Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

JEREMIAH 50:17KJV
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Jeremiah 50:17 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 50:17 mean?

Jeremiah 50:17 describes Israel as a scattered sheep that has been attacked and harmed by powerful enemies, first by the king of Assyria and then by Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, who caused even greater destruction. The verse uses the image of lions attacking a defenseless sheep to show how these foreign rulers have devastated Israel.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a time when their nation has suffered invasions and exile. The "scattered sheep" image highlights Israel's vulnerability and the loss of their homeland. The reference to the king of Assyria points to the earlier conquest of the northern kingdom, while Nebuchadrezzar's mention refers to the more recent Babylonian conquest of Judah, emphasizing a long history of suffering at the hands of powerful empires.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 50:17

  • "Scattered" (פָּזַר, pāzar) means to disperse or scatter, painting a picture of Israel as a flock that has been broken up and left defenseless, not just defeated but also separated from each other and their land.
  • "Sheep" (שֶׂה, śeh) is a common symbol for Israel, often used to show their innocence or helplessness in the face of danger.
  • "Lions" (אַרְיֵה, 'aryeh) refers to fierce predators, representing the kings of Assyria and Babylon as powerful and destructive enemies.
  • "Devoured" (אָכַל, 'akal) and "broken his bones" (עָצַם, 'atsam) show a progression: Israel was first consumed or overwhelmed by Assyria, then suffered even more deeply under Babylon, who did not just attack but shattered them.

Why Jeremiah 50:17 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s suffering was not a single event but a series of devastations by different empires, helping the reader understand the depth and timeline of Israel’s hardship.
  • The use of animal imagery (sheep and lions) emphasizes Israel’s vulnerability and the overwhelming power of their enemies, making the historical events more vivid and relatable.
  • Jeremiah 50:17 sets up the context for the following verses, where God promises judgment on these "lions" and hope for Israel’s restoration, highlighting both the reality of suffering and the promise of future deliverance.

Where else these words appear

“scattered” Hebrew H6340 · used in 10 verses

  • Esther 3:8 And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
  • Psalms 112:9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
  • Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

“bones” Hebrew H6105 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 26:16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.
  • Psalms 69:4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
  • Jeremiah 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

“sheep” Hebrew H7716 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
  • Exodus 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
  • 1 Samuel 14:34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

“last” Hebrew H314 · used in 48 verses

  • Genesis 33:2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
  • 1 Kings 17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
  • Psalms 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.