Bible Strands
Jeremiah 50:32
The arrogant one will stumble and fall with no one to pick him up. And I will kindle a fire in his cities to consume all those around him.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord of Hosts speaks against the arrogant Babylonian empire at the appointed time of judgment. This declaration follows the announcement of Israel and Judah’s prolonged oppression by their captors.
The words — The Hebrew זָדוֹן (za.don) denotes arrogance, while מֵקִים (me.kim) literally means a raiser-up. The text states the arrogant will stumble and fall with no one to raise him up, followed by God kindling fire in his cities.
The thread — This judgment pattern appears where God promises to kindle fire against proud locations in Jeremiah 21:14 and Jeremiah 49:27. Isaiah 10:12 parallels the theme by noting God will punish the king of Assyria after completing His work against Jerusalem.
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that human pride guarantees collapse when divine judgment arrives. It requires the reader to accept that no external support can prevent God’s established punishment.
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 the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 21:14 I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’”
- Jeremiah 49:27 “I will set fire to the walls of Damascus; it will consume the fortresses of Ben-hadad.”
- 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 2:5 So I will send fire upon Judah to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.”
- Revelation 18:8 Therefore her plagues will come in one day—death and grief and famine—and she will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.”
- Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mountains.
- Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 18:12 Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
- Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.
- Jeremiah 51:26 No one shall retrieve from you a cornerstone or a foundation stone, because you will become desolate forever,” declares the LORD.