Jeremiah 49:5 · Bible study
Jeremiah 49:5 Commentary: God's Judgment on Pride
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
See how God's terror from every side shatters the Ammonites' pride, leaving no refuge. A verse-by-verse study of Jeremiah 49:5.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God sends a terror from every direction to shatter the Ammonites' pride, driving them into hopeless flight with no one to save them.
- Key words: fear/terror (paẖad), driven out (nidach), fugitive (noded), gather (qavats).
- Main debate: Whether the “terror from all around” refers primarily to the Chaldean army or to a supernatural panic, most commentators see the Chaldean invasion as the instrument.
- Theological theme: God opposes human pride and false security; judgment is comprehensive and leaves no refuge apart from Him.
- Best use: Read with verse 6 as a warning against self-reliance and a call to trust God alone, who both judges and restores.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Behold, I am about to bring terror upon you, declares the Lord GOD of Hosts, from all those around you. You will each be driven headlong, with no one to regather the fugitives.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Behold, I will bring a terror on you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, “from all who are around you. All of you will be driven completely out, and there will be no one to gather together the fugitives.
KJV King James Version 1769
Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, from all that are round about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth, and there shall be none to gather together the fugitives.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Lo, I am bringing in upon thee a fear, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah of Hosts, From all round about thee, And ye have been driven out each before it, And there is no gatherer of the wandering.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord Jehovah of hosts, from all that are about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall assemble the fugitives.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Behold I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts, from all that are round about thee: and you shall be scattered every one out of one another's sight, neither shall there be any to gather together them that flee.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
He aquí yo traigo sobre ti espanto, dice el Señor Jehová de los ejércitos, de todos tus alrededores; y seréis lanzados cada uno en derechura de su rostro, y no habrá quien recoja al errante.
Eis que trago medo sobre ti,diz o Senhor o SENHOR dos exércitos, de todos os que estão ao redor de ti; e sereis forçados a fugir, cada um por si, e não haverá quem consiga reunir os que andam sem rumo.
Voici, je fais venir sur toi la terreur,
Siehe, spricht der Herr HERR Zebaoth: Ich will Furcht über dich kommen lassen von allen, die um dich her wohnen, daß ein jeglicher seines Weges vor sich hinaus verstoßen werde und niemand sei, der die Flüchtigen sammle.
Ziet, Ik zal vreze over u brengen, spreekt de HEERE, de HEERE der heirscharen, van allen, die rondom u zijn, en gijlieden zult, een iegelijk voor zich henen, uitgedreven worden, en niemand zal den omdolende vergaderen.
Ecco, io ti fo venire addosso da tutti i tuoi dintorni il terrore, dice il Signore, l’Eterno degli eserciti; e voi sarete scacciati, in tutte le direzioni, e non vi sarà chi raduni i fuggiaschi.
Oto Ja przywiodę na cię strach, mówi Pan, Pan zastępów od wszystkich, którzy są około ciebie, przez który rozegnani będziecie jeden od drugiego, a nie będzie, ktoby zebrał tułających się.
Вот, Я наведу на тебя ужас со всех окрестностей твоих, говорит Господь Бог Саваоф; разбежитесь, кто куда, и никто не соберет разбежавшихся.
主─萬軍 之耶和華 說：我 要使恐嚇 從四 圍 的人中臨 到你們；你們必被趕出，各人 一直前往，沒有 人收聚 逃民。
See, I will send fear on you, says the Lord, the Lord of armies, from those who are round you on every side; you will be forced out, every man straight before him, and there will be no one to get together the wanderers.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 49:5
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 that this verse portrays God's direct response to Ammon's arrogance. Calvin captures the key point: God brings a “terror” (Hebrew paẖad) that directly opposes the false security in which the Ammonites were “torpid” and “inebriated with their pleasures.” The terror is not ordinary fear; it is a divinely sent panic that undoes every human confidence. Barnes notes that it comes “from all who are around you”, every neighbor becomes a threat, leaving no safe side. Gill expands on the result: the Ammonites are “driven out every man right forth,” fleeing straight ahead without thought for family or direction. The final clause, “and there will be no one to gather together the fugitives” (Hebrew we'en mekabbets lannoded), underscores the completeness of the collapse. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown add that no one will “gather up” the wanderers, meaning no care for the displaced. The picture is total, lonely ruin.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: This verse clearly teaches that God judges human pride and false security, leaving no human refuge—yet the promise of restoration in verse 6 shows his mercy endures beyond judgment.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Source of the terror | All commentators agree that God is the ultimate source: 'I will bring a terror on you.' | Some emphasize the Chaldean army (Gill, Barnes) as the human agent; Calvin focuses more on the psychological terror itself as God's direct work. |
| Meaning of 'every man right forth' | All agree it describes panicked, headlong flight with no direction or strategy. | Calvin reads it as fleeing 'before his face,' i.e., wherever an opening appears; others like Jamieson-Fausset-Brown see it as 'straight before him, onwards at random.' The nuance is slight. |
| Completeness of the ruin ('no one to gather') | All see this as total social collapse: no one remains to collect or care for the displaced. | Gill specifies the image of a straggler on foot whom no one helps onto a horse or into a house; others (Barnes) simply say no one will gather the fugitives to restore them. |
| Restoration after judgment (verse 6) | All agree God promises a future reversal of captivity for Ammon. | The extent of that restoration, whether a full national return or a remnant, is not elaborated; Keil and Delitzsch note it follows the pattern of other oracles against nations. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The Ammonites were descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:38) and perennial enemies of Israel. After the Assyrian deportation of the Transjordan tribes (2 Kings 15:29), the Ammonites moved into the territory of Gad, which Jeremiah calls an unlawful seizure (Jeremiah 49:1). Their confidence rested in their rich valleys, the “flowing valley” of verse 4, and their treasuries. They boasted, “Who will come to me?” (v.4), certain that their geography and wealth made them invulnerable.
This oracle belongs to a series of judgments on surrounding nations (Jeremiah 46, 49), likely delivered before the decisive battle of Carchemish (605 BC). Keil and Delitzsch note that Jeremiah draws on Amos 1:13, 15, using similar language about the king of the Ammonites. The phrase “terror from all around” echoes Jeremiah 20:3, 4, where the prophet himself is called “Magor-missabib” (terror on every side).
The threat of being “driven out each one before him” suggests panicked flight with no strategy, what Calvin calls fleeing “wherever a place may be open to you.” And “no one to gather the fugitives” means total social breakdown: no family, no neighbor, no army to reassemble the scattered. The very outlets the Ammonites trusted became traps. Proverbs 28:1 states the principle: “The wicked flee when no one pursues.” Here, God himself becomes the pursuer, using terror as his weapon.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant variants in the Hebrew text of this verse. Differences in English translations (e.g., “right forth” in KJV/ASV vs. “headlong” in BSB) reflect varying interpretations of the Hebrew phrase ish lefanav (“every man before him”) rather than textual uncertainty. The Masoretic Text is stable.
Reception History
This verse has been used across church tradition to illustrate the terror that comes upon human pride. The Puritans often cited it in sermons on the guilty conscience, when God withdraws protection, every shadow becomes a threat. Matthew Henry saw it as a warning to nations that illegally seize territory. In modern preaching, the phrase “no one to gather the fugitives” has been applied to the loneliness of those who reject God's community. The restoration promise in verse 6 has given hope that judgment is never God's final word for his people. Early Christian writers read the Ammonites as typifying worldly powers that oppose God, only to be scattered.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God opposes pride with terror. The Ammonites trusted in their valleys and treasures; God sends a fear that shatters that trust.
- The terror comes from every side. No escape route remains, neighbors, borders, and allies all become threats.
- No one is left to help the fugitives. The ruin is complete: no one gathers the scattered, no one cares for the lost.
Five-point outline
- The source: “I will bring a terror on you”, God is the author.
- The scope: “From all who are around you”, comprehensive, inescapable.
- The flight: “Driven out every man right forth”, panic without reason.
- The isolation: “No one to gather together the fugitives”, total abandonment.
- The hope beyond: Verse 6 promises future restoration, showing judgment is not God’s final word.
Illustration hooks
- A business owner who relied on a dense network of contacts, then faces a market collapse where no one returns calls.
- A family that built their life around a secure job and home, then loses both in a natural disaster with no relief in sight.
- A city where a flood or wildfire cuts off every road, and survivors flee with no one to help the stragglers.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can I tell if my confidence is in God or in my own resources?
- What does it mean that God sends “terror”? Is that still how he works today?
- Does this verse mean there is no hope for people who resist God? (See v.6 for the answer.)
Leading a Discussion
The Ammonites’ story is a cautionary tale about misplaced trust. Their flowing valleys and treasures gave them a false sense of security. But God’s terror came from every side, leaving them with no refuge. In this study, we examine how this ancient judgment speaks to our own hearts about where we place our confidence.
Discussion questions
- Read Jeremiah 49:4. What specific sins does God point out in the Ammonites? How do those sins lead to the judgment in verse 5?
- Why is it significant that the terror comes “from all who are around you”? What does that say about the illusion of safe exits?
- The Hebrew phrase “driven out every man right forth” suggests panicked flight with no plan. Have you ever felt that kind of desperation? What caused it?
- What does the image “no one to gather together the fugitives” tell us about the completeness of this judgment?
- How does the promise of restoration in verse 6 change the way we understand verse 5? What does it reveal about God’s character?
- In what areas of your life do you find yourself trusting your own resources (valleys, treasures) rather than God?
- How can this passage shape your prayers for people who feel scattered and alone, without anyone to “gather” them?
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)
| Joshua 2:9 | She said to the men, “I know that Yahweh has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. |
| II Kings 7:6 | For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.” |
| II Kings 7:7 | Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. |
| II Kings 19:7 | Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”’” |
| Job 15:21 | A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer will come on him. |
| Proverbs 28:1 | The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion. |
| Isaiah 16:3 | Give counsel! Execute justice! Make your shade like the night in the middle of the noonday! Hide the outcasts! Don’t betray the fugitive! |
| Jeremiah 15:8 | Their widows are increased more than the sand of the seas. I have brought on them against the mother of the young men a destroyer at noonday. I have caused anguish and terrors to fall on her suddenly. |
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
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the Ammonites will be so terrified of the neighboring roving tribes that at the slightest alarm they will flee straight ahead without offering any resistance. The phrase "every man right forth" captures this panic-driven, headlong retreat.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights that God will replace the Ammonites' prideful security with terror from every direction, cutting off all escape. This sudden panic will drive them to flee mindlessly, each person rushing straight ahead without considering a safe retreat.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note emphasizes that God’s judgment leaves no escape. He terrifies the guilty by raising enemies on every side, scatters them in all directions, and ensures that no one stops to help the fugitive, so every hand is against them and no shelter remains.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that the panic God sends will be so complete that each person driven out of their home will flee straight ahead without looking back, focused only on self-preservation. No one will stop to help a straggling neighbor, because every person is too intent on his own safety to care for anyone else.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the aimless, random nature of the flight: each person flees straight ahead, driven by chance rather than purpose. The deeper horror is that no one remains to gather the scattered fugitives or restore them home. It is total abandonment.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch insists that the word Malkam in verse 1 refers to the human king of Ammon, not to the god Milcom as many translators assume. The shift to the deity Milcom occurs only in verse 3, where priests and princes are mentioned. They also treat Ai as a genuine Ammonite city name rather than a common noun or textual error.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that the Ammonites seized Israel's Gadite territory after the eastern tribes were deported. He argues the name Malcom carries a double meaning, referring both to their king and their god, which highlights the trespass.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that "right forth" describes a joyful, hasty escape where no one looks back, and "gather up" means no one will take them in or show hospitality. The flight is eager, and the rejection total.