Jeremiah 10:22
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What makes this verse incredibly chilling isn't just the approaching army, but how the "noise of the rumor" is described as coming, almost as if the report itself is an active force. This isn't just bad news; it's a terrifying omen that announces the utter desolation, turning once-vibrant cities into desolate haunts for wild animals.
A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!— a great commotion out of the north country to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a lair of jackals.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Jeremiah is describing the imminent arrival of a terrifying army from the north, specifically Babylon. This invading force is bringing widespread destruction, turning the once-thriving cities of Judah into desolate ruins, like dens for wild animals. The verses preceding this passage lament Judah's foolish reliance on idols instead of God, which has left them vulnerable to this coming judgment.
Jeremiah hears a sound—not a whisper, but a
The verse opens with a powerful sensory experience: "A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!" This isn't just news; it's the chilling sound of imminent danger.
The Sound of Army Movement
Commentators suggest this "noise" and "great commotion" refers to the deafening sound of a massive invading army on the move. Think of the thunder of thousands of feet, the clanking of armor, the shouts of soldiers—a terrifying symphony of destruction heading straight for Judah.
From Rumor to Reality
What might have started as a distant rumor or a worried whisper among the people is now confirmed. The "bruit" or "report" has arrived, and it's not just a rumor anymore. It's the tangible, terrifying reality of war descending upon their cities.
The invasion isn't just a temporary disruption; the prophet paints a stark picture of the ultimate consequence.
The invasion from the north has a specific, devastating purpose: "to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a lair of jackals."
Utter Destruction
"Desolation" means complete ruin and emptiness. The vibrant cities, full of life and commerce, will be reduced to rubble. There will be nothing left but ruins.
The Symbolism of Jackals
Ask a follow-up
The imagery of a "lair of jackals" (or "dragons" in some older translations, referring to wild animals) is incredibly powerful. Jackals are scavengers, known for inhabiting desolate and dangerous places. This signifies that the once-thriving cities will become unfit for human habitation, reclaimed by the wild and abandoned by God's people.
This verse captures the terrifying sound and news of the approaching Babylonian army, a "great commotion" from the north that heralded the destruction of Judah's cities and the desolation of the land, a stark reality following years of escalating conflict and invasions.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar I, crown prince at the time, defeats the Egyptians and Syrians at Carchemish and then advances into Judah, beginning the Babylonian invasions. Some of the Judean nobility, including the prophet Daniel, are deported to Babylon.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion by King Jehoiachin, Nebuchadnezzar besieges and captures Jerusalem. More Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
After another rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its temple, exiling the remaining significant population to Babylon. This marks the end of the Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC - 539 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Judean people live in exile in Babylon, a period marked by spiritual reflection, prophecy, and the development of rabbinic Judaism, sustained by figures like Ezekiel and Daniel.
This passage also speaks of a cry of alarm and a desolation coming from the north, directly paralleling the imagery of destruction and invasion found in Jeremiah 10:22.
Jeremiah 1:13-14Here, Jeremiah sees a boiling pot facing north, symbolizing judgment and invasion coming from the north country, which echoes the source of the 'great commotion' mentioned in Jeremiah 10:22.
Ezekiel 26:7This verse describes a powerful king from the north, Nebuchadnezzar, bringing destruction upon Tyre, mirroring the concept of a northern force causing devastation to cities as seen in Jeremiah 10:22.
Nahum 2:10This passage vividly describes the desolation and terror brought by an invading army, making cities empty and desolate, much like the fate described for Judah's cities in Jeremiah 10:22.
barnesJeremiah 10:22: "Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons."
The "great commotion" is the confused noise of the army on its march (see Jeremiah 8:16 ). Dragons - i. e., jackals; see the marginal reference.
cambridgeJeremiah 10:22: "Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons."
22 . jackals ] See on Jeremiah 9:11 .
What makes this verse incredibly chilling isn't just the approaching army, but how the "noise of the rumor" is described as coming, almost as if the report itself is an active force. This isn't just bad news; it's a terrifying omen that announces the utter desolation, turning once-vibrant cities into desolate haunts for wild animals.
The prophet Jeremiah is describing the imminent arrival of a terrifying army from the north, specifically Babylon. This invading force is bringing widespread destruction, turning the once-thriving cities of Judah into desolate ruins, like dens for wild animals. The verses preceding this passage lament Judah's foolish reliance on idols instead of God, which has left them vulnerable to this coming judgment.
The prophet Jeremiah is describing the imminent arrival of a terrifying army from the north, specifically Babylon. This invading force is bringing widespread destruction, turning the once-thriving cities of Judah into desolate ruins, like dens for wild animals. The verses preceding this passage lament Judah's foolish reliance on idols instead of God, which has left them vulnerable to this coming judgment.
"A voice, a rumor! Behold, it comes!— a great commotion out of the north country to make the cities of Judah a desolation, a lair of jackals." — What makes this verse incredibly chilling isn't just the approaching army, but how the "noise of the rumor" is described as coming, almost as if the report itself is an active force. This isn't jus…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
