

New American Bible
Now that I am inflicting evil on this city, called by my name, how can you possibly escape? You shall not escape! I am calling down the sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth—oracle of the LORD of hosts.

New Revised Standard Version
See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and how can you possibly avoid punishment? You shall not go unpunished, for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth, says the LORD of hosts.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For behold, I begin to bring evil on this city which is called by my name, and you shall not be left unpunished, you shall not be blameless; for I am calling for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, says the LORD of hosts.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because, behold, the city on which my name is called, I begin to do evil to it, and shall you surely be innocent? You shall not be innocent, because I called for the sword on all the inhabitants of the land, says LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city whereupon My name is called, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For I am beginning to afflict the city whereon my name is called, and ye shall by no means be held guiltless: for I am calling a sword upon all that dwell upon the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cup of God's Wrath
28If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘You most certainly must drink it! 29For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’ 30So you are to prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high; He will raise His voice from His holy habitation. He will roar loudly over His pasture; like those who tread the grapes, He will call out with a shout against all the inhabitants of the earth.…

Cross References
1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

Ezekiel 9:6
Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

Isaiah 10:12
So when the Lord has completed all His work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the fruit of his arrogant heart and the proud look in his eyes.

Amos 3:2
“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

Luke 12:47-48
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. / But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

Proverbs 11:31
If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Revelation 14:7
And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”

Isaiah 29:6
you will be visited by the LORD of Hosts with thunder and earthquake and loud noise, with windstorm and tempest and consuming flame of fire.

Matthew 24:21
For at that time there will be great tribulation, unseen from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be seen again.

Zechariah 13:8-9
And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. / This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

Romans 2:9
There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;

Isaiah 28:21
For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

1 Thessalonians 5:3
While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Isaiah 13:11
I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.

Revelation 18:6
Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.


Treasury of Scripture

For, see, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, said the LORD of hosts.

I begin.

Jeremiah 49:12
For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.

Proverbs 11:31
Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

Ezekiel 9:6
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

which is called by my name.

1 Kings 8:43
Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.

Daniel 9:18,19
O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies…

ye shall.

Jeremiah 30:11
For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

Jeremiah 46:28
Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

Proverbs 11:21
Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

I will.

Ezekiel 14:17,21
Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: …

Ezekiel 38:21
And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.

Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

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Jeremiah 25
1. Jeremiah, reproving the Jews' disobedience to the prophets,
8. foretells the seventy years' captivity;
12. and after that, the destruction of Babylon.
15. Under the type of a cup of wine he foreshows the destruction of all nations.
34. The howling of the shepherds.














For behold
This phrase serves as a divine attention-getter, urging the listener to pay close attention to the gravity of the message. In Hebrew, "behold" is often translated from "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which is used to draw attention to something significant. It is a call to witness God's active involvement in the affairs of humanity, emphasizing His sovereignty and the certainty of His actions.

I am beginning
The phrase indicates the initiation of a process. In the context of Jeremiah, it marks the commencement of divine judgment. The Hebrew root "הָלַל" (halal) can imply a starting point, suggesting that what is about to unfold is part of a larger divine plan. This underscores God's control over history and His righteous judgment.

to bring disaster
The word "disaster" is translated from the Hebrew "רָעָה" (ra'ah), which can mean evil, calamity, or misfortune. It reflects the consequences of sin and rebellion against God. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the seriousness of turning away from God's commandments and the inevitable judgment that follows.

on the city that bears My Name
This refers to Jerusalem, the city chosen by God to bear His Name, symbolizing His presence and covenant with His people. The phrase underscores the gravity of the situation, as even the city associated with God's Name is not exempt from judgment due to its inhabitants' unfaithfulness. It highlights the principle that privilege comes with responsibility.

and will you indeed go unpunished?
This rhetorical question challenges the complacency of those who believe they can escape divine justice. The Hebrew construction implies certainty that punishment will occur. It serves as a warning to all nations and individuals that God's justice is impartial and universal.

You will not go unpunished
The repetition of the assurance of punishment emphasizes its inevitability. It reflects the biblical principle that God is just and will hold all accountable for their actions. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and the need for repentance.

for I am calling down a sword
The "sword" symbolizes war and destruction, a common motif in prophetic literature representing divine judgment. The Hebrew "חֶרֶב" (chereb) is often used to depict the instrument of God's wrath. This imagery conveys the seriousness of God's judgment and the reality of its execution.

upon all the inhabitants of the earth
This phrase expands the scope of judgment from Jerusalem to the entire world, indicating the universal nature of God's justice. It reflects the biblical theme that God is the sovereign ruler over all nations and that His moral standards apply universally.

declares the LORD of Hosts
The title "LORD of Hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth) emphasizes God's supreme authority and power over all heavenly and earthly armies. It reassures the faithful of God's ultimate control and the certainty of His promises. This declaration serves as a reminder of God's majesty and the assurance that His purposes will be fulfilled.

(29) I begin to bring evil . . .?--The thought is the same as that of 1Peter 4:17, "If judgment shall begin at the house of God . . .?" If this were His chastisement of those who were His chosen people, it followed a fortiori that those who were less favoured and had less claims should not escape. For them, as for Judah, the one wise and safe course was to accept their punishment and submit. (Comp. Jeremiah 49:12.)

Verse 29. - I will call for a sword. It is probably that awful sword referred to in ver. 16 (see note).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
For
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

behold,
הִנֵּ֨ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

I
אָֽנֹכִי֙ (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

am beginning
מֵחֵ֣ל (mê·ḥêl)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

to bring disaster
לְהָרַ֔ע (lə·hā·ra‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

on the city
בָעִ֜יר (ḇā·‘îr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

that
אֲשֶׁ֧ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

bears My name,
שְׁמִ֣י (šə·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 8034: A name

so how could you
וְאַתֶּ֖ם (wə·’at·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

possibly go unpunished?
הִנָּקֵ֣ה (hin·nā·qêh)
Verb - Nifal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

You will not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

go unpunished,
תִנָּק֔וּ (ṯin·nā·qū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5352: To be, clean, to be bare, extirpated

for
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I
אֲנִ֤י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

am calling down
נִֽקְרָא־ (niq·rā-)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

a sword
חֶ֗רֶב (ḥe·reḇ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

against
עָלֶ֗יהָ (‘ā·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the inhabitants
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of the earth,
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

declares
נְאֻ֖ם (nə·’um)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts.?
צְבָאֽוֹת׃ (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 25:29 For behold I begin to work evil (Jer.)
Jeremiah 25:28
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