In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the seventy years are named: 'this whole land shall be a desolation... and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years'; the wine-cup of fury goes to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;
verse value 5221
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 93 letters. The shortest word is "king" (מֶ֣לֶךְ, 3 letters) and the longest is "of·Nebuchadrezzar" (לִנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֖ר, 10 letters). Words sharing gematria 211: the·word, of·Jehoiakim. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "first" (הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ית). The root על appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·came" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "upon·Jeremiah" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "the·word" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root רביעי ("fourth") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Judah', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 6 words.
Rashi
"In the fourth year." This refers to the year in which their sentence was sealed, decreeing that they would be exiled and that they would drink the cup of wrath, as stated in the matter, "Take the cup...," etc. Prior to the sealing of the sentence, He instructed the prophet to admonish them, [so that] perhaps they would repent and their sentence would not be sealed.
Radak
The matter, concerning Jeremiah. Like "to":
"This is the first year of Nebuchadnezzar." And behold, it is written at the beginning of the Book of Daniel: 'In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.' But it is said that it was in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim -- [Josiah's] son, whom Pharaoh Necho had made king -- that Nebuchadnezzar became king, and he came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, at the beginning of the year, the Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand, and this was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar.
Metzudat David
On Jeremiah. To Jeremiah:
"To Jehoiakim." To the kingdom of Jehoiakim:
which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:
verse value 2602
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Jeremiah" (יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 271: Jeremiah, saying. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "upon·all·with" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah). Full calculation: אֲשֶׁ֨ר [that] (501) + דִּבֶּ֜ר [spoke] (206) + יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ [Jeremiah] (271) + הַנָּבִיא֙ [the·prophet] (68) + עַל־כׇּל־עַ֣ם [upon·all·with] (260) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + וְאֶ֛ל [and·to] (37) + כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֥י [all·inhabitants·of] (372) + יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם [Jerusalem] (586) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 2602.
Radak
"Concerning all the people of Judah." [Here על is used] like [the word] אל ("to").
“And to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Together with the Judeans from the other cities who came to Jerusalem, Jeremiah’s words were directed to them and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these three and twenty years, the word of Hashem has come to me, and I have spoken to you, speaking betimes and often; but you have not hearkened.
verse value 6139
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 97 letters. The shortest word is "this" (זֶ֚ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "of·Josiah" (לְיֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 355: year, year. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "from·three" (מִן־שְׁלֹ֣שׁ), "of·Josiah" (לְיֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ), "rising·early" (אַשְׁכֵּ֥ים). The root שלוש appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "and·I·spoke" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root עשרים ("and·twenty") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 6 words.
Rashi
Twenty-three. Josiah reigned for thirty-one years; subtract from them twelve years, and there remain nineteen. Add to them four years of his son, and the total is twenty-three.
"I rise early and speak." This is the language of a present [habitual] tense: "I would rise early and speak constantly."
Radak
"This is twenty-three years." Josiah reigned for thirty-one years, and in the thirteenth year of his reign began the prophecy of Jeremiah. It follows that Jeremiah prophesied during the days of Josiah for nineteen years, and this prophecy occurred in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, his son. Behold, that makes twenty-three years.
"I will rise early, and speak" (אשכים ודבר). The aleph stands in place of the heh of "hashkem" [to rise early], for the letters alef, heh, vav, yod (אהו"י) interchange with one another; and the [vowel-lengthening] yud is written here, contrary to the usual practice, with a tzere, in most instances.
Metzudat David
For Josiah. For the kingship of Josiah:
"This is twenty-three years." Nineteen years were in the days of Josiah, for he reigned thirty-one years, and four [years] in the days of Jehoiakim his son. This makes twenty-three.
"The word of the Lord came to me." — "The word" refers to prophecy speaking within me.
"And I spoke." And I spoke to you the prophecy, and I would rise early and speak. This means: I was eager to deliver the prophecy, but you did not listen.
Metzudat Zion
Ashkim [I will rise early]. From the word for “rising early,” and it is a matter of urgency.
Malbim
"From the thirteenth year," behold, from the side of the Sender, the word of the Lord was to me, and from the side of the messenger, I would speak to you—not once only, but early in the morning I would speak. And not only me did He send, for the Lord sent all His servants, and not once only, but early in the morning He would send. And despite all this, you did not hear and accept, nor did you incline your ears at all. And the mission was for their benefit, saying: "Return, each man, from his evil way, and return to the land." And behold, they said to them: If you return from all the evil ways, the providence of the Lord will be upon you for good, that you will dwell on the land forever. And even if you do not return from the rest of the transgressions, at least do not go after other gods, and do not anger Me, and you will gain that I will not bring upon you in actuality. For although I will not return to do good to you after you have not returned from the rest of the transgressions, I will not bring upon you in actuality, and you will be under nature. For if you serve idolatry, I will bring upon you through providence.
And Hashem has sent to you all His servants the prophets, sending them betimes and often—but you have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear—
verse value 4178
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 63 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֨ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "and·not" (וְלֹ֣א, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·His·servants" (אֶֽת־כׇּל־עֲבָדָ֧יו, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 344: and·has·sent, and·weapon. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·His·servants" (אֶֽת־כׇּל־עֲבָדָ֧יו), "and·not·you·inclined" (וְלֹא־הִטִּיתֶ֥ם). The root שלח appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "to·you" (root אל, 204x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·have·heard', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְשָׁלַח֩ [and·has·sent] (344) + יְהֹוָ֨ה [Hashem] (26) + אֲלֵיכֶ֜ם [to·you] (101) + אֶֽת־כׇּל־עֲבָדָ֧יו [all·His·servants] (543) + הַנְּבִאִ֛ים [the·prophets] (108) + הַשְׁכֵּ֥ם [rise·early] (365) + וְשָׁלֹ֖חַ [and·weapon] (344) + וְלֹ֣א [and·not] (37) + שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם [you·have·heard] (850) + וְלֹא־הִטִּיתֶ֥ם [and·not·you·inclined] (501) + אֶֽת־אׇזְנְכֶ֖ם [ear] (519) + לִשְׁמֹֽעַ [to·hear] (440) = 4178.
Metzudat David
"And the Lord sent." And furthermore, the Lord sent other prophets, and He would rise early and send them with great alacrity. Yet you did not listen.
And not, etc. The duplication of the matter is in what is written:
saying: ‘Return you now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Hashem has given to you and to your fathers, for ever and ever;
verse value 4646
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 80 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֛ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "man" (אִ֣ישׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·your·fathers" (וְלַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם, 9 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "return·now" (שֽׁוּבוּ־נָ֞א), "upon·the·soil" (עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה). The root רע appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "saying" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·to·your·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 2 words.
Radak
"From everlasting to everlasting." From a long time ago it was given to your fathers, and forever it will be given to you and your children, if you so wish. And the lamed of "le-min olam" does not come to affect the sense of the matter, but only for the veracity of the essence of the matter, and the sense would be sufficient without it. And similar to it are: "from the day that he went out of the land of Egypt" and "for what time shall I entreat for you" and the like of these.
Metzudat David
"Saying." This means: Were not all the prophecies for your benefit, saying, "Return now, every man, from his evil way..."? And because of this, "you shall sit on the ground..."
"From of old." This means: from the time of the giving [of the land] until eternity.
Yet you have not hearkened to Me, says Hashem; that you might provoke Me with the work of your hands to your own hurt.
verse value 2572
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 52 letters. The shortest word is "to·me" (אֵלַ֖י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·not·you·have·heard" (וְלֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֥ם, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "provoke·Me" (הַכְעִיסֵ֛נִי). The root כעס appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "to·me" (root אל, 204x in Jeremiah); "and·not·you·have·heard" (root שמע, 184x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'says·Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְלֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֥ם [and·not·you·have·heard] (887) + אֵלַ֖י [to·me] (41) + נְאֻם־יְהֹוָ֑ה [says·Hashem] (117) + לְמַ֧עַן [purpose] (190) + (הכעסוני) [to·provoke·Me] (221) + הַכְעִיסֵ֛נִי [provoke·Me] (225) + בְּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה [in·work·of] (417) + יְדֵיכֶ֖ם [your·hands] (84) + לְרַ֥ע [to·evil] (300) + לָכֶֽם [to·you] (90) = 2572.
Radak
"Le-ma'an hakh'isuni" -- the ketiv; meaning: because they angered Me. And the qere is "hakh'iseni," [under which] "le-ma'an" means "in order to anger Me." The idolaters do this not for any benefit they derive from it.
Metzudat David
"And you did not listen." Even though the matter was for your benefit, you did not listen, etc.
"To provoke Me to anger." This was nothing other than to provoke Me to anger, etc., and this provocation will truly be for your harm.
Malbim
"And you have not heeded [Me] to provoke Me by your works, to do evil to you" — this means that you have provoked Me even in this, in that through your works I was compelled to do evil to you, for God does not desire to do evil to His creatures. And when you caused that I should do evil to you, in this very thing you have provoked Me, for this is contrary to My will.
behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says Hashem, and I will send to Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
verse value 8815
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 134 letters. Notable word values: "my·servant" (עַבְדִּי֒) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "sending" (שֹׁלֵ֡חַ, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·to·Nebuchadrezzar" (וְאֶל־נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר, 12 letters). 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·families·of" (אֶת־כׇּל־מִשְׁפְּח֨וֹת), "and·to·Nebuchadrezzar" (וְאֶל־נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר), "and·I·will·bring·them" (וַהֲבִ֨אֹתִ֜ים). 23 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·against" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "king·of·Babylon" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root חרם ("and·I·will·utterly-destroy·them") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'around', dividing the verse into phrases of 17 and 6 words.
Radak
"All the families of the north." And above, at the beginning of the book, it said "to all the families of the kingdoms of the north," and there it is explained that "families" refers to the people, and "kingdoms" refers to the heads of the kingdoms. And since it said "and each one shall set his throne," it mentioned there "kingdoms."
"And to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant." And the sense of "ve'el" [and to] is that it connects to "[I am] sending," not to "[and] I will take"; or perhaps "ve'el" stands in place of "ve'et" [the accusative marker], as in "I will tell of the decree of the Lord" and "and they pursued after Midian."
"And upon all these nations." [This refers to] those adjacent to the Land of Israel; or, [the word] "these" [refers] to the nations that he is destined to mention shortly, in the passage of the cup of the wine of wrath.
Metzudat David
"I behold, I am sending." This means that I will arouse the hearts of the various nations of the gentiles from the north.
“My servant.” This means: One who carries out My mission in this matter.
"Surrounding." Those who dwell in the regions surrounding the Land of Israel:
"And I will lay them waste." All of them, the others, and I will make them an object of astonishment, so that people will whistle at them in contempt, and for a long time they will remain desolate.
Metzudat Zion
"And I will exterminate them": The meaning is killing and destruction, as it is written, "You shall surely put them to the ban" (Deuteronomy 20:17).
"For a desolation." The meaning is astonishment:
“L’shirqah.” The matter of producing a sound by pursing the lips, and it is done in connection with something important that has been destroyed.
"And for ruins." From the language of destruction:
Malbim
And concerning all the nations: because I will punish you, I will also punish all the nations, for no calamity comes into the world except for the sake of Israel. Also, the [celestial] arrangement required at that time that Nebuchadnezzar would rule over the world and destroy kingdoms, and this arrangement governs the nations and Israel equally. Only when Israel is deserving does He annul the arrangement and humble Nebuchadnezzar, whereby the nations too would automatically be saved. But since they did not listen, the ruling of the arrangement was fulfilled upon all the nations. Therefore they said that they would serve seventy years, as Abarbanel wrote, that each of the seven stars has its own specific number of years for its influences, and the sum of all of them is seventy years. By this he showed that all seven stars indicated Nebuchadnezzar's dominion, until the completion of the cycle of all seven, and then his kingdom would be abolished.
Moreover I will cause to cease from among them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.
verse value 3448
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 51 letters. The shortest word is "lamp" (נֵֽר, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·I·will·cause·to·perish" (וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֣י, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 142: and·voice·of, and·voice·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "handmills" (רֵחַ֖יִם), "and·light·of" (וְא֥וֹר), "lamp" (נֵֽר). The root קול appears 5 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·them" (root הם, 132x in Jeremiah); "voice" (root קול, 81x in Jeremiah); "and·I·will·cause·to·perish" (root אבד, 28x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'all', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְהַאֲבַדְתִּ֣י [and·I·will·cause·to·perish] (428) + מֵהֶ֗ם [from·them] (85) + ק֤וֹל [voice] (136) + שָׂשׂוֹן֙ [gladness] (656) + וְק֣וֹל [and·voice·of] (142) + שִׂמְחָ֔ה [joy] (353) + ק֥וֹל [voice] (136) + חָתָ֖ן [son-in-law] (458) + וְק֣וֹל [and·voice·of] (142) + כַּלָּ֑ה [all] (55) + ק֥וֹל [voice] (136) + רֵחַ֖יִם [handmills] (258) + וְא֥וֹר [and·light·of] (213) + נֵֽר [lamp] (250) = 3448.
Rashi
"The voice of the millstones." This is a sign for the circumcision feast, because they grind and crush the spices for healing.
Or Ner. The sign of a feast: Thus we learned in Sanhedrin:
Radak
"The voice of the millstones and the light." "The voice of the millstones" refers to those who grind spices for a feast of joy. Likewise, many lamps are lit in the banquet hall. And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated it: "the voice of a company that praises, by the light of a lamp."
Metzudat David
"And I will cause to perish, etc." – This means that the sound of joy and the sound of gladness shall no longer be heard, etc.
"The voice of the bridegroom" – the voice of the bridegroom's joy.
“The voice of the millstones.” Because of the severity of the evil, they will not find grain to grind in the millstones.
"And the light of the lamp." Due to the deficiency of the oil, they will sit in darkness.
Malbim
"And I will cause to cease from them the voice of mirth, which is that which occurs at times of good fortune and success, and also the voice of the bridegroom and the bride, which is that which occurs even at times not of success; for whenever there is settlement in the land, marriages will take place. And also the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp, which is that which occurs even when the land is desolate and there are few people in it, [serving] as vinedressers and plowmen — they will need millstones for the preparation of food and a lamp for the preparation of dwelling, for the land will be utterly desolate."
And this whole land shall be a desolation, and a waste; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
verse value 3300
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 54 letters. Verse gematria: 3300 is divisible by 50, the years to the Jubilee (yovel). The shortest word is "Babylon" (בָּבֶ֖ל, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·earth" (כׇּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ, 6 letters). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·king·of" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "all·the·earth" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·astonishment', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 7 words. Full calculation: וְהָֽיְתָה֙ [and·it·shall·be] (426) + כׇּל־הָאָ֣רֶץ [all·the·earth] (346) + הַזֹּ֔את [this] (413) + לְחׇרְבָּ֖ה [to·ruin] (245) + לְשַׁמָּ֑ה [to·astonishment] (375) + וְעָ֨בְד֜וּ [and·they·shall·serve] (88) + הַגּוֹיִ֥ם [the·nations] (64) + הָאֵ֛לֶּה [these] (41) + אֶת־מֶ֥לֶךְ [the·king·of] (491) + בָּבֶ֖ל [Babylon] (34) + שִׁבְעִ֥ים [seventy] (422) + שָׁנָֽה [year] (355) = 3300.
Metzudat David
"These nations." Those dwelling around the Land of Israel:
Malbim
"And all this land shall become a desolation, except for that which will be desolate together with all the nations, it shall be desolate and waste particularly, because it will rebel against Nebuchadnezzar, whereas the other nations will not rebel, for the nations shall serve Babylon for seventy years."
And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says Hashem, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it perpetual desolations.
verse value 5436
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 83 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·shall·be" (וְהָיָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 5436 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "year" (שָׁנָ֡ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·king·of·Babylon" (עַל־מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֩, 8 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "when·are·fulfilled" (כִמְלֹ֣אות), "upon·king·of·Babylon" (עַל־מֶֽלֶךְ־בָּבֶל֩), "and·against·the·nation" (וְעַל־הַגּ֨וֹי). The root עול appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "says·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "upon·king·of·Babylon" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "and·it·shall·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Chaldeans', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Radak
"As the seventy years were fulfilled." For Nebuchadnezzar reigned for forty-five years. And how do we know this? For behold, Evil-Merodach, his son, reigned in the thirty-sixth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin, as it is written at the end of the Book of Kings and at the end of this book, and Jehoiachin was exiled in the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar, making [Nebuchadnezzar's reign] forty-five years; and Evil-Merodach reigned for twenty-three years. And how do we know this? For we find that Belshazzar, his son, reigned for three years, leaving twenty-three years in between. And the three years were not completed for Belshazzar, for he was killed in the third year. Thus, forty-five plus twenty-three makes sixty-eight, and two years for Belshazzar make seventy. Therefore, it says "as the seventy years were fulfilled," for they had completed seventy years, since Belshazzar did not die until his third year.
"To the desolations of the world." [The word] "shemamot" is a collective noun from "shemamah," and it is in construct state.
Metzudat David
“Until it is fulfilled.” When seventy years will be completed:
"I will visit." I will remember their iniquity against them.
"And upon that nation" – this refers to Babylonia.
Metzudat Zion
"When [the seventy years] are fulfilled." The meaning is completion, as in "and when the days of her purification are fulfilled" (Leviticus 12:6):
"I will visit." The matter of remembrance:
Malbim
"And it shall come to pass when it is complete, etc." – "I will visit upon the king of Babylon and upon that nation, the nation of Babylon, the royal city, their iniquity, namely, that they laid waste the lands, and upon the land of the Chaldeans in its entirety."
And I will bring upon that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
verse value 5452
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 80 letters. The shortest word is "this" (הַזֶּ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·all·the·nations" (עַל־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם, 9 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·the·written" (כׇּל־הַכָּתוּב֙), "that·he·prophesied" (אֲשֶׁר־נִבָּ֥א), "upon·all·the·nations" (עַל־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִֽם). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·I·spoke" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "on" (root על, 276x in Jeremiah); "all·my·words" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'on', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words.
Rashi
All that is written. Concerning Babylon:
In this book. At its end:
Radak
"All that is written in this book." "With all that is written" means: I will bring upon the land of Babylonia all this matter, just as I will bring it upon all the nations—all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied.
Metzudat David
In this book. At the end of the book:
“Upon all the nations.” This teaches that they will come and destroy Babylon down to its very foundations.
Malbim
“And I will bring upon that land all the words which I have spoken against it” — this refers to the prophecy that Jeremiah prophesied specifically against Babylon, particularly at the end of the book, namely all that is written in the book concerning all the nations. Thus, even the prophecies that Jeremiah prophesied from chapter 46 onward, which begins with “The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning all the nations,” will also be brought upon Babylon. That is to say, in addition to the calamity that he prophesied specifically against Babylon, He will also bring upon it the calamities that he prophesied against the other nations.
For many nations and great kings shall make bondmen of them also; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their own hands.
verse value 2408
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 58 letters. Verse gematria: 2408 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "made·bondmen·of·them" (עָֽבְדוּ־בָ֤ם, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 93: also·they, great. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "made·bondmen·of·them" (עָֽבְדוּ־בָ֤ם), "great" (גְּדוֹלִ֑ים), "like·their·deed" (כְּפׇעֳלָ֖ם). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "and·kings" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "to·them" (root הם, 132x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'great', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 5 words. Full calculation: כִּ֣י [for] (30) + עָֽבְדוּ־בָ֤ם [made·bondmen·of·them] (124) + גַּם־הֵ֙מָּה֙ [also·they] (93) + גּוֹיִ֣ם [nations] (59) + רַבִּ֔ים [many] (252) + וּמְלָכִ֖ים [and·kings] (146) + גְּדוֹלִ֑ים [great] (93) + וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֥י [and·I·will·recompense] (786) + לָהֶ֛ם [to·them] (75) + כְּפׇעֳלָ֖ם [like·their·deed] (240) + וּכְמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה [and·as·deed·of] (441) + יְדֵיהֶֽם [their·hands] (69) = 2408.
Rashi
"For they served them." This is akin to "for they shall serve them" in the case of the sons of Babylon.
Also, they are many nations: Media and Persia.
Radak
"For they too shall be enslaved by them." "Avedu" (they served) is a past-tense verb used in place of the future; it means: [the nations] shall enslave the Chaldeans, them too — just as they [the Chaldeans] enslaved all the nations, so shall many nations and great kings enslave them; namely, the kings of Media and Persia.
Metzudat David
"For they served." The past tense is used in place of the future tense; he means to say that many nations will enslave Babylon.
"Also they." This means: just as Babylon enslaved others, so too will they [Babylon] be enslaved by them. And it goes back to explain "many nations," etc. — they [the many nations] will enslave Babylon.
To them. To the Babylonians:
Malbim
"For many nations shall make bondmen of them also"—meaning that all the nations to whom Babylon has done evil until now, shall subjugate Babylon and return to them all the evils that Babylon did to them; and by this, "I will recompense them according to their deeds," that they shall receive back in return the very evil that they did to others.
For thus says Hashem, the God of Israel, to me: Take this cup of the wine of fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send you, to drink it.
verse value 5336
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 84 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֜ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·nations" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "the·cup·of" (אֶת־כּ֨וֹס), "wine" (הַיַּ֧יִן), "the·wrath" (הַחֵמָ֛ה). The root אל appears 2 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·my·hand', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 8 words.
Rashi
"The cup of the wine of wrath." The prophecy of the disaster:
"And you shall give it to drink." Prophesy to them that it [the decree] shall not be reversed again by any repentance.
Radak
"For thus [God] said: 'Take, and give [it] to drink.'" All of this was in the vision of prophecy.
"The wine, the wrath [i.e., 'the wine of wrath']." It is missing the [repeated] construct noun, and its proper form is: "ha-yayin, yein ha-chamah" (the wine — the wine of wrath). And similar to it: "ha'am hamilchamah" (the people — the people of war), "hasefer hamiknah" (the book — the book of the property), and others like them.
Metzudat David
"The cup of wine, the wine of His wrath." He likened the wrath of God and the decree of calamity to wine that confuses the mind:
"And you shall give it to drink." This means: prophesy against them:
Malbim
"Take the cup of wine, the heated one" – this is a metaphor for the rebellions and great tumults that will arise among them, and consequently, "they shall drink and be staggered," for there will be a sword of nation against nation, and man against his neighbor.
And they shall drink, and reel to and fro, and be like madmen, because of the sword that I will send among them.—
verse value 3801
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 41 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֛ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·they·shall·reel" (וְהִֽתְגֹּעֲשׁ֖וּ, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·they·will·drink" (וְשָׁת֕וּ), "and·they·shall·reel" (וְהִֽתְגֹּעֲשׁ֖וּ), "between" (בֵּינֹתָֽם). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "between" (root בין, 146x in Jeremiah); "from·face·of" (root פנים, 126x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·they·shall·be·mad', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְשָׁת֕וּ [and·they·will·drink] (712) + וְהִֽתְגֹּעֲשׁ֖וּ [and·they·shall·reel] (790) + וְהִתְהֹלָ֑לוּ [and·they·shall·be·mad] (482) + מִפְּנֵ֣י [from·face·of] (180) + הַחֶ֔רֶב [sword] (215) + אֲשֶׁ֛ר [that] (501) + אָנֹכִ֥י [I] (81) + שֹׁלֵ֖חַ [sending] (338) + בֵּינֹתָֽם [between] (502) = 3801.
Rashi
"And they shall convulse." [Meaning:] they shall go mad:
"And they shall act crazy." This is the term for "madness" (holelut), meaning they shall act like fools (madmen).
Radak
"And they drank and reeled." It is a compound Hitpael with a verb whose [basic] form is not attested, and its meaning is like [the verse] "and the earth shook and quaked."
"And they shall act crazy." Its meaning is that of madness/folly [holelut], and it is a compound Hitpael with a verb resembling a quadriliteral root.
Metzudat David
"And they shall be agitated and thrown into confusion." They shall shake with a violent motion and act like madmen from the fear of the sword that I will send among them:
Metzudat Zion
"and they shall reel." The meaning is a violent movement, as in "and the earth was shaken and quaked" (Psalms 18:8).
"And they shall act crazy" – from the language of raving and folly, as in "and the chariots rage madly" (Nahum 2).
Between them. Between them:
Then took I the cup of Hashem’S hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Hashem had sent me:
verse value 2625
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 48 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֑ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "from·hand·of" (מִיַּ֣ד, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·nations" (אֶת־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, Hashem. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "the·cup" (אֶת־הַכּ֖וֹס), "and·I·caused·to·drink" (וָֽאַשְׁקֶה֙). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that·he·sent·me" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·them" (root אל, 204x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 5 words. Full calculation: וָאֶקַּ֥ח [and·I·took] (115) + אֶת־הַכּ֖וֹס [the·cup] (492) + מִיַּ֣ד [from·hand·of] (54) + יְהֹוָ֑ה [Hashem] (26) + וָֽאַשְׁקֶה֙ [and·I·caused·to·drink] (412) + אֶת־כׇּל־הַגּוֹיִ֔ם [all·the·nations] (515) + אֲשֶׁר־שְׁלָחַ֥נִי [that·he·sent·me] (899) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + אֲלֵיהֶֽם [to·them] (86) = 2625.
Radak
"And I took, and I gave [them] to drink." All of this was in the vision of prophecy.
Metzudat David
And I took, etc. This means: I received the prophecy and prophesied to them.
Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them an appalment, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;
verse value 5952
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 66 letters. The shortest word is "to·give" (לָתֵ֨ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "Jerusalem" (אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·her·kings" (וְאֶת־מְלָכֶ֖יהָ), "to·hissing" (לִשְׁרֵקָ֥ה). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·her·kings" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "to·give" (root נתן, 141x in Jeremiah); "Judah" (root יהודה, 134x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root שריה ("her·princes") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'her·princes', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 8 words. Full calculation: אֶת־יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ [Jerusalem] (987) + וְאֶת־עָרֵ֣י [and·the·cities·of] (687) + יְהוּדָ֔ה [Judah] (30) + וְאֶת־מְלָכֶ֖יהָ [and·her·kings] (512) + אֶת־שָׂרֶ֑יהָ [her·princes] (916) + לָתֵ֨ת [to·give] (830) + אֹתָ֜ם [them] (441) + לְחׇרְבָּ֧ה [to·ruin] (245) + לְשַׁמָּ֛ה [to·astonishment] (375) + לִשְׁרֵקָ֥ה [to·hissing] (635) + וְלִקְלָלָ֖ה [and·to·curse] (201) + כַּיּ֥וֹם [as·the·day] (76) + הַזֶּֽה [this] (17) = 5952.
Rashi
"As this day." Just as they are today, after the Destruction, so did Jeremiah write his book:
Radak
"Jerusalem." She drank first, for all these nations were struck by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar; and in the first year that he reigned, which was the fourth year of Jehoiakim, he came against Jerusalem.
"And their kings." These are Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.
"its princes." Without the conjunction vav:
"For hissing." Without a vav:
Metzudat David
"Jerusalem." This refers back to the earlier statement, "and you shall give it to drink," etc., "Jerusalem," etc.
"And their kings." Although there was only one king, it says "their kings," because even the sons of the king were called by the name "kings."
"As on this day." Since Jeremiah wrote his book after the destruction, therefore he said "as on this day," meaning that they are desolate.
Malbim
(18–20) "Jerusalem" — Jerusalem was destroyed first, and afterward Egypt. "All the mixed multitude of the peoples" — they were a mixture of nations and did not have a king; therefore, it does not say "the kings of the mixed multitude." "Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron" — these belonged to the Philistines, and each had its own specific king. But Ashdod had already been conquered by Pharaoh (below, 48); therefore, it says, "the remnant of Ashdod."
Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;
verse value 3221
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 37 letters. The shortest word is "Pharaoh" (אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֧ה, 6 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Egypt" (מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·all·with" (וְאֶת־כׇּל־עַמּֽוֹ). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·his·servants" (root עבד, 73x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root פרעה ("Pharaoh") in Jeremiah. Full calculation: אֶת־פַּרְעֹ֧ה [Pharaoh] (756) + מֶלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֛יִם [king·of·Egypt] (470) + וְאֶת־עֲבָדָ֥יו [and·his·servants] (499) + וְאֶת־שָׂרָ֖יו [and·his·princes] (923) + וְאֶת־כׇּל־עַמּֽוֹ [and·all·with] (573) = 3221.
and all the mingled people; and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Gaza, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
verse value 7310
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 79 letters. Verse gematria: 7310 is divisible by 86, the value of Elohim. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵת֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Ashkelon" (וְאֶת־אַשְׁקְל֤וֹן, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, and, and, and. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·the·mixed·multitude" (כׇּל־הָעֶ֔רֶב), "Uz" (הָע֑וּץ), "Philistine" (פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all·kings·of" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "land" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root אשקלון ("and·Ashkelon") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Uz', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 10 words.
Rashi
"And all the erev." All the alliance/support that Pharaoh guaranteed, and whose support he relied on for help; "erev" is "garantie" [guarantee] in the vernacular.
Radak
"And all the mixed multitude." With a gathered assembly from the nations they were mixed together, and the Targum [renders it] "sumkuvta," a term denoting a mixture.
"And all the kings of the land of the Philistines." This refers to the rest of the land of the Philistines, apart from the cities mentioned. Similarly, it is written in the Book of Samuel: after mentioning the cities in connection with the golden tumors [emerods], it further states, "from the fortified city to the unwalled village," and it did not mention Gath here, because it belonged to Israel, for David had taken it from the Philistines, as it is written in Chronicles: "And he took Gath and its villages from the hand of the Philistines." And this is Metheg Ammah, mentioned in the Book of Samuel.
"And the remainder of Ashdod." It appears that when Nebuchadnezzar captured it, he found it partially destroyed by the king of Egypt or by someone else.
Metzudat David
"Kol ha'erev" – the one who is gathered from many peoples, just as it says, "and also a mixed multitude" (Exodus 12).
"And Ashkelon, etc." – These are the cities of the Philistines.
The remnant of Ashdod. It is possible that it was destroyed before Nebuchadnezzar came, and a remnant remained there.
Verse structure: 4 words, 23 letters. The shortest word is "Ammon" (עַמּֽוֹן, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Moab" (וְאֶת־מוֹאָ֖ב, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "Edom" (אֶת־אֱד֥וֹם), "and·Moab" (וְאֶת־מוֹאָ֖ב). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·Moab" (root מואב, 36x in Jeremiah); "Edom" (root אדם, 26x in Jeremiah). Full calculation: אֶת־אֱד֥וֹם [Edom] (452) + וְאֶת־מוֹאָ֖ב [and·Moab] (456) + וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י [and·sons·of] (469) + עַמּֽוֹן [Ammon] (166) = 1543.
and all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;
verse value 2917
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵת֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·kings·of·Tyre" (כׇּל־מַלְכֵי־צֹ֔ר, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, and, and. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "all·kings·of·Tyre" (כׇּל־מַלְכֵי־צֹ֔ר), "not" (הָאִ֔י), "beyond" (בְּעֵ֥בֶר). The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "all·kings·of·Tyre" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "beyond" (root עבר, 31x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root צידון ("Sidon") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Sidon', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 6 words. Full calculation: וְאֵת֙ [and] (407) + כׇּל־מַלְכֵי־צֹ֔ר [all·kings·of·Tyre] (440) + וְאֵ֖ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י [all·kings·of] (150) + צִיד֑וֹן [Sidon] (160) + וְאֵת֙ [and] (407) + מַלְכֵ֣י [kings·of] (100) + הָאִ֔י [not] (16) + אֲשֶׁ֖ר [that] (501) + בְּעֵ֥בֶר [beyond] (274) + הַיָּֽם [sea] (55) = 2917.
Rashi
"And the kings of the coastland [ha'i]." All of these that he has enumerated until now are the neighbors of the Land of Israel.
Radak
"And the kings of the island." There is no "all" in it in the corrected text.
Metzudat David
"The coastland." The group of islands that are at the edge of the sea:
Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that have the corners of their hair polled;
verse value 2584
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. Notable word values: "side" (פֵאָֽה) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֖ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Tema" (וְאֶת־תֵּימָא֙, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·Dedan" (וְאֶת־דְּדָ֤ן), "and·Tema" (וְאֶת־תֵּימָא֙), "and·Buz" (וְאֶת־בּ֔וּז). 6 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְאֶת־דְּדָ֤ן [and·Dedan] (465) + וְאֶת־תֵּימָא֙ [and·Tema] (858) + וְאֶת־בּ֔וּז [and·Buz] (422) + וְאֵ֖ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־קְצוּצֵ֥י [all·trimmed-ones·of] (346) + פֵאָֽה [side] (86) = 2584.
Rashi
"Cutting the corner of the head." [This refers to] those who are situated at the edge of that direction:
Radak
“Kitzotzi pe’ah.” [This refers to] those who dwell at the edge of the world, at its extremity, for “pe’ah” denotes the end or limit of a matter. And the Targum renders it as “m’kafey pe’ateh.”
Metzudat David
"Those with clipped hair." Those who dwell at the extremities of the corner of the world:
Metzudat Zion
Katzutzim. From the word ketzeh, meaning "edge":
"Peah" [corner]. The meaning is "region" and "side":
Malbim
“And Dedan and Tema,” from the sons of Ishmael and the sons of Keturah; and “all the circumcised,” the remaining sons of Ishmael and the sons of Keturah who had circumcised the foreskin of their flesh (as stated above, IX:25):
and all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the wilderness;
verse value 2336
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 36 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֖ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·kings·of" (כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, and. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "raven" (הָעֶ֔רֶב), "that·settle·down" (הַשֹּׁכְנִ֖ים). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all·kings·of" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah); "in·the·wilderness" (root מדבר, 21x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Arabia', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְאֵ֖ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י [all·kings·of] (150) + עֲרָ֑ב [Arabia] (272) + וְאֵת֙ [and] (407) + כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י [all·kings·of] (150) + הָעֶ֔רֶב [raven] (277) + הַשֹּׁכְנִ֖ים [that·settle·down] (425) + בַּמִּדְבָּֽר [in·the·wilderness] (248) = 2336.
Rashi
"Kings of Arav." [This means the] Arabians.
"And all the kings of ha'erev [the allied peoples]." The auxiliary support of the Arabians:
Radak
"And all the kings of Arabia." These are the Arabs, who dwell in tents, as it is stated: "No Arab shall encamp there."
"And all the kings of the mixed peoples who dwell in the wilderness." Since the text above mentioned "and all the mixed peoples," it now specifies that these are different ones, namely those who dwell in the wilderness.
Metzudat David
Kings of Arabia. The name of a nation.
Kings of the Arabs: They are the Arabs.
and all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;
verse value 2132
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 38 letters. Verse gematria: 2132 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֣ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·kings·of" (כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, and, and. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "Zimri" (זִמְרִ֗י). The root מלך appears 3 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all·kings·of" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root עילם ("Elam") in Jeremiah. First appearance of the root מדי ("Medes") in Jeremiah. Full calculation: וְאֵ֣ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י [all·kings·of] (150) + זִמְרִ֗י [Zimri] (257) + וְאֵת֙ [and] (407) + כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י [all·kings·of] (150) + עֵילָ֔ם [Elam] (150) + וְאֵ֖ת [and] (407) + כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֥י [all·kings·of] (150) + מָדָֽי [Medes] (54) = 2132.
Radak
"And all the kings of Zimri." Is it possible that Zimri is Zimran, one of the sons of Keturah?
and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth.—And the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.
verse value 5666
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 82 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֣ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "all·the·kingdoms·of" (כׇּל־הַמַּמְלְכ֣וֹת, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 407: and, and. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "north" (הַצָּפ֗וֹן), "near" (הַקְּרֹבִ֤ים), "and·far" (וְהָרְחֹקִים֙). The root מלך appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "to·brother" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah); "all·kings·of" (root מלך, 253x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'ground', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 4 words.
Rashi
Sheshakh. It is Babylon, via [the cipher] Atbash.
Radak
"The kingdoms of the earth." The construct state occurs with the definite article "the," contrary to the common practice; and there likewise occur, like it, [examples such as] "the chambers of the holy [things]" [and] "the peg of the loom," and the like of these are few.
"And the king of Sheshach." The king of Babylon; and so did Targum Yonatan translate. And Sheshach is Babylon, [as shown] by the Atbash alphabet [the cipher] of alef-tav, bet-shin:
Metzudat David
"A man to his brother." They shall drink the cup of wrath, one after another, in close succession; this means that they will all be stricken one after another.
"And the king of Sheshach." This is Babylon, [via] the Atbash cipher (aleph-tav, bet-shin); and so it is called at the end of the book.
"He shall drink after them." This means that he will be punished after all of them, at the end.
Metzudat Zion
"A man against his brother": One after another, in close proximity to him. And similarly, "and they shall be dashed one against another" (above, 13:14).
And you shall say to them: Thus says Hashem of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink you, and be drunken, and spew, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.
verse value 5679
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 82 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶ֡ם) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "drink" (שְׁת֤וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "between" (בֵּינֵיכֶֽם, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·drink·abundantly" (וְשִׁכְרוּ֙), "and·vomit" (וּקְי֔וּ), "you·will·rise" (תָק֑וּמוּ). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·you·shall·say" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root שכר ("and·drink·abundantly") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·will·rise', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 6 words.
Rashi
"And vomit." Like a person who drinks more than he should and vomits.
"The sword." The strife of war:
Radak
"And vomit." This is the way of a drunkard: to vomit. But a drunkard, after he vomits, returns somewhat to his senses and rises. But to them it says, "you shall fall, and you shall not rise." The word "vomit" [u-qeyu] has its root in "qa'ah" [to vomit], and the yod comes in place of the aleph.
Metzudat David
“Drink and become drunk.” Drink the wine of wrath, and you will become drunk, vomit, and fall to the ground, unable to rise, as is the way of one who drinks much wine. This means: Accept upon yourselves the yoke of subjugation and suffering because of the sword of the enemy.
Metzudat Zion
And "u-qyu" [vomit]. The word derives from the root of "vomiting," and it refers to the expulsion of food from the body through the mouth.
Malbim
“Drink and become drunk, and vomit.” There is one who drinks but does not become drunk; therefore it says, “and become drunk.” And there is one who, despite the strength of his stomach, does not vomit; therefore it says, “and vomit.” And there is one who, even so, will stand on his feet; therefore it says, “and they fell.” The phrasing is such that, just as a drunkard, when he vomits, becomes weary and falls, so too when they desire to cast off the yoke of Babylon and vomit it out, He will utterly destroy them. And this will be because He will send among them a sword, nation against nation, whereby they will all fall beneath His feet.
And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then shall you say to them: Thus says Hashem of hosts: You shall surely drink.
verse value 5338
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 59 letters. Notable word values: "and·it·shall·be" (וְהָיָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֧י, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·take·the·cup" (לָקַחַת־הַכּ֥וֹס, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: and·it·shall·be, Hashem. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "they·refuse" (יְמָאֲנ֛וּ), "to·take·the·cup" (לָקַחַת־הַכּ֥וֹס), "from·Your·hand" (מִיָּדְךָ֖). The root שתה appears 3 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·you·shall·say" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·drink', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 8 words. Full calculation: וְהָיָ֗ה [and·it·shall·be] (26) + כִּ֧י [for] (30) + יְמָאֲנ֛וּ [they·refuse] (107) + לָקַחַת־הַכּ֥וֹס [to·take·the·cup] (629) + מִיָּדְךָ֖ [from·Your·hand] (74) + לִשְׁתּ֑וֹת [to·drink] (1136) + וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ [and·you·shall·say] (647) + אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם [to·them] (86) + כֹּ֥ה [thus] (25) + אָמַ֛ר [said] (241) + יְהֹוָ֥ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָא֖וֹת [hosts] (499) + שָׁת֥וֹ [surely] (706) + תִשְׁתּֽוּ [you·will·drink] (1106) = 5338.
Metzudat David
"If they refuse, etc." – Meaning: If they stubbornly resist in order to save themselves from the calamity.
"You shall drink, you shall drink." This means: You will be compelled to drink.
Metzudat Zion
They refuse. The word is from the root of refusal (mi'un).
Malbim
"And it shall be, if they refuse" – the moral of the parable is that anyone who wishes to fight against Nebuchadnezzar will nevertheless drink [the cup], for the Lord will bring it about.
For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city whereupon My name is called, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, says Hashem of hosts.
verse value 5889
Insights
Verse structure: 23 words, 87 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֥ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 5889 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "for" (כִּי֩, 2 letters) and the longest is "upon·all·inhabitants·of" (עַל־כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 556: shall·you·be·unpunished, you·shall·be·unpunished. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "beginning" (מֵחֵ֣ל), "utterly" (הִנָּקֵ֣ה), "upon·all·inhabitants·of" (עַל־כׇּל־יֹשְׁבֵ֣י). The root נקה appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "that" (root אשר, 459x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'shall·you·be·unpunished', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 11 words.
Rashi
"Mechel." [This means] "beginning" (matchil).
Metzudat David
“On which My Name is called.” That it be called the city of the Lord.
"I begin." I begin to bring the evil — and [would] you be clear of the evil? [This is said] as a rhetorical question: behold, you will not be cleared.
Metzudat Zion
"Meichel." The word is in the form of "beginning":
Malbim
"For behold, in the city ... I am beginning to bring evil" — for Israel is under the providence of God; therefore it says, "that is called by My name upon it." And nevertheless, Nebuchadnezzar's star will rule over them, and all the more so you, who are under the cosmic order. And it says, "that I am beginning to bring evil," for sometimes God cuts off nations so that Israel may take a lesson, as it is written: "I have cut off nations, their corner-towers are desolate; I said, Only fear Me, take correction." And then He would begin to do evil to the nations first, and there would be hope that if Israel returned in repentance, the decree would be annulled. Not so is it now, that the evil began with Israel; therefore, it is not for this reason that the decree would be annulled. And how will you go unpunished?
Therefore prophesy you against them all these words, and say to them: Hashem does roar from on high, And utter His voice from His holy habitation; He does mightily roar because of His fold; He gives a shout, as they that tread the grapes, Against all the inhabitants of the earth.
verse value 6263
Insights
Verse structure: 24 words, 106 letters. Notable word values: "to·them" (אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "to" (אֶ֥ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "all·the·words" (כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 314: will·roar, will·roar. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "from·on·high" (מִמָּר֤וֹם), "and·from·dwelling·of" (וּמִמְּע֤וֹן), "will·give" (יִתֵּ֣ן). The root אל appears 3 times in this verse. 20 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "and·you·shall·say" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "all·the·words" (root דבר, 270x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root הידד ("a shout") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'these', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 18 words.
Rashi
"Over His dwelling." [Meaning:] He mourns over the destruction of His house.
“Hiddad.” This is the language of “they shout,” referring to those performing heavy labor who cry out in a loud voice to urge one another to strengthen themselves; those who tread in the winepresses are accustomed to this.
He will answer. Every expression of "answering" implies a loud, crying-out voice:
Radak
“From on high He shall roar.” This is by way of a parable: as if He were to roar and raise His voice, and the nations would come at the sound of His voice to destroy His dwelling, which is the Temple.
"Shout aloud, like those who tread in the winepress." He cries out like those who tread in the winepress, who raise their voices to strengthen themselves, and each man encourages his fellow in the work; and the term for the sound is "hedad," and in the vernacular [la'az] it is "doideu."
Metzudat David
“From on high He shall roar.” The verse repeats the matter and says, “And from His holy habitation,” etc., and then returns to explain that it is He who shall roar over His dwelling, meaning that He pronounced the decree of the destruction of Jerusalem.
“Hedad.” Just as those who tread the wine press raise their voices in a cry of “Hedad” to urge one another on, so too will He raise His voice against all the inhabitants of the land to decree upon them destruction and ruin.
Metzudat Zion
From on high. From the lofty heavens:
He shall roar. A matter of crying out:
And from the dwelling place. The meaning of "dwelling place" is as in "Look from Your holy dwelling place" (Deuteronomy 26:15).
"נוהו" – "מדורו" (his dwelling place), like the verse: "and they have laid his dwelling place waste" (Psalms 79:7).
"Yidded." That word is specific to the call of those who tread the wine, to urge themselves on; and likewise, "Yidded, I have caused to cease" (Isaiah 16).
“כדורכים” – these are those who walk and tread upon the grapes in order to extract the wine.
Ya'aneh. The matter of raising the voice, and similarly, "And the Levites answered" (Deuteronomy 27:14), "a loud voice."
Malbim
"God roars from on high" — the roar is greater than the utterance of a voice, and "on high" indicates the governance of the cosmic order, which is in the heavens, and "His holy habitation" indicates providential governance, which is above the cosmic order. He gives forth His voice on high continually, because He continually governs according to the cosmic order, and now He will roar with a voice of strength and might, and this is by giving forth His voice from His holy habitation in providential governance, whose voice is not always heard, because this governance is concealed, and now this governance will be aroused and will give forth its voice, a strong voice, and from there will issue forth the voice of His roar upon His habitation, which is the Holy Temple, to destroy it. "He will respond with a shout, like the grape-treaders" — just as to the first sound of the treader all answer "Hedad," so will all the beasts of prey answer opposite the voice of the roaring lion.
A noise is come even to the end of the earth; For Hashem has a controversy with the nations, He does plead with all flesh; As for the wicked, He has given them to the sword, Says Hashem.
verse value 3839
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 64 letters. The shortest word is "went·in" (בָּ֤א, 2 letters) and the longest is "says·Hashem" (נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "until·end" (עַד־קְצֵ֣ה), "wicked" (הָרְשָׁעִ֛ים), "he·gave·them" (נְתָנָ֥ם). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "for" (root כי, 318x in Jeremiah); "earth" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root שאון ("roar") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·all·flesh', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 4 words.
Rashi
He contends. He argues in a legal proceeding:
Radak
"He contends." As if He entered into judgment with them, to punish them for their evil and to deliver them into the hand of the king of Babylon.
Metzudat David
“Tumult has come.” The sound of the tumult of the place comes to the end of the earth; that is to say, the decree is upon all of them.
"He contends." He will contend with all flesh, and the contention will be that He will give the wicked to the sword, for by this He informs them of their transgression, and it is accounted a contention. And likewise: “For with fire will God contend” (Isaiah 66:16).
Metzudat Zion
Sha'on. The matter of noise (tumult):
He shall contend. The matter of a dispute:
"to all flesh." To every person:
Malbim
"Tumult has come" — and the roaring sound of the Lord's shout has reached the end of the earth. "For the Lord has a grievance with the nations" — the Lord has a grievance with all the nations in general, and a final judgment for all flesh who sinned against Him; for through the grievance they will all be in danger, and through the judgment the wicked who are liable for death will be sorted out, according to the judgment, and He will deliver them to the sword.
Thus says Hashem of hosts: Behold, evil shall go forth From nation to nation, And a great storm shall be raised up From the uttermost parts of the earth.
verse value 3372
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 54 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֣ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "thus" (כֹּ֤ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·flanks·of·earth" (מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ, 9 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "coming·out" (יֹצֵ֖את). 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "said" (root אמר, 476x in Jeremiah); "to·nation" (root איל, 293x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·nation', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: כֹּ֤ה [thus] (25) + אָמַר֙ [said] (241) + יְהֹוָ֣ה [Hashem] (26) + צְבָא֔וֹת [hosts] (499) + הִנֵּ֥ה [they] (60) + רָעָ֛ה [evil] (275) + יֹצֵ֖את [coming·out] (501) + מִגּ֣וֹי [from·nation] (59) + אֶל־גּ֑וֹי [to·nation] (50) + וְסַ֣עַר [and·tempest] (336) + גָּד֔וֹל [great] (43) + יֵע֖וֹר [will·be·blinded] (286) + מִיַּרְכְּתֵי־אָֽרֶץ [from·flanks·of·earth] (971) = 3372.
Rashi
From nation to nation. I cause them to quarrel with one another:
“From its remote parts.” As its Targum [renders it]: “From its ends.”
Radak
Thus says the Lord: Is it possible that this verse pertains to the preceding matter, and the interpretation of “He abandoned, like a young lion, His den” refers to the destruction of the First Temple by Nebuchadnezzar? Or is it yet to come, which is the correct view, and the interpretation of “He abandoned, like a young lion, His den” refers to the destruction of the Second Temple?
Metzudat David
Behold, evil is going forth. Slaughter and destruction shall go forth from the people of Babylon to every nation and every people:
"And a great storm": The tumult of war will be stirred up from the end of the earth, and that is Babylon.
Metzudat Zion
And a storm. A stormy wind:
Ye'or. A term denoting awakening:
“From its rear.” From the end. And likewise, “and to the rear of the Tabernacle” (Exodus 26).
Malbim
Behold, evil shall begin; the evil shall go forth from nation to nation, that nation shall fight against nation, and afterward a great storm shall be stirred up from the ends of the earth; Nebuchadnezzar shall be roused to come upon them to destroy them.
And the slain of Hashem shall be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the face of the ground.
verse value 2498
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 79 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·unto·end" (וְעַד־קְצֵ֣ה, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 296: earth, earth. The root לא appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "not" (root לא, 307x in Jeremiah); "and·they·shall·be" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'earth', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 10 words.
Metzudat David
"The slain of the Lord." Those who were killed by the decree of the Omnipresent:
"They shall not be mourned." This means that because there will be many [dead], they will not be able to properly eulogize them, nor bring them to a designated place or bury them; rather, they will lie exposed on the surface of the ground like refuse.
Metzudat Zion
“Yasfu” (They gathered). The matter of “gathering” refers to bringing in, as it is stated: “And there was no man to gather them” (Judges 19:15).
Laduman. The matter of manure:
Wail, you shepherds, and cry; And wallow yourselves in the dust, you leaders of the flock; For the days of your slaughter are fully come, And I will break you in pieces, And you shall fall like a precious vessel.
verse value 3886
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 72 letters. The shortest word is "the·flock" (הַצֹּ֔אן, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·your·dispersions" (וּתְפוֹצ֣וֹתִיכֶ֔ם, 10 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·wallow·yourselves" (וְהִֽתְפַּלְּשׁוּ֙), "when·are·fulfilled" (כִּי־מָלְא֥וּ), "your·days" (יְמֵיכֶ֖ם). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "your·days" (root יום, 133x in Jeremiah); "the·shepherds" (root רעה, 50x in Jeremiah); "and·you·will·fall" (root נפל, 43x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root ילל ("wail") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·slaughter', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 4 words. Full calculation: הֵילִ֨ילוּ [wail] (91) + הָרֹעִ֜ים [the·shepherds] (325) + וְזַעֲק֗וּ [and·cry] (189) + וְהִֽתְפַּלְּשׁוּ֙ [and·wallow·yourselves] (827) + אַדִּירֵ֣י [nobles·of] (225) + הַצֹּ֔אן [the·flock] (146) + כִּי־מָלְא֥וּ [when·are·fulfilled] (107) + יְמֵיכֶ֖ם [your·days] (120) + לִטְב֑וֹחַ [to·slaughter] (55) + וּתְפוֹצ֣וֹתִיכֶ֔ם [and·your·dispersions] (1058) + וּנְפַלְתֶּ֖ם [and·you·will·fall] (606) + כִּכְלִ֥י [as·vessel·of] (80) + חֶמְדָּֽה [desire] (57) = 3886.
Rashi
Wail. A term of wailing:
“And wallow.” They rolled about in the dust; in the vernacular, “vautrer.”
"And your dispersion." This is an elliptical verse [one that omits words], meaning: "Your dispersion will draw near to come."
Like a precious vessel. That is to say, if you were to say that we are important, there are many precious vessels made of glass that fall, break, and are lost.
Radak
"Howl, you shepherds." The shepherds and the mighty ones of the flock are the kings of the land.
"And roll yourselves." Roll yourselves in the dust or in the ashes:
"To slaughter. That they shall slaughter one another."
"And your dispersions." This word appears contrary to the normal pattern, for the peh is with a holam and the tav with a hirik, whereas the correct form should be the peh with a shuruk and the tav with a tzere, since it derives from tefutzah, on the pattern of tevunah, temunah; and the plural tefutzot is on the pattern of tevunot, temunot, teshuvot; and with the second-person pronominal suffix, tefutzoteikhem should be on the pattern of u-teshuvoteikhem — [yet] something remains beyond [that pattern]. And we say that the peh comes with a holam in order to pair the vowels, as in tehomot yekhasyumu ("the depths covered them"), and the tav comes with a hirik, as in "im lo sheritikha le-tov" ("Surely I will preserve you for good") (Jeremiah 15:11), which by rights should be she'aritekha (with an alef, "your remnant"), as we have explained.
"And you shall fall like a precious vessel." You, who were like a precious vessel in your days of prosperity, now you shall fall and be broken. And the Targum: "And you shall fall," for you were desirable, like vessels of preciousness.
Metzudat David
"Wail, you shepherds." This refers to the kings of Judah and their princes; it says to you, the leaders of the people, and to you, the mighty ones of the flock—meaning, you who are the mighty men of the nation—roll in the dust as an expression of grief and mourning, because your days are fulfilled to bring some of you to slaughter, and the time of your dispersion has come, so that some of you will be scattered in exile.
“And you shall fall like a precious vessel.” This means that your fall shall not be like that of a despised vessel which falls to the ground, where there is no damage in its falling; rather, great damage and perpetual disgrace shall be yours in that fall, like a precious vessel that falls to the ground, where the damage is great due to the depreciation caused by the fall.
Metzudat Zion
"Hililu." The word is derived from "yelalah" (howling).
"And they wallowed." The meaning is rolling in the dust, as in: "in the dust, roll thyself" (Micah 1:10). "Adirei": the meaning is strength.
"mal'u": They were completed. And similarly in "when the days of her purification are fulfilled" (Leviticus 12:6).
"And your dispersions." The meaning is scattering, and likewise: "for the people scattered" (1 Samuel 13).
Malbim
"The shepherds shall wail" – these are the kings; "and the mighty ones of the flock shall wallow [in the dust]" – these are the princes. For your days have been fulfilled, meaning the time has come for slaughter; and the days of your dispersion have been fulfilled, meaning you will be scattered into exile. And you shall fall like a precious vessel, like a costly glass vessel which, while it is whole, is cherished, but when it is broken, its shards are fit for nothing. So too, after you are shattered and scattered into tiny fragments in exile, you will be considered as nothing.
And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, Nor the leaders of the flock to escape.
verse value 1135
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 31 letters. Notable word values: "and·will·perish" (וְאָבַ֥ד) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "and·will·perish" (וְאָבַ֥ד, 4 letters) and the longest is "from·the·shepherds" (מִן־הָרֹעִ֑ים, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "flight" (מָנ֖וֹס), "from·the·shepherds" (מִן־הָרֹעִ֑ים), "and·escape" (וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "from·the·shepherds" (root רעה, 50x in Jeremiah); "and·will·perish" (root אבד, 28x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'from·the·shepherds', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְאָבַ֥ד [and·will·perish] (13) + מָנ֖וֹס [flight] (156) + מִן־הָרֹעִ֑ים [from·the·shepherds] (415) + וּפְלֵיטָ֖ה [and·escape] (140) + מֵאַדִּירֵ֥י [from·great·ones·of] (265) + הַצֹּֽאן [the·flock] (146) = 1135.
Metzudat David
And there shall be no escape. They will not be able to flee from the hand of the enemy:
"And escape (pelita)." The word "ve'avad" (shall be lost) serves two purposes: to say that the escape, and also the remnant of some of the mighty ones of the flock—who are the mighty men—shall be lost.
Metzudat Zion
"Manus." The matter of fleeing:
And "pelitah" (that which is left over). It means remnant, as it is stated: "Let there be no escape for her" (below, 50).
Malbim
And there shall be no escape in the time of the slaughter; they shall not find a place to flee.
Hark! the cry of the shepherds, And the wailing of the leaders of the flock! For Hashem despoils their pasture.
verse value 3493
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 43 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "voice" (ק֚וֹל, 3 letters) and the longest is "pasturing" (אֶת־מַרְעִיתָֽם, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "cry" (צַעֲקַ֣ת), "a·howling" (וִֽילְלַ֖ת), "pasturing" (אֶת־מַרְעִיתָֽם). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "voice" (root קול, 81x in Jeremiah); "the·shepherds" (root רעה, 50x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root צעקה ("cry") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·flock', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 3 words. Full calculation: ק֚וֹל [voice] (136) + צַעֲקַ֣ת [cry] (660) + הָרֹעִ֔ים [the·shepherds] (325) + וִֽילְלַ֖ת [a·howling] (476) + אַדִּירֵ֣י [nobles·of] (225) + הַצֹּ֑אן [the·flock] (146) + כִּֽי־שֹׁדֵ֥ד [for·despoils] (338) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + אֶת־מַרְעִיתָֽם [pasturing] (1161) = 3493.
Radak
"And the wailing of." With a hirik under the vav, and the yod is quiescent — according to Ben Asher. And according to Ben Naftali: with a shva under the vav and a hirik under the yod.
"Their pasture." [Short for] 'the flock of their pasture'; and they [the flock] are the nations, whose kings and shepherds these [shepherds mentioned in the verse] are.
Metzudat David
The voice of a cry. This means: Behold, the voice of a cry is heard, etc.
"For the Lord is plundering." This means that the plundering comes from the Lord by decree.
"Their pasture." The place where the shepherds pastured the flock; and it is a metaphor for Jerusalem:
Metzudat Zion
"And the wailing of." The word is derived from the root of "yelalah" (wailing).
"Plunderer." The subject of oppression and robbery:
"Their pasture." The word is derived from the root meaning "pasture."
Malbim
"Voice" – and the shepherds and the princes shall roar with a voice, because the Lord is plundering their pasture, so that they all shall recognize that it is the punishment of the Divine Providence of the Lord.
And the peaceable folds are brought to silence Because of the fierce anger of Hashem.
verse value 1495
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 28 letters. Verse gematria: 1495 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "pastures·of" (נְא֣וֹת, 4 letters) and the longest is "the·anger·of·Hashem" (אַף־יְהֹוָֽה, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "and·are·silenced" (וְנָדַ֖מּוּ), "the·peace" (הַשָּׁל֑וֹם). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "the·anger·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 725x in Jeremiah); "from·face·of" (root פנים, 126x in Jeremiah); "the·peace" (root שלום, 26x in Jeremiah). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·peace', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְנָדַ֖מּוּ [and·are·silenced] (106) + נְא֣וֹת [pastures·of] (457) + הַשָּׁל֑וֹם [the·peace] (381) + מִפְּנֵ֖י [from·face·of] (180) + חֲר֥וֹן [anger] (264) + אַף־יְהֹוָֽה [the·anger·of·Hashem] (107) = 1495.
Rashi
"They shall be laid waste." This is the language of desolation — the same as "hadimnu" [He has doomed us to be silenced], and "nidmah" [let us be silenced] is stated there (above, ch. 8).
Radak
"And they were silenced." They were cut off, as in "Madmen too shall be destroyed" (Jeremiah 48:2).
“Pastures of peace.” These are the grazing places where the flocks grazed in peace, and it is an allegory for their cities and provinces.
Metzudat David
"And they shall be laid waste." The dwellings that dwell in peace shall become ruins because of the fierce anger of the Lord, which shall burn against them.
Metzudat Zion
"And they were silenced." The meaning is destruction and cutting off, similar to: "also Madmen shall be silenced" (below, 48).
"Ne'ot." A dwelling place, as in "in the pastures of green grass" (Psalms 23:2).
Malbim
And the pleasant pastures of peace — the place where the flock grazed, where there was peace — were cut off, because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
He has forsaken His covert, as the lion; For their land is become a waste Because of the fierceness of the oppressing sword, And because of His fierce anger.
verse value 2708
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 50 letters. Notable word values: "his·thicket" (סֻכּ֑וֹ) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "he·forsook" (עָזַ֥ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "for·has-become" (כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 264: anger, anger. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Jeremiah. Unique to this verse in Jeremiah (hapax): "he·forsook" (עָזַ֥ב), "like·the·young·lion" (כַּכְּפִ֖יר), "his·thicket" (סֻכּ֑וֹ). The root פנים appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "for·has-become" (root היה, 250x in Jeremiah); "their·land" (root ארץ, 245x in Jeremiah); "from·face·of" (root פנים, 126x in Jeremiah). First appearance of the root ינה ("dove") in Jeremiah. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'his·thicket', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 9 words. Full calculation: עָזַ֥ב [he·forsook] (79) + כַּכְּפִ֖יר [like·the·young·lion] (330) + סֻכּ֑וֹ [his·thicket] (86) + כִּֽי־הָיְתָ֤ה [for·has-become] (450) + אַרְצָם֙ [their·land] (331) + לְשַׁמָּ֔ה [to·astonishment] (375) + מִפְּנֵי֙ [from·face·of] (180) + חֲר֣וֹן [anger] (264) + הַיּוֹנָ֔ה [dove] (76) + וּמִפְּנֵ֖י [and·from·face·of] (186) + חֲר֥וֹן [anger] (264) + אַפּֽוֹ [his·anger] (87) = 2708.
Rashi
"He forsook like a lion..." — The king went into exile from his cities, like a lion that abandons its lair.
“Hayonah” [not “the dove”] — she is intoxicated by wine, so Targum Yonatan renders it; another interpretation: it is a term for oppression.
Radak
"He has left His den like a young lion." The expected form would be sukkato [with a tav], for the singular [absolute] form is sukkah; or the singular could be sokh, on the pattern of oz, chos, from which comes sukko, on the pattern of uzzo. It is saying: just as the young lion leaves its den because it does not find its prey there, so did God, blessed be He, leave the Temple, because He did not find His will [performed] there; and since He left it and hid His face from it, it was destroyed.
"For their land was desolate." For before the destruction of the Temple, their land was [already] desolate, and despite all this they did not accept correction; and He [God] could not restrain Himself any longer, and He left it.
"Because of the sword of the oppressor." The fierceness of the oppressing sword — that is, the sword of the enemy that forces them out — from "My princes shall no longer oppress My people" (Ezekiel 45:8).
"And because of the fierceness of His anger." The sword comes because of the fierceness of His anger. And Yonatan [Targum Yonatan] explained that "ha-yonah" derives from "yayin" (wine), as he translated: "From before the sword of the enemy, which is like intoxicating wine."
Metzudat David
"Abandoned like a young lion's den." Every dwelling shall be abandoned by its owner, and it shall not be remembered, just as a young lion does not remember its den after it has abandoned it.
"The wrath of the oppressor." [I.e.,] the wrath of the enemy, who contrives a pretext and forces them to take their wealth; and this comes because of the fierce anger of the Lord, which burned against them, and not by chance.
Metzudat Zion
Like a young lion. So shall a young lion be called.
"Hayonah" [the oppressing]. From the term of "ona'ah" [fraud/oppression], and its meaning is the taking of wealth; and likewise, "the oppressing city" (Zephaniah 3:1).
Malbim
"He has left His lair like a young lion" – this refers to the fierce anger of the Lord, for His wrath is likened to a young lion tearing prey. Until now the wrath sat in its lair; now the anger has left its lair — meaning that the anger of the Lord has gone forth from its place to punish. And he explains that their land became a desolation because of "the wrath of the dove" — which is Nebuchadnezzar, whose banner bore the form of a dove (for this was the banner of the kingdom of Assyria and Babylon, named after an ancient queen who was called by this name) — and because of the fierce anger of the Lord, for Nebuchadnezzar was the rod of His anger.
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David