Jeremiah 25:13 Meaning: When God Brings His Words to Pass
I will bring on that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.
And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.
And I have brought in on that land all My words that I have spoken against it, all that is written in this book, that Jeremiah hath prophesied concerning all the nations.
And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.
Meaning in one sentence
What does 'this book' in Jeremiah 25:13 refer to? The verse promises God will fulfill every word spoken against Babylon and the nations through Jeremiah.
Context
Jeremiah 25 places us in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, around 605 BC. The prophet has spent decades warning Judah, but they have not listened. Now God declares judgment: Babylon will invade, and Judah will serve Nebuchadnezzar for seventy years. But the judgment does not stop there. After seventy years, God will punish Babylon itself. Verse 13 is part of that promise, God will bring every word He has spoken against the land of the Chaldeans. The “book” mentioned here likely refers to the collection of oracles Jeremiah had written, including prophecies against the nations that appear later in the book (chapters 46, 51). This verse ties together God’s sovereignty over all peoples, not just Israel.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words anchor this verse. “I will bring” (bo) is a strong action verb. It means to cause something to come, to carry it in. God does not simply speak and hope for the best; He personally ensures His words arrive as events. “My words” (davar) in Hebrew can mean both speech and the things spoken about, words and the realities they describe. So when God says He will bring His words, He means the whole package: the promise and its fulfillment. “Written” (katav) points to a permanent, authoritative record. This is not a casual note. It is a fixed document that God keeps. Together these words assure us: God’s speech is active, His promises are sure, and His written record stands until every detail is accomplished.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in light of a long-standing textual question. The Septuagint, an early Greek translation, places the prophecies against the nations directly after this verse, making “this book” refer to those oracles. The Hebrew Masoretic text puts those same prophecies at the end of the book (chapters 46, 51). Anglican commentator Cambridge Bible notes the discrepancy but does not settle which is original. Protestant scholars like Jamieson-Fausset-Brown suggest that Jeremiah himself may have inserted the clause later when the full collection was complete. Across traditions, the shared conviction remains that God will fulfill every word Jeremiah spoke against all nations, whether those words stand earlier or later in the text.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is taking “I will bring all my words” as merely a prediction, as if God announces what might happen. In fact, the Hebrew verb “bring” (bo) carries a sense of active, certain fulfillment. God does not just speak; He causes His words to become reality. The verse is not a possibility but a guarantee.
Living This Out
This week you may be waiting on something God has promised, healing in a relationship, justice for a wrong, or a change in difficult circumstances. Jeremiah 25:13 reminds you that God keeps a written record of His words, and He actively brings them to pass. You do not have to force fulfillment yourself. You can rest in the certainty that what He says will happen. Let this verse quiet your anxiety and strengthen your trust. The same God who brought every prophecy against Babylon to pass will not forget a single word He has spoken to you.
Main takeaway: God will not lose a single word He has spoken; He will bring every one to pass against the nations and for His people.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Jeremiah to write down everything He said. God promised that every word would happen. And it did!
For ages 9, 12
Jeremiah wrote down God’s messages for many nations, not just Israel. God said He would bring every one of those words to pass. That means when God speaks, He always follows through. You can count on His promises and take His warnings seriously.
Questions People Ask
What does “this book” refer to in Jeremiah 25:13?
It likely refers to the scroll of Jeremiah’s prophecies, particularly the oracles against foreign nations that appear in chapters 46, 51 of the book. Some ancient manuscripts placed these oracles immediately after this verse, while the Hebrew text places them at the end.
Did Jeremiah write a book?
Yes, Jeremiah wrote or dictated several scrolls of his prophecies. Jeremiah 36 describes one such scroll written in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. The “book” in 25:13 likely includes prophecies against the nations that were part of that original scroll.
What does “I will bring upon that land all my words” mean?
God promises to actively ensure that every prophecy He spoke through Jeremiah will happen. The Hebrew verb “bring” (bo) implies causing the words to come to pass in real events, not just speaking them.
Are the prophecies against the nations in Jeremiah 46, 51 original or added later?
Commentators differ. The Septuagint places them right after chapter 25, while the Masoretic text puts them at the end. Both arrangements have ancient support. The verse itself confirms that Jeremiah prophesied against all nations from early in his ministry.
Does this verse apply only to Babylon?
The immediate context is about Babylon (the “that land”), but the verse says Jeremiah prophesied “against all the nations.” The cup of wrath in the following verses is given to many nations, including Jerusalem, showing God’s judgment is universal.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study