Jeremiah 49:18 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 49:18 mean?

Jeremiah 49:18 says that the destruction coming to Edom will be as complete as what happened to Sodom, Gomorrah, and their nearby towns—so severe that no one will live there anymore. The verse uses the memory of those ancient cities’ total ruin to stress that Edom will become completely uninhabited.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to warn Edom, a nation neighboring Israel, about the coming judgment. The comparison to Sodom and Gomorrah—cities famously wiped out in Genesis—shows that the devastation will be absolute, leaving the land empty of people. This is part of a larger section where Jeremiah delivers prophecies against various nations, emphasizing that God’s judgment reaches beyond Israel.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 49:18

• "Overthrow" (מַהְפֵּכָה, mahpekha) refers to a total turning over or destruction, the same word used for Sodom and Gomorrah’s fate in Genesis. This highlights that the coming judgment on Edom is not just defeat, but utter ruin.
• "Man" (אִישׁ, ish) and "son of man" (בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-adam) both appear, stressing that absolutely no human—no individual or descendant—will remain. The use of both terms underlines the completeness of the desolation.
• "Abide" (יָשַׁב, yashav) and "dwell" (גּוּר, gur) are both used, with yashav often meaning to settle permanently and gur meaning to sojourn or stay temporarily. The verse covers both permanent residents and temporary visitors, showing that the land will be totally empty.

Why Jeremiah 49:18 matters

• The verse clarifies that the coming judgment is not just a temporary setback for Edom, but a total and lasting devastation, using the well-known example of Sodom and Gomorrah to make the point vivid.
• By mentioning both "man" and "son of man," and both "abide" and "dwell," the verse emphasizes that absolutely no one will be left, not even travelers or passersby, highlighting the thoroughness of the judgment.
• In the context of Jeremiah’s prophecies, this verse shows that God’s justice applies to all nations, not just Israel, and that pride or hostility toward Israel (as Edom displayed) brings consequences.