And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.

JEREMIAH 49:6KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 49:6 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 49:6 mean?

Jeremiah 49:6 says that after a time of judgment, God promises to restore the fortunes of the children of Ammon. This means that although the Ammonites will experience hardship and exile, God will eventually allow them to return and recover.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah about the nation of Ammon, one of Israel’s neighbors and frequent rivals. The context is a prophecy of coming punishment for Ammon’s actions, but here God adds a note of hope, saying that their suffering will not last forever. This shows that God’s plans for judgment are not only about destruction but can also include restoration.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 49:6

  • "afterward" (אַחֲרֵי־כֵן, 'acharei-ken): This word means "after this" or "later on," marking a future time following the judgment just described. It signals that restoration is not immediate, but comes after a period of hardship.
  • "again" (אָשִׁיב, 'ashiv): This is from a root meaning "to return" or "to restore." Here, it refers to God bringing back the people from captivity or restoring their fortunes.
  • "captivity" (שְׁבוּת, shevut): This word often means "exile" or "captivity," but can also refer to the state of being taken away or losing one's land and freedom. The promise is that this state will be reversed.
  • "children" (בְּנֵי, bnei): This means "sons" or "descendants," referring specifically to the people of Ammon as a group.
  • "Ammon" (עַמּוֹן, Ammon): This is the name of the nation descended from Lot, living east of Israel.

Why Jeremiah 49:6 matters

  • Jeremiah 49:6 clarifies that God’s judgment on nations like Ammon is not necessarily permanent; there is room for mercy and restoration even for those outside Israel.
  • This verse balances the earlier warnings of destruction with a promise of hope, showing that God’s intentions include both justice and compassion.
  • Understanding this verse helps readers see the broader pattern in Jeremiah, where prophecies of disaster are often paired with eventual restoration, highlighting God’s sovereignty over all nations.

Where else these words appear

“captivity” Hebrew H7622 · used in 27 verses

  • Numbers 21:29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.
  • Jeremiah 30:3 For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
  • Lamentations 2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

“Ammon” Hebrew H5983 · used in 98 verses

  • Genesis 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
  • Judges 11:36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
  • 1 Chronicles 19:9 And the children of Ammon came out, and put the battle in array before the gate of the city: and the kings that were come were by themselves in the field.