Translations
Modern
Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.
Traditional
Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.
Literal
Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel,” a declaration of YHWH. “It is an enduring nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose tongue you do not know, and you do not understand what they say.
Latin
Ecce ego adducam super vos gentem de longinquo, domus Israël, ait Dominus: gentem robustam, gentem antiquam, gentem cujus ignorabis linguam, nec intelliges quid loquatur.
Original
Hebrew
English
Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.
Notes
The Babylonian language was Semitic like Hebrew, but the Israelites could not understand it.
The approaching army was likely Babylon's, which attacked Jerusalem in 605 BC. The Lord summoned the Babylonians to deliver the promised punishment (see Deuteronomy 28:15–62).
Events
- Prophecies of Jeremiahc. 628 BC
People
Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes
Glossary
Topics
Armies: Often Went on Foreign Service Babylon: Remarkable For: Antiquity Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Idolatry: Warnings Against, and Punishments of Judgments are Frequently Tempered with Mercy Language: Interpretation of The Jews Punished by Being Given up to People of a Strange