Jeremiah 25:13 · Bible study
Jeremiah 25:13 Commentary: 'This Book' and the Nations Oracles
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine 'this book' in Jer 25:13, does it refer to the oracles against the nations or the whole scroll? Textual history and theological meaning.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God promises to fulfill every written prophecy against Babylon and the nations, proving His word is certain.
- Key words: 'words' (דְּבָרַ/י, my words, God's own declarations); 'book' (סֵּ֣פֶר, a scroll of written prophecies); 'prophesied' (נִבָּ֥א, Niphal perfect, Jeremiah's inspired utterance).
- Main debate: Does 'this book' refer to the oracles against the nations in chapters 46-51 or to the entire extant scroll of Jeremiah?
- Theological theme: The certainty of God's word, what He speaks in judgment, He brings to pass.
- Best use: Teaching on fulfilled prophecy and the international scope of God's justice.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
I will bring upon that land all the words I have pronounced against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
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.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And I will bring upon that land all my words, that I have spoken against it, all that is written in this book, all that Jeremiah hath prophesied against all nations:
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y traeré sobre aquella tierra todas mis palabras que he hablado contra ella, con todo lo que está escrito en este libro, profetizado por Jeremías contra todas gentes.
E trarei sobre aquela terra todas as minhas palavras que falado contra ela: tudo o que está escrito neste livro, que Jeremias profetizou contra todas as nações.
Je ferai venir sur ce pays toutes les choses que j’ ai annoncées sur lui, tout ce qui est écrit dans ce livre, ce que Jérémie a prophétisé sur toutes les nations.
Also will ich über dies Land bringen alle meine Worte, die ich geredet habe wider sie (nämlich alles, was in diesem Buch geschrieben steht, das Jeremia geweissagt hat über alle Völker).
En Ik zal over dat land brengen al Mijn woorden, die Ik daarover gesproken heb; al wat in dit boek geschreven is, wat Jeremia geprofeteerd heeft over al deze volken.
E farò venire su quel paese tutte le cose che ho annunziate contro di lui, tutto ciò ch’è scritto in questo libro, ciò che Geremia ha profetizzato contro tutte le nazioni.
A przywiodę na tę ziemię wszystkie słowa moje, którem mówił o niej, mianowicie to wszystko, co napisano w tych księgach, cokolwiek prorokował Jaremijasz o wszystkich narodach.
И совершу над тою землею все слова Мои, которые Я произнес на нее, все написанное в сей книге, что Иеремия пророчески изрек на все народы.
我也必使 我向 那 地 所 說的 話，就是 記 在這 書上的話，是 耶利米 向 這些 國民 說的預言，都臨 到那地。
And I will make that land undergo everything I have said against it, even everything recorded in this book, which Jeremiah the prophet has said against all the nations.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 25:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the core claim: God will bring upon Babylon every word He has spoken through Jeremiah. Calvin explains that 'to bring words means the same thing with proving by events that God does not terrify men without accomplishing his words.' The verse functions as a seal of certainty.
But the phrase 'this book' has sparked debate. Gill, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, and Keil & Delitzsch see it as referring to the written collection of oracles against the nations in chapters 46-51. The Cambridge Bible and Barnes note a major textual discrepancy: the Septuagint places a full stop after 'book' and reads the remainder as a title for what follows, while the Masoretic Text treats it as part of the sentence. This suggests the clause may have originally served as a heading for a collection of prophecies against the nations, later relocated in the Hebrew tradition. Despite the debate over original arrangement, all agree the verse proclaims that God's written word will not fail.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Referent as specific nations oracle collection: Gill, JFB, and Keil & Delitzsch argue the phrase 'all that is written in this book' points to the distinct collection of prophecies against foreign nations that were already written and later placed at the end of Jeremiah.
- Referent as editorial title from LXX tradition: Barnes and Cambridge Bible note the Septuagint ends the sentence at 'book,' suggesting the clause was originally a heading for the nations oracles, later absorbed into the verse in the MT.
- Referent as the entire prophetic scroll: Some interpreters read 'this book' as the whole scroll of Jeremiah written in the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Jer 36:2), which included prophecies against Israel, Judah, and the nations.
What is clear: God will bring His words upon the land—the prophecy will be fulfilled exactly as spoken and written, demonstrating His sovereignty over all nations.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Referent of 'this book' | The phrase refers to a written collection of prophecies Jeremiah received from God. | Some (Gill, JFB, Keil & Delitzsch) see it as the oracles against the nations in chs.46-51. Others (Cambridge Bible, Barnes) suggest it may have been a title later absorbed into the sentence, pointing to a collection that originally followed. |
| Textual arrangement in MT vs LXX | There is a significant discrepancy between the Hebrew and Greek versions regarding where the nations oracles appear. | The Septuagint places the oracles immediately after ch.25; the Masoretic Text places them at the end (chs.46-51). Scholars debate which arrangement is original and whether the clause was added editorially. |
| Fulfillment of 70 years | The passage describes a period of about 70 years of Babylonian domination. | Barnes notes the Septuagint gives the 70 years as the duration of Judah's captivity, while the MT implies the duration of the Babylonian empire. Keil & Delitzsch calculate the actual period from Jerusalem's fall to Babylon's fall as 68 years, with 70 being a round number. |
| Jeremiah's role as prophet to the nations | Jeremiah was appointed to prophesy against many nations (Jer 1:5,10). | The extent to which those prophecies were fulfilled historically (through Babylon, Medo-Persia) versus eschatologically varies among interpreters. Some see final fulfillment in the judgment of Revelation. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah 25 dates to the fourth year of Jehoiakim (605 BC), the year Babylon defeated Egypt at Carchemish and established dominance over the region. Nebuchadnezzar is called 'my servant' (v.9), an instrument of God's judgment on Judah and the surrounding nations. The chapter announces seventy years of Babylonian supremacy, after which God will 'punish the king of Babylon' (v.12).
Verse 13 stands within that promise of Babylon's fall. The 'book' almost certainly refers to the prophetic scroll Jeremiah compiled at God's command in the same year (Jeremiah 36:1-2), which contained all his prophecies. But the specific phrase 'which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations' points toward the collection of oracles now found at the end of the book (chapters 46-51). In the Hebrew tradition (Masoretic Text) those oracles appear as the book's conclusion; in the Greek translation (Septuagint) they follow immediately after chapter 25, arranged in a different order.
This textual divergence reflects an early uncertainty about where the nations oracles belonged. The Cambridge Bible suggests that the clause 'all that is written in this book' might originally have been a rubric or title later absorbed into the sentence. Barnes similarly proposes that the Septuagint preserves an earlier text form. What is historically certain: Jeremiah was appointed 'a prophet to the nations' (1:5), and the judgment against Babylon would be carried out by the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:28,31), fulfilling the written word.
Textual Notes
The most significant textual issue is the placement of the nations oracles. In the Masoretic Text, Jeremiah 25:13 ends the sentence with a reference to the oracles, which then appear in chapters 46-51. The Septuagint places a full stop after 'book' and reads the remainder as a title: 'What Jeremiah prophesied against the nations.' The Septuagint then immediately inserts oracles against Elam, and the other nations in a different order. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible argue the Septuagint may preserve an earlier text. A Masoretic note (Qere-Kethib) records a spelling variation for 'I will bring' (הבאתי vs. הבאתי), but this does not affect meaning.
Reception History
This verse has been read across Christian traditions as a demonstration that God fulfills His word exactly as spoken. Early interpreters like Jerome (following the LXX arrangement) saw the judgment on Babylon as a pattern for eschatological judgment. During the Reformation, Calvin used the verse to argue that prophetic threats carry divine authority and will be accomplished, even when scoffers mock. The textual debate between the MT and LXX arrangements has been a subject of scholarly attention since the seventeenth century, with figures like John Lightfoot and later J.G. Eichhorn weighing in. In modern Bible study, the verse is often paired with Revelation 10:11, where John is told he 'must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings,' drawing a connection between Jeremiah's commission and the apostolic witness to the nations.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God’s Word Is a Certain Threat, The verse declares that God will bring His words upon the land. These are not empty warnings; they carry the force of divine action. Calvin notes that the ungodly treat prophecies as sport until events prove them true.
- The Word Is Written and Witnessed, The phrase 'written in this book' anchors God's promises (and threats) in a permanent record. The same God who spoke through Jeremiah also ensured His words were preserved as testimony against the nations (cf. Isa 30:8).
- The Scope Includes All Nations, Jeremiah prophesied against more than Judah. God's justice is international. The cup of wrath (v.15) circulates among Egypt, Philistia, Moab, Edom, Babylon, and every kingdom 'upon the face of the earth' (v.26).
Five-point outline
- God Acts Through History, Babylon’s rise and fall is not random; God directs events to fulfill His word.
- Prophecy Is Self-Authenticating, The fulfillment proves the prophet was sent by God (Deut 18:21-22).
- Written Scripture Carries Authority, The 'book' gives the prophecy enduring force for later generations.
- Judgment Is Measured and Just, The seventy years and the later punishment of Babylon show proportionality in God’s justice.
- God’s Word Extends Beyond Israel, The nations are not outside God’s moral reach; they too are accountable.
Illustration hooks
- A signed contract that sits ignored for years, then suddenly enforced, the document never lost its legal force, only waited for the appointed time.
- A weather warning issued well in advance, dismissed by many, that eventually arrives with full force. The delay did not mean the warning was false.
- An old family letter predicting a specific event that everyone had forgotten, until it happens exactly as written.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God still bring judgment today, or was that only for Old Testament times?
- If God said He would punish Babylon, why did the Babylonians seem to get away with it for so long?
- How do we know which prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled and which are still waiting?
Leading a Discussion
This verse sits in a passage where God promises to judge Babylon after using Babylon to judge others. It raises questions about God's timing, the reliability of prophecy, and the scope of His justice. As you discuss, let the tension stand, God is patient but not indifferent.
Discussion questions
- What does God say He will bring on the land? What makes this different from a human threat?
- Why does the verse mention both 'all my words' and 'all that is written in this book'? What does the written record add?
- The phrase 'which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations' hints at a larger collection of oracles. Why do you think God included judgment on other nations in a book meant for Judah?
- Compare this verse with Jeremiah 1:10, where God sets Jeremiah 'over the nations.' How does the prophet’s role connect to the fulfillment in 25:13?
- If Babylon was God's instrument against Judah, why does God then punish Babylon? What does this teach about God's character?
- How does the seventy-year timeline (v.11-12) shape the way we understand God's patience and His judgment?
- In what areas of your life do you need to trust that God will bring His word to pass, even when it seems delayed?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Jeremiah 1:5 | “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” |
| Jeremiah 1:10 | Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” |
| Daniel 5:28 | PERES: your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” |
| Daniel 5:31 | Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. |
| Revelation of John 10:11 | They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes argues that the Septuagint likely preserves an older version of this passage, where the seventy years refer to Judah's captivity rather than the Babylonian empire. He suggests the fuller Masoretic text resulted from damage to Jehoiakim's scroll that caused later rearrangements.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin focuses on the phrase "bring all his words" as God proving the authority of his prophecies by their actual fulfillment. He notes that the ungodly mock God's threats until events force them to believe. God declares himself the author of Jeremiah's words while confirming Jeremiah as his minister and herald.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes stress that God will bring every single word of judgment Jeremiah has spoken, fulfilling all that is written in the book. Their point is that Jeremiah's prophecies are not limited to one nation but extend to all nations, and every last one will be carried out without fail.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that every word God has spoken, whether promise or threat, will certainly come to pass because His truth, power, and faithfulness guarantee it. He also observes that in the Greek version these prophecies against the nations appear directly after this verse, though in a disordered way, while the Hebrew places them at the book’s end—a difference he sees no need to correct.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the phrase about prophecies against all nations confirms the foreign-nation oracles were already written, but they did not originally follow this verse. Instead, they stood elsewhere in an earlier, smaller collection and were later repositioned when Jeremiah completed the full book.