Bible Strands
Jeremiah 15:4
I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to the remnant of Judah, pronouncing imminent national ruin. This declaration follows the announcement of four appointed destroyers and precedes a rhetorical question about the absence of future mourning for Jerusalem.
The words — The Hebrew phrase לְ/זַֽעֲוָ֔ה (le/za.'ah) translates literally to "into a terror" or "horror," designating a state of dread and revulsion. It is linked to בִּ֠/גְלַל (Bi/g.lal), meaning "on account of," to establish the direct causal relationship between the punishment and the king’s actions.
The thread — The phrase "make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth" appears again in Jeremiah 24:9 alongside terms for disgrace and ridicule. The specific indictment of Manasseh’s deeds aligns with the detailed records of his abominations and shed innocent blood in 2 Kings 21:11 and 21:16.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that collective catastrophe originates from specific, documented historical sins rather than arbitrary divine displeasure. It demands acceptance that leadership corruption produces irreversible communal consequences.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 24:9 I will make them a horror and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a disgrace and an object of scorn, ridicule, and cursing wherever I have banished them.
- 2 Kings 21:11 “Since Manasseh king of Judah has committed all these abominations, acting more wickedly than the Amorites who preceded him, and with his idols has caused Judah to sin,
- 2 Kings 21:16 Moreover, Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end, in addition to the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, doing evil in the sight of the LORD.
- 2 Kings 23:26 Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the fury of His burning anger, which was kindled against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke Him to anger.
- 2 Kings 24:3 Surely this happened to Judah at the LORD’s command, to remove them from His presence because of the sins of Manasseh and all that he had done,
- Deuteronomy 28:25 The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
- Jeremiah 29:18 I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them.
- Ezekiel 23:46 This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Bring a mob against them and consign them to terror and plunder.
- Leviticus 26:33 But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste.
- 2 Kings 21:2 And he did evil in the sight of the LORD by following the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.