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Jeremiah 50:17

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 50:17 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Jeremiah 50:17 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 50

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
14Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah.
15Shout against her round about: she hath submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Jehovah: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
16Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land.
17Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
18Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.
19And I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead.
20In those days, and in that time, saith Jehovah, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant.
← Jeremiah 50:16Jeremiah 50:18 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Israel [is] a scattered sheep, etc.] Or like a sheep that is frightened and drove from the fold, and is dispersed, and wanders about here and there; Israel includes all the twelve tribes: the lions have driven [him] away; from his own land, and carried him captive, and scattered him among the nations; these lions are afterwards interpreted of the kings of Assyria and Babylon: so the Targum, “kings have removed them;” comparable to lions for their strength, fierceness, and voraciousness: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; eaten up his flesh; meaning Shalmaneser king of Assyria, who carried captive the ten tribes, that never returned, and therefore said to be devoured: and last this…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“lions--hostile kings (Jer 4:7; Jer 49:19). Assyria-- (Kg2 17:6, Shalmaneser; Ezr 4:2, Esar-haddon). Nebuchadnezzar-- (Kg2 24:10, Kg2 24:14).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Israel is a scattered sheep - i. e., is like a flock which has been scared and driven in all directions, for lions have chased him. First the king ... - Rather, the first lion “ate him, even the king of Assyria; and this one, the last, heath picked his bones, even Nebuchadrezzar etc.” The constant wasting of the land by the Assyrians had so lessened the number of Israel, that Nebuchadnezzar had but the bones to pick. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Israel - The whole twelve tribes. Lions - Enemies cruel as lions had carried them into captivity. Jeremiah 50:20”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“50:17-20 Another poetic interlude laments Israel’s sufferings and promises future restoration. 50:17 Assyria conquered the northern kingdom of Israel in 734–722 BC, and Nebuchadnezzar conquered the southern kingdom of Judah in 605–586 BC.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“a scattered: Jer 50:6, Jer 23:1, Jer 23:2; Eze 34:5, Eze 34:6, Eze 34:12; Joe 3:2; Mat 9:36-38; Luk 15:4-6; Joh 10:10-12; Pe1 2:25 the lions: Jer 2:15, Jer 5:6, Jer 49:19, Jer 51:38 first: Kg2 15:29, 17:6-23, Kg2 18:9-13; Ch2 28:20, 32:1-23, Ch2 33:11; Isa 7:17-20; Isa 8:7, Isa 8:8, Isa 10:5-7, 36:1-37:38 this: Jer 39:1-8, Jer 51:34, Jer 51:35, Jer 52:1; 2Kings 24:1-25:30; 2Chr. 36:1-23; Isa 47:6; Dan 6:24 Jeremiah 50:18”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 50 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification