King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 25:31 Mean?

Jeremiah 25:31 in the King James Version says “A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with a...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 25 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.”

Jeremiah 25:31 · KJV

Context

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

30

Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31

A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

32

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

33

And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

Read Jeremiah 25 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD. The phrase šāʾôn ʿaḏ-qĕṣê hāʾāreṣ (שָׁאוֹן עַד־קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ, noise even to the ends of the earth) suggests the universal scope of judgment—no corner of earth will escape the tumult. The term rîḇ (רִיב, controversy) is legal terminology for a covenant lawsuit. God brings charges against the nations, indicting them for violation of His moral law.

The phrase nišpāṭ hûʾ lĕkol-bāśār (נִשְׁפָּט הוּא לְכָל־בָּשָׂר, he will plead/judge with all flesh) uses 'all flesh' (kol-bāśār) to emphasize humanity's creatureliness and mortality. The verb nišpāṭ can mean 'plead' (presenting a legal case) or 'judge' (executing sentence). Here both senses apply—God presents His case and executes judgment. The phrase hārĕšāʿîm nĕṯānām laḥereḇ (הָרְשָׁעִים נְתָנָם לַחֶרֶב, the wicked he will give to the sword) specifies the sentence: death by warfare. This previews the final judgment when Christ returns to judge the living and the dead (Acts 17:31, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The concept of God's 'controversy' with Israel appears throughout the prophets (Hosea 4:1, Micah 6:2). Here it extends to all nations. The ancient understanding of deity typically limited gods to particular territories or peoples; Jeremiah's radical claim was that Yahweh had jurisdiction over all peoples everywhere. This monotheistic universalism prepared for the Christian gospel—there is one God who will judge all humanity through Jesus Christ (Romans 2:16). The 'noise to the ends of the earth' began fulfillment in the Babylonian conquests but awaits ultimate fulfillment in final judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does God's 'controversy with the nations' teach about universal moral law written on human conscience?
  2. How does the phrase 'all flesh' emphasize humanity's common creatureliness and shared accountability before the Creator?
  3. In what ways should the certainty of universal judgment ('to the ends of the earth') shape Christian missions and evangelism?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
בָּ֤א1 of 18

“shall come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

שָׁאוֹן֙2 of 18

“A noise”

H7588

uproar (as of rushing); by implication, destruction

עַד3 of 18
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

קְצֵ֣ה4 of 18

“even to the ends”

H7097

an extremity

הָאָ֔רֶץ5 of 18

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

כִּ֣י6 of 18
H3588

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

רִ֤יב7 of 18

“hath a controversy”

H7379

a contest (personal or legal)

יְהוָֽה׃8 of 18

“for the LORD”

H3068

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

בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם9 of 18

“with the nations”

H1471

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

נִשְׁפָּ֥ט10 of 18

“he will plead”

H8199

to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal

ה֖וּא11 of 18
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

לְכָל12 of 18
H3605

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

בָּשָׂ֑ר13 of 18

“with all flesh”

H1320

flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man

הָרְשָׁעִ֛ים14 of 18

“them that are wicked”

H7563

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

נְתָנָ֥ם15 of 18

“he will give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לַחֶ֖רֶב16 of 18

“to the sword”

H2719

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

נְאֻם17 of 18

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָֽה׃18 of 18

“for the LORD”

H3068

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

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 25:31 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 25:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Hosea 4:1Joel 3:2Micah 6:2Isaiah 66:16Ezekiel 20:35-36Hosea 12:2

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