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 25:27KJV
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Jeremiah 25:27 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 25:27 mean?

Jeremiah 25:27 describes God commanding Jeremiah to tell the nations that they must "drink" from a symbolic cup of judgment, leading to their downfall and destruction by the sword that God will send among them. The verse uses vivid language to show that the coming judgment will be overwhelming and inescapable.

In this verse, God is speaking through Jeremiah to warn various nations, not just Israel, about the consequences of their actions. The "drinking" refers to accepting God's judgment, which will cause them to stagger, vomit, fall, and not rise again because of the violence ("the sword") God is bringing. This is part of a larger message where Jeremiah is told to deliver God's warning of coming disaster to many peoples.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 25:27

  • "Drink" (שָׁתָה, shatah): This word means to drink, but here it is used figuratively for accepting or experiencing God's judgment. The image is of being forced to drink something unpleasant that causes a loss of control.
  • "Drunken" (שָׁכַר, shakar): This word means to become drunk. It highlights how overwhelming God's judgment will be, leaving the nations reeling and helpless.
  • "Spue" (קִיא, qi): This word means to vomit. The graphic image stresses the intensity and unpleasantness of the coming punishment.
  • "Sword" (חֶרֶב, cherev): This word refers to a weapon, often symbolizing war or violence. Here, it makes clear that the judgment will come through conflict and destruction.

Why Jeremiah 25:27 matters

  • This verse clears up that the "cup" Jeremiah talks about is not literal but a symbol of God's judgment, which is meant to be severe and unavoidable.
  • Jeremiah 25:27 connects to the wider passage where God is not only addressing Israel but also holding other nations accountable, showing the universal scope of God's justice.
  • The vivid language emphasizes the seriousness of ignoring God's warnings and the totality of the coming judgment, helping readers understand the gravity of the situation Jeremiah is describing.

Where else these words appear

“drunken” Hebrew H7937 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 9:21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent.
  • Isaiah 29:9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
  • Jeremiah 51:39 In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.