King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 49:30 Mean?

Jeremiah 49:30 in the King James Version says “Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath ta...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 49 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. get: Heb. flit greatly”

Jeremiah 49:30 · KJV

Context

28

Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.

29

Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.

30

Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you. get: Heb. flit greatly

31

Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. wealthy: or, that is at ease

32

And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD. in: Heb. cut off into corners, or, that have the corners of their hair polled

Read Jeremiah 49 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor (נֻסוּ נֻדוּ מְאֹד הֶעְמִיקוּ לָשֶׁבֶת יֹשְׁבֵי חָצוֹר, nusu nudu me'od he'amiqu lashevet yoshvei Chatzor)—Three urgent imperatives: flee (nus), wander far (nud), dwell deep/hidden (amaq). God Himself warns Hazor to seek maximum distance and concealment. This isn't permission to escape judgment but recognition of Babylon's overwhelming threat. Even God's warning underscores sovereignty—He controls both attackers and defenders.

For Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you (כִּי־יָעַץ עֲלֵיכֶם נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, ki-ya'ats aleikhem Nevukhadretsar)—Babylon has ya'ats (deliberated, planned). But behind Nebuchadnezzar's strategy lies God's atzah (counsel, v. 20). Human war councils unknowingly execute divine decrees. And hath conceived a purpose against you (חָשַׁב עֲלֵיכֶם מַחֲשָׁבָה, chashav aleikhem machashavah)—the 'thought' becomes effective plan. Resistance is futile; only flight offers temporary respite.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Nebuchadnezzar's Arabian campaigns (599-598 BC) were strategically motivated—controlling trade routes, securing borders, acquiring resources. His 'counsel' involved military planning, intelligence gathering, and logistical preparation. Yet Jeremiah reveals the theological dimension: God moves behind human strategy.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why would God warn people to flee if their judgment is divinely ordained?
  2. What does the layering of human counsel (Nebuchadnezzar's) and divine counsel (God's) teach about sovereignty and secondary causes?
  3. How should Christians respond when God allows (or decrees) calamity—is flight appropriate or faithless?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
נֻסוּ֩1 of 19

“Flee”

H5127

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)

נֻּ֨דוּ2 of 19

“get”

H5110

to nod, i.e., waver; figuratively, to wander, flee, disappear; also (from shaking the head in sympathy), to console, deplore, or (from tossing the hea

מְאֹ֜ד3 of 19

“you far off”

H3966

properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or

הֶעְמִ֧יקוּ4 of 19

“deep”

H6009

to be (causatively, make) deep (literally or figuratively)

יֹשְׁבֵ֥י5 of 19

“O ye inhabitants”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

יֹשְׁבֵ֥י6 of 19

“O ye inhabitants”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

חָצ֖וֹר7 of 19

“of Hazor”

H2674

chatsor, the name (thus simply) of two places in palestine and of one in arabia

נְאֻם8 of 19

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֑ה9 of 19

“the LORD”

H3068

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

כִּֽי10 of 19
H3588

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

יָעַ֨ץ11 of 19
H3289

to advise; reflexively, to deliberate or resolve

עֲלֵיכֶ֜ם12 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֤ר13 of 19

“for Nebuchadrezzar”

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ14 of 19

“king”

H4428

a king

בָּבֶל֙15 of 19

“of Babylon”

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

עֵצָ֔ה16 of 19

“hath taken counsel”

H6098

advice; by implication, plan; also prudence

וְחָשַׁ֥ב17 of 19

“against you and hath conceived”

H2803

properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou

עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם18 of 19
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מַחֲשָׁבָֽה׃19 of 19

“a purpose”

H4284

a contrivance, i.e., (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)

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 49:30 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 49:30 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 27:6Isaiah 10:7Jeremiah 25:9Jeremiah 25:24-25

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
Hazor 5Region · Modern: Dumat al Jandal · 29.81°N, 39.87°E3 verses across 1 book
View all places in Jeremiah 49 →

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