King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 25:15 Mean?

Jeremiah 25:15 in the King James Version says “For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to ... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

Jeremiah 25:15 · KJV


Context

13

And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

14

For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

15

For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

16

And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

17

Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. This vision of kôs hayyayin haḥēmâ (כּוֹס הַיַּיִן הַחֵמָה, the wine cup of fury/wrath) introduces one of Scripture's most powerful symbols for divine judgment. The cup represents God's righteous anger against sin, which must be consumed fully. The imagery appears throughout Scripture—Psalms 75:8, Isaiah 51:17-23, Habakkuk 2:16, and crucially in Gethsemane when Jesus prayed 'let this cup pass from me' (Matthew 26:39).

Jeremiah functions as priest administering this cup to the nations—a symbolic prophetic act representing God's judicial sentence. The phrase ʾel-kol-haggôyim ʾăsher ʾānōḵî shōlēaḥ ʿôṯĕḵā ʾălêhem (אֶל־כָּל־הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ אֹתְךָ אֲלֵיהֶם, to all the nations to whom I send you) emphasizes God's universal sovereignty. He judges not only covenant-breaking Israel but all nations according to their response to His moral law written on human conscience (Romans 1:18-32, 2:14-16). At the cross, Christ drank this cup fully on behalf of sinners (Mark 10:38-39), exhausting divine wrath against all who trust in Him.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This vision came during the fourth year of Jehoiakim (605 BC), the same year as Nebuchadnezzar's rise and the Battle of Carchemish. The 'cup of wrath' would be administered through Babylon's conquests over the next decades. The vision's symbolic nature (Jeremiah didn't literally travel to all these nations with a physical cup) represents the prophetic word going forth to pronounce judgment. The list of nations in verses 18-26 encompasses the entire ancient Near East, demonstrating God's comprehensive sovereignty.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the 'cup of wrath' imagery help us understand what Jesus endured at the cross when He bore God's judgment for sin?
  2. What does God's judgment extending to 'all nations' teach about universal moral accountability before the Creator?
  3. How should the certainty of divine judgment on all unrighteousness shape our evangelistic urgency and personal holiness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
כִּ֣י1 of 24
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

כֹה֩2 of 24
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֨ר3 of 24

For thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֜ה4 of 24

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵ֤י5 of 24

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵל֙6 of 24

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אֵלַ֔י7 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

קַ֠ח8 of 24

unto me Take

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

אֶת9 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כּ֨וֹס10 of 24

cup

H3563

a cup (as a container), often figuratively, some unclean bird, probably an owl (perhaps from the cup-like cavity of its eye)

הַיַּ֧יִן11 of 24

the wine

H3196

wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication

הַחֵמָ֛ה12 of 24

of this fury

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

הַזֹּ֖את13 of 24
H2063

this (often used adverb)

מִיָּדִ֑י14 of 24

at my hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

וְהִשְׁקִיתָ֤ה15 of 24

thee to drink

H8248

to quaff, i.e., (causatively) to irrigate or furnish a potion to

אֹתוֹ֙16 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֶת17 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כָּל18 of 24
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַגּוֹיִ֔ם19 of 24

and cause all the nations

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

אֲשֶׁ֧ר20 of 24
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָנֹכִ֛י21 of 24
H595

i

שֹׁלֵ֥חַ22 of 24

to whom I send

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

אוֹתְךָ֖23 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃24 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 25:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 25:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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