Jeremiah 49 · Verse 19

Jeremiah 49:19

Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

Jeremiah 49:19, King James Version

Jeremiah 49:19 in other translations

BSB	Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
WEB	“Behold, he will come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will suddenly make them run away from it, and whoever is chosen, I will appoint him over it. For who is like me? Who will appoint me a time? Who is the shepherd who will stand before me?”
ASV	Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoso is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd that will stand before me?
YLT	Lo, as a lion he cometh up, Because of the rising of the Jordan, Unto the enduring habitation, But I cause to rest, I cause him to run from off her, And who is chosen? concerning her I lay a charge, For who is like Me? and who conveneth Me? And who is this shepherd who standeth before Me?
DARBY	Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of the Jordan against the strong habitation; for I will make them suddenly run away from it; and who is a chosen man whom I shall appoint over her? For who is like me? and who will assign me a time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
BBE	See, he will come up like a lion from the thick growth of Jordan against the resting-place of Teman: but I will suddenly make him go in flight from her; and I will put over her the man of my selection: for who is like me? and who will put forward his cause against me? and what keeper of sheep will be able to keep his place before me?
Webster	Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?

What does Jeremiah 49:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

19. he--Nebuchadnezzar, or Nebuzara-dan; the name would at once suggest itself to the minds of the hearers (Jr 48:40; 46:18). swelling--as a lion which the overflow of the Jordan forced out of his lair on the banks, to ascend the neighboring heights [Calvin]. See as to the translation, "pride of the Jordan," see on Jr 12:5. habitation of ... strong--the fastnesses of Idumea (compare Nu 24:21). Maurer translates, "An ever verdant (literally, 'perennial') pasturage," that is, Idumea heretofore having enjoyed uninterrupted tranquillity; so in Jr 49:20 the image is retained, the Idumeans being compared to "a flock," and their king to "a shepherd," in this verse, and the enemy to "a lion" (compare Jr 50:17-19). English Version accords more with the Hebrew. suddenly--"in the twinkling of an eye," as the Hebrew implies. him ... her--I will make Nebuzara-dan enter Idumea, and then, having in the twinkling of an eye effected the conquest, go away speedily: elsewhere. Instead of "but," translate, "for." Grotius translates, "run upon her," or "to her," instead of "run away from her." Maurer understands it, "I will make him (the Idumean) run away from her" (that is, from his own land); the similar change of reference of the pronouns (Jr 50:44) favors this. who is a chosen man, &c.--God calls the choicest warriors to Him, to set "over" the work of devastating Idumea. God will surely execute His purpose, for He can call forth from all sides the agents He chooses. who is like me?--(Ex 15:11). who will appoint me the time?--namely, for entering into a trial in judgment with Me (see Margin). Image from law courts (Job 9:19). shepherd--leader of the Idumeans; following up the previous image, "a lion"; no Idumean shepherd shall withstand the lion sent by Jehovah (Job 41:10), or save the Idumean flock.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 19 Behold, he shall come up like a lion - See the note on Jer 12:5. The similitude used here is well illustrated by Dr. Blayney: "When I shall occasion a like commotion in her (Idumea) as a fierce and strong lion may be supposed to do in the sheep-folds, then I will cause him (the man of whom it is said in the preceding verse that he should not dwell in it) to run away from her as the affrighted shepherds and their flocks run from the lion." A chosen man - Nebuchadnezzar. That is, God has chosen this man, and given him a commission against Idumea.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 49:7-22

The Edomites were old enemies to the Israel of God. But their day is now at hand; it is foretold, not only to warn them, but for the sake of the Israel of God, whose afflictions were aggravated by them. Thus Divine judgments go round from nation to nation; the earth is full of commotion, and nothing can escape the ministers of Divine vengeance. The righteousness of God is to be observed amidst the violence of men.

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 49:7-22 →

Jeremiah 49:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הִ֠נֵּהHi.nehthere!H2009

כְּאַרְיֵ֞הke.'ar.Yehlike a lionH738

יַעֲלֶ֨הya.'a.Leh[which] it goes upH5927

מִגְּא֣וֹןmi.ge.'onfrom [the] thicket[s] ofH1347

הַיַּרְדֵּן֮hai.yar.Denthe JordanH3383

אֶל\־'el-toH413

נְוֵ֣הne.Vehpastureland ofH5116

אֵיתָן֒'ei.Tanan ever-flowing [stream]H386

כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588

אַרְגִּ֤יעָה'ar.Gi.'ahI will act in a momentH7280

אֲרִיצֶ֨נּוּ'a.ri.Tze.nuI will cause to run itH7323

מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָme.'a.Lei.hafrom on <the> itH5921

וּמִ֥יu.Miand whoeverH4310

בָח֖וּרva.Chur[is] chosenH977

אֵלֶ֣יהָ'e.Lei.hato itH413

אֶפְקֹ֑ד'ef.KodI will appointH6485

כִּ֣יkiforH3588

מִ֤יmiwho?H4310

כָמ֙וֹנִי֙kha.Mo.ni[is] like meH3644

וּמִ֣יu.Miand who?H4310

יֹעִידֶ֔נִּיyo.'i.De.niwill he summon meH3259

וּמִי\־u.mi-and who?H4310

זֶ֣הzehthisH2088

רֹעֶ֔הro.'Eh[is] a shepherdH7462

אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherwhoH834

יַעֲמֹ֖דya.'a.Modhe will standH5975

לְפָנָֽי\׃\ \סle.fa.Nai<to> before meH6440

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 49:19

Jeremiah 12:5
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
Jeremiah 30:21
And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.
Jeremiah 50:44-46
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? Therefore hear ye the counsel of the Lord, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them. At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
Job 9:19
If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
Joshua 3:15
And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
Exodus 15:11
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Job 41:10
None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
Isaiah 40:25
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
Jeremiah 4:7
The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
Nahum 1:6
Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
Job 40:2-8
Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. …
Zechariah 11:3
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

he shall come.
4:7; 50:44-46; Zec 11:3
the swelling.
12:5; Jos 3:15; 1Ch 12:15
who is like.
Ex 15:11; Ps 89:6,8; 113:5,6; Isa 40:25
appoint me the time. or, convent me in judgment.
Job 9:19,21; 23:3-7; 40:2-8; 42:3-5; Ps 143:2
that shepherd.
30:21; Job 41:10; Ps 76:7; Na 1:6; Re 6:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Jeremiah 49:18
As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.
Jeremiah 49:19
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?
Jeremiah 49:20
Therefore hear the counsel of the Lord, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.

Read all of Jeremiah 49

Jeremiah 49:19 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	He aquí que como león subirá de la hinchazón del Jordán contra la bella y robusta; porque muy pronto harélo correr de sobre ella, y al que fuere escogido la encargaré; porque ¿quién es semejante á mí? ¿y quién me emplazará? ¿y quién será aquel pastor que me podrá resistir?
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Voici, comme un lion, il monte de la crue du Jourdain contre la demeure forte; car je les en chasserai précipitamment. Et qui est l’homme choisi, que je préposerai sur lui? Car qui est comme moi, et qui m’assignera le temps, et qui sera le pasteur qui se tiendra devant moi?
German Elberfelder 1871	Siehe, er steigt herauf, wie ein Löwe von der Pracht des Jordan, wider die feste Wohnstätte; denn ich werde es plötzlich von ihr hinwegtreiben, und den, der auserkoren ist, über sie bestellen. Denn wer ist mir gleich, und wer will mich vorladen und wer ist der Hirt, der vor mir bestehen könnte?
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Ecce quasi leo ascendet de superbia Jordanis ad pulchritudinem robustam, quia subito currere faciam eum ad illam. Et quis erit electus, quem præponam ei? quis enim similis mei? et quis sustinebit me? et quis est iste pastor, qui resistat vultui meo?