Jeremiah 5:15
New International Version
People of Israel,” declares the LORD, “I am bringing a distant nation against you— an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand.

New Living Translation
O Israel, I will bring a distant nation against you,” says the LORD. “It is a mighty nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you cannot understand.

English Standard Version
Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the LORD. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.

Berean Standard Bible
Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

King James Bible
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

New King James Version
Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” says the LORD. “It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say.

New American Standard Bible
“Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from far away, you house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an enduring nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say.

NASB 1995
“Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an enduring nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say.

NASB 1977
“Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an enduring nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say.

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel,” declares Yahweh. “It is an enduring nation; It is an ancient nation, A nation whose tongue you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say.

Amplified Bible
“Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from far away, O house of Israel,” says the LORD. “It is a mighty and enduring nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Whose words you do not comprehend.

Christian Standard Bible
I am about to bring a nation from far away against you, house of Israel. This is the LORD’s declaration. It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I am about to bring a nation from far away against you, house of Israel. This is the LORD’s declaration. It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

American Standard Version
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

Contemporary English Version
People of Israel, I have made my decision. An army from a distant country will attack you. I've chosen an ancient nation, and you won't understand their language.

English Revised Version
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Nation of Israel, I'm going to bring a nation from far away to attack you, declares the LORD. It is a nation that has lasted a long time. It is an ancient nation. You don't know the language of this nation. You can't understand what its people say.

Good News Translation
People of Israel, the LORD is bringing a nation from far away to attack you. It is a strong and ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know.

International Standard Version
People of Israel, I'm now bringing a nation from far away to attack you," declares the LORD. "It is an enduring nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you don't know. And you won't understand what they say.

Majority Standard Bible
Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

NET Bible
The LORD says, "Listen, nation of Israel! I am about to bring a nation from far away to attack you. It will be a nation that was founded long ago and has lasted for a long time. It will be a nation whose language you will not know. Its people will speak words that you will not be able to understand.

New Heart English Bible
Look, I will bring a nation on you from far, house of Israel," says the LORD. "It is a mighty nation. It is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, neither understand what they say.

Webster's Bible Translation
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

World English Bible
Behold, I will bring a nation on you from far away, house of Israel,” says Yahweh. “It is a mighty nation. It is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you don’t know and don’t understand what they say.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, "" O house of Israel,” "" A declaration of YHWH, "" “It [is] a strong nation, "" It [is] an ancient nation, "" A nation whose tongue you do not know, "" Nor understand what it speaks.

Young's Literal Translation
Lo, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, an affirmation of Jehovah, A nation -- strong it is, a nation -- from of old it is, A nation -- thou knowest not its tongue, Nor understandest what it speaketh.

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold me bringing upon you a nation from far off, O house of Israel, says Jehovah: it is a nation of strength, it is a nation of old, a nation thou wilt not know its tongue, and thou shalt not hear what it will speak.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I will bring upon you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: a strong nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou shalt not know, nor understand what they say.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, O house of Israel, I will lead over you a far away nation, says the Lord, a robust nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you will not know, nor will you understand what they are saying.

New American Bible
Beware! I will bring against you a nation from far away, O House of Israel—oracle of the LORD; A long-lived nation, an ancient nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you cannot understand.

New Revised Standard Version
I am going to bring upon you a nation from far away, O house of Israel, says the LORD. It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Lo, I will bring a nation against you, a people from afar, O house of Israel, says the LORD; it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a people whose language you do not know; neither can you understand what they say.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, I bring upon you, house of Israel, people from afar off, says LORD JEHOVAH. The people is strong, the people is that from ancient time, the people whose language you will not know, and you will not hear a thing that it speaks
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD; It is an enduring nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language thou knowest not, Neither understandest what they say.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, I will bring upon you a nation from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord; a nation the sound of whose language one shall not understand.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment Proclaimed
14Therefore this is what the LORD God of Hosts says: “Because you have spoken this word, I will make My words a fire in your mouth and this people the wood it consumes. 15Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand. 16Their quivers are like open graves; they are all mighty men.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:49
The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,

Isaiah 28:11
Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people

Habakkuk 1:6
For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.

Isaiah 5:26-30
He lifts a banner for the distant nations and whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Behold—how speedily and swiftly they come! / None of them grows weary or stumbles; no one slumbers or sleeps. No belt is loose and no sandal strap is broken. / Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are strung. The hooves of their horses are like flint; their chariot wheels are like a whirlwind. ...

2 Kings 24:2
And the LORD sent Chaldean, Aramean, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders against Jehoiakim in order to destroy Judah, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servants the prophets.

2 Chronicles 36:17
So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who put their young men to the sword in the sanctuary, sparing neither young men nor young women, neither elderly nor infirm. God gave them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar,

Lamentations 4:12
The kings of the earth did not believe, nor any people of the world, that an enemy or a foe could enter the gates of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 21:31
I will pour out My anger upon you; I will breathe the fire of My fury against you; I will hand you over to brutal men, skilled in destruction.

Hosea 8:1
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.

Joel 2:2
a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come.

Matthew 24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

Luke 21:20-24
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that her desolation is near. / Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city. / For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. ...

Acts 2:5-11
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. / And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language. / Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ...

Romans 11:25
I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you will not be conceited: A hardening in part has come to Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.

1 Corinthians 14:21
It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”


Treasury of Scripture

See, I will bring a nation on you from far, O house of Israel, said the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you know not, neither understand what they say.

I will.

Jeremiah 1:15
For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 4:16
Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

Jeremiah 6:22
Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.

O house.

Jeremiah 5:11
For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 2:26
As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

Jeremiah 9:26
Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

a mighty.

Daniel 2:37,38
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory…

Daniel 7:7
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Habakkuk 1:5-10
Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you

a nation.

Isaiah 28:11
For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Isaiah 33:19
Thou shalt not see a fierce people, a people of a deeper speech than thou canst perceive; of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand.

1 Corinthians 14:21
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

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Jeremiah 5
1. The judgments of God upon the people, for their perverseness;
7. for their adultery;
10. for their impiety;
15. for their worship of idols;
19. for their contempt of God;
25. and for their great corruption in the civil state;
30. and ecclesiastical.














Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar
This phrase begins with "Behold," a term often used in Scripture to draw attention to a significant announcement or divine intervention. It signals the seriousness of the message that follows. The Hebrew word for "behold" is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), which serves as a call to the listener to pay close attention. The phrase "I am bringing against you" indicates God's active role in orchestrating the events that are about to unfold. It underscores the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations, a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The "nation from afar" refers to a foreign power, historically understood as Babylon. This aligns with the historical context of the Babylonian exile, a pivotal event in Jewish history. The phrase emphasizes the distance and foreignness of the impending threat, highlighting the severity of the judgment due to Israel's disobedience.

O house of Israel
This phrase identifies the audience of the prophecy, the "house of Israel," which refers to the collective people of Israel, God's chosen nation. The term "house" (Hebrew: "בֵּית" - bayit) often signifies not just a physical dwelling but a family or lineage. Here, it underscores the covenant relationship between God and Israel, reminding them of their identity and the responsibilities that come with it. The use of "Israel" recalls the patriarch Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, and it serves as a reminder of the nation's origins and God's promises to their forefathers.

declares the LORD
This phrase affirms the divine authority behind the message. "Declares" (Hebrew: "נְאֻם" - ne'um) is a term used to convey the certainty and solemnity of God's pronouncement. It is not merely a prediction but a declaration of what will surely come to pass. "The LORD" (Hebrew: "יְהוָה" - Yahweh) is the personal name of God, emphasizing His covenantal faithfulness and eternal nature. This declaration serves as a reminder that the message is not from a human prophet alone but from God Himself, who is both just and merciful.

It is an enduring nation
The description of the nation as "enduring" (Hebrew: "עוֹלָם" - olam) suggests a sense of permanence and strength. This word often conveys the idea of eternity or long duration. In this context, it highlights the formidable and lasting power of the nation God is bringing against Israel. Historically, Babylon was known for its might and influence, which seemed unassailable at the time. This serves as a warning to Israel of the seriousness of their situation and the formidable nature of their adversary.

an ancient nation
The term "ancient" (Hebrew: "מֵעוֹלָם" - me'olam) further emphasizes the established and time-tested nature of the nation. It suggests a civilization with a long history and deep roots, adding to its perceived invincibility. This description would resonate with the Israelites, who valued history and tradition. The ancient nature of Babylon underscores the depth of the threat and the gravity of the impending judgment.

a nation whose language you do not know
This phrase highlights the cultural and linguistic barrier between Israel and the invading nation. The inability to understand the language (Hebrew: "לָשׁוֹן" - lashon) signifies not only a communication gap but also a deeper sense of alienation and fear. In the ancient world, language was a key component of identity and community. The unfamiliar language of the invaders would have been a source of confusion and terror, symbolizing the complete upheaval of Israel's familiar world.

and whose speech you do not understand
The repetition of the idea of not understanding the "speech" (Hebrew: "דִּבְרֵי" - divrei) reinforces the theme of disconnection and impending chaos. It underscores the helplessness and vulnerability of Israel in the face of a foreign power. This lack of understanding is not just literal but also metaphorical, representing Israel's spiritual deafness to God's warnings and commands. The phrase serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the resulting loss of clarity and direction.

(15) O house of Israel.--Apparently, as there is no contrast with Judah, in its wider sense, as including the whole body of the twelve tribes.

A mighty nation.--The strict force of the adjective is that of "lasting, enduring," as of mountains (Micah 6:2) and rivers (Amos 5:24; Psalm 74:15).

Whose language thou knowest not.--To the Jew, as to the Greek, the thought of being subject to a people of alien speech, a "barbarian," added a new element of bitterness. Compare Isaiah 28:11; Deuteronomy 28:49. . . .

Verse 15. - O house of Israel. After the captivity of the ten tribes, Judah became the sole representative of the people of Israel (scrap. Jeremiah 2:26). A mighty nation. The Authorized Version certainly gives apart of the meaning. The Hebrew word rendered "mighty" ('ethan), rather, "perennial," is the epithet of rocks and mountains (Numbers 24:21; Micah 6:2); of a pasture (Jeremiah 49:19); of rivers (Deuteronomy 21:4; Psalm 74:15). As applied in the present instance, it seems to describe the inexhaustible resources of a young nation. Render here, ever replenished; i.e. ever drawing anew from its central fountain of strength. Does not this aptly convey the impression which a long-civilized nation (and the Jews, who have been called "rude," were only so by comparison with the Egyptians and Assyrians) must derive from the tumultuous incursions of nomad hosts? The description-will therefore fit the Scythians; but it is not inappropriate to the Chaldeans, if we take into account the composite nature of their armies. An ancient nation; i.e. one which still occupies its primeval seat in the north (Jeremiah 6:22), undisturbed by invaders. Whose language thou knowest not. So Isaiah of the Assyrians, "(a people) of a stammering tongue, that thou canst not understand." The Jews were no philologists, and were as unlikely to notice the fundamental affinity of Hebrew and Assyrian as an ancient Greek to observe the connection between his own language and the Persian. When the combatants were to each other βάρβαροι, mercy could hardly be expected. The sequence of vers. 49 and 50 in Deuteronomy 28. speaks volumes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Behold,
הִנְנִ֣י (hin·nî)
Interjection | first person common singular
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

I am bringing
מֵבִיא֩ (mê·ḇî)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

a distant
מִמֶּרְחָ֛ק (mim·mer·ḥāq)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4801: Remoteness, a distant place, from afar

nation
גּ֧וֹי (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

against you,
עֲלֵיכֶ֨ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

O house
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel,”
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

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

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

“It
ה֗וּא (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

is an established
אֵיתָ֣ן (’ê·ṯān)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 386: Perennial, ever-flowing, permanence

nation,
גּ֣וֹי ׀ (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

an ancient
מֵעוֹלָם֙ (mê·‘ō·w·lām)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

nation,
גּ֤וֹי (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

a nation
גּ֚וֹי (gō·w)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

whose language
לְשֹׁנ֔וֹ (lə·šō·nōw)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3956: The tongue

you do not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

know
תֵדַ֣ע (ṯê·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3045: To know

and whose speech
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

you do not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

understand.
תִשְׁמַ֖ע (ṯiš·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 5:15 Behold I will bring a nation (Jer.)
Jeremiah 5:14
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