What is the meaning of Jeremiah 49:21? At the sound of their fall • Jeremiah is speaking of Edom’s downfall (Jeremiah 49:7–22). The phrase pictures a sudden, catastrophic collapse—like a fortress crumbling in an instant. • Similar language appears in Jeremiah 50:46, “At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake,” showing that when God judges a nation, the mere report of it stuns the world. • Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction,” and Edom’s pride (Obadiah 3–4) is the root cause of this “fall.” the earth will quake • God’s judgments reverberate through creation. Isaiah 13:13 says, “I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place,” when He brings down Babylon. • Haggai 2:6 echoes, “Once more I will shake the heavens and the earth.” These quakes are both literal and symbolic, underscoring divine power. • The shaking here signals that Edom’s fall is not a local skirmish but a world–shaking event orchestrated by the Lord of hosts. their cry will resound • The outcry of a defeated nation carries far beyond its borders. Jeremiah 25:36 notes, “A cry is heard from the shepherds…for the LORD is destroying their pasture.” • Nahum 3:7 describes Nineveh’s lament: “Where can I find anyone to comfort you?” When God judges, the wailing is unavoidable and public. • Revelation 18:9 portrays kings mourning over fallen Babylon, illustrating how one nation’s judgment sends shock waves through many others. to the Red Sea • Edom’s territory stretched toward the Gulf of Aqaba, one arm of the Red Sea (1 Kings 9:26). The verse highlights geographic reach—everyone from the highlands of Seir to the southern waters hears the lament. • Exodus 15:22 recalls Israel heading “into the Wilderness of Shur” by the Red Sea; the same waters that once witnessed God’s victory over Egypt now echo with Edom’s defeat. • The phrase underscores totality: from the epicenter of Edom’s collapse all the way to distant coastlines, the news travels unchecked. summary Jeremiah 49:21 paints a vivid, literal picture of Edom’s judgment. Their prideful “fall” is so severe that the very earth quakes, and the uproar travels the length of their land to the Red Sea. God’s sovereignty is on full display: when He humbles a nation, the impact is unmistakable, audible, and far-reaching. |
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