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Jeremiah 25:17

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

Jeremiah 25:17 · King James Version

Meaning

In this verse from the book of Jeremiah, the prophet Jeremiah is describing how he received a cup from the Lord's hand and made all the nations drink from it. This imagery of drinking from a cup symbolizes the nations receiving punishment or judgment from the Lord. Jeremiah was sent by the Lord to deliver his messages to these nations, warning them of the consequences of their actions and calling them to repentance. By making all the nations drink from the cup, Jeremiah is acting as a messenger and instrument of the Lord's will, bringing about judgment on those who have gone against God's commands. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's word and the consequences of straying from his path. It emphasizes the idea that ultimately, all nations and individuals must answer to the Lord for their actions.

Theological Overview

In this verse, the act of "drinking the cup" can be seen as a metaphor for experiencing God's judgment or wrath. The cup represents the consequences of sin and disobedience. By taking the cup from the Lord's hand and making the nations drink from it, the speaker is essentially carrying out God's judgment on those who have strayed from His ways. This action demonstrates the speaker's obedience and willingness to be an instrument of God's will, even when it involves delivering difficult messages or punishments. The phrase "unto whom the LORD had sent me" reinforces the idea that the speaker is acting on God's behalf, as a messenger or prophet, to fulfill a divine purpose. Through this interpretation, we can learn about the importance of obedience, faithfulness, and the ultimate sovereignty of God in all things.

Jeremiah 25:17 in other translations

American Standard Version

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

World English Bible

Then took I the cup at Yahweh’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Yahweh had sent me:

Douay-Rheims

And I took the cup at the hand of the Lord, and I presented it to all the nations to drink of it, to which the Lord sent me:

Geneva Bible (1599)

Then tooke I the cup at the Lordes hand, and made all people to drinke, vnto whome the Lord had sent me: