King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 25:27 Mean?

Jeremiah 25:27 in the King James Version says “Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue,...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.”

Jeremiah 25:27 · KJV

Context

25

And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,

26

And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

27

Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

28

And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

29

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. which: Heb. upon which my name is called

Read Jeremiah 25 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. This verse intensifies the cup imagery with graphic effects. The imperatives šĕṯû wĕšikrû ûqîʾû ûnip̄lû wĕlōʾ ṯāqûmû (שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ וּקִיאוּ וּנִפְלוּ וְלֹא תָקוּמוּ, drink, be drunken, vomit, fall, and rise no more) depict complete helplessness. Drunkenness represents loss of control and rationality; vomiting suggests violent rejection but inability to escape; falling with no rising pictures permanent defeat.

The finality of wĕlōʾ ṯāqûmû (וְלֹא תָקוּמוּ, and rise no more) emphasizes irreversible judgment. This isn't temporary discipline but ultimate destruction. The phrase mipnê haḥereḇ ʾăsher ʾānōḵî shōlēaḥ bênêḵem (מִפְּנֵי הַחֶרֶב אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי שֹׁלֵחַ בֵּינֵיכֶם, because of the sword which I send among you) reiterates God's active agency in judgment. This imagery of God's cup making nations drunk appears in Revelation: 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen...for all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication' (Revelation 14:8, 18:3). The final judgment will be comprehensive, irreversible, and divinely ordained.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This graphic imagery describes the collapse of nations under Babylonian conquest. Survivors reported the horror—cities destroyed, populations massacred or enslaved, civilizations ended. For some nations (like Edom), the judgment was permanent—they never recovered. For others (like Judah), temporary exile preceded restoration. The difference depended on God's sovereign purposes. The imagery of nations 'falling never to rise' found fulfillment in peoples that disappeared from history: Philistines, Edomites, Moabites, Ammonites—all extinct as distinct peoples.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this graphic imagery—drunkenness, vomiting, falling—emphasize the complete helplessness of those facing God's judgment?
  2. What does the finality of 'rise no more' teach about the irreversibility of divine judgment on those who persistently reject God?
  3. How should these warnings of certain, irreversible judgment motivate urgency in evangelism and personal repentance?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
אָמַר֩1 of 20

“Therefore thou shalt say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲלֵיהֶ֡ם2 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

כֹּֽה3 of 20
H3541

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

אָמַר֩4 of 20

“Therefore thou shalt say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֨ה5 of 20

“the LORD”

H3068

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

צְבָא֜וֹת6 of 20

“of hosts”

H6635

a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci

אֱלֹהֵ֣י7 of 20

“the 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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל8 of 20

“of Israel”

H3478

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

שְׁת֤וּ9 of 20

“Drink”

H8354

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

וְשִׁכְרוּ֙10 of 20

“ye and be drunken”

H7937

to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with a stimulating drink or (figuratively) influence

וּקְי֔וּ11 of 20

“and spue”

H7006

to vomit

וְנִפְל֖וּ12 of 20

“and fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

וְלֹ֣א13 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תָק֑וּמוּ14 of 20

“and rise”

H6965

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

מִפְּנֵ֣י15 of 20

“no more because”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הַחֶ֔רֶב16 of 20

“of the sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

אֲשֶׁ֛ר17 of 20
H834

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

אָנֹכִ֥י18 of 20
H595

i

שֹׁלֵ֖חַ19 of 20

“which I will send”

H7971

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

בֵּינֵיכֶֽם׃20 of 20
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

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 25:27 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 25:27 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 25:16Habakkuk 2:16Ezekiel 21:4-5Isaiah 51:21Lamentations 4:21Jeremiah 12:12

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