Jeremiah 25:29

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.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jeremiah delivers the LORD of Hosts' message to Judah and the nations immediately after commanding the cup of wrath. The declaration follows the warning that refusal to drink is not an option.

The words — The Hebrew הִנֵּה (hi.Neh) functions as "behold" or "here," marking the onset of divine action. The clause אֲשֶׁר נִקְרָא־שְׁמִי עָלֶיהָ (a.Sher nik.ra'-she.M/i 'a.Lei./ha) literally reads "upon which my name is called," identifying the city as God's designated dwelling.

The thread — The principle of graduated judgment appears in Proverbs 11:31, which contrasts earthly consequences for the righteous with the ungodly. The warning that judgment begins with God's own people is echoed in 1 Peter 4:17, while the motif of universal sword warfare aligns with Ezekiel 38:21.

Why it lands — The text asserts that judgment will start with the city bearing God's name before sweeping the earth. It requires readers to accept that divine accountability cannot be avoided by those closest to God before it reaches the wider world.

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

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.

Cross-references

Proverbs 11:31 If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!
Ezekiel 38:21 And I will summon a sword against Gog on all My mountains, declares the Lord GOD, and every man’s sword will be against his brother.
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?
1 Kings 8:43 then may You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You. Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and they will know that this house I have built is called by Your Name.
Jeremiah 49:12 For this is what the LORD says: “If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you must drink it too.
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.
Obadiah 1:16 For as you drank on My holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. They will drink and gulp it down; they will be as if they had never existed.
Proverbs 11:21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
Proverbs 17:5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
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.