Jeremiah 25:23-24
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It's easy to skim past the specific tribes mentioned, but the phrase "all who cut the corners of their hair" points to a distinctive, pagan practice. This custom, forbidden to Israel, marked these tribes as thoroughly outside God's covenant, highlighting their inclusion in judgment.
Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert;
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is delivering a sweeping judgment from God, not just against the nations surrounding Israel, but also against distant tribes in Arabia. These tribes, including Dedan, Tema, and Buz, are mentioned as part of a vast array of peoples who will all drink the cup of God's wrath. The verse highlights a specific, perhaps foreign, custom of "cutting the corners of their hair," marking them as distinct and included in this widespread divine decree.
Jeremiah's prophecy lists specific, seemingly obscure names. Who were these people, and why are they included in God's sweeping judgment?
Jeremiah 25:23 names four groups: Dedan, Tema, Buz, and 'all who cut the corners of their hair.' These aren't random names; they represent distinct tribes and peoples living in the remote, often desert regions surrounding Edom, to the southeast and northeast of Judah.
By naming these far-flung peoples, Jeremiah emphasizes that God's judgment isn't limited to Judah or its immediate neighbors. It extends to the very edges of the known world, encompassing all nations in its scope.
The detail about 'cutting the corners of their hair' seems odd. What does this specific practice signify in the context of God's judgment?
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The phrase 'all who cut the corners of their hair' (or 'temples') is a crucial detail. While it likely described a distinctive hairstyle or beard style of certain nomadic Arab tribes, it also carried religious connotations.
By including this detail, Jeremiah isn't just describing geography; he's pointing to the universal nature of sin and the practices that marked people as apart from God's covenant people. It suggests that even these distant tribes, in their customs, were caught in a world estranged from the true God, and thus subject to His judgment.
Understand the original words
qatsah pē'ah · Hebrew Verb/Adjective phrase
A term referring to the cut of hair or beard in a specific manner, which in a biblical context often signifies pagan religious practices or mourning rituals forbidden to the Israelites (Leviticus 19:27). It identifies these groups as outside the covenant standards of holiness.
ereb · Hebrew Noun
A reference to people living in the wilderness or borderlands; historically, these were semi-nomadic groups that existed on the fringes of settled empires, highlighting the comprehensive reach of God's judgment across all geopolitical boundaries.
midbar · Hebrew Noun
A geographical region associated with arid, uninhabited, or remote areas. In prophetic literature, it emphasizes that no location, however remote or desolate, is hidden from the divine presence or the execution of God's sovereignty.
Jeremiah's prophecy isn't just about Judah; it calls out surrounding tribes like Dedan, Tema, and Buz, who were known for their trade routes and distinct customs, including specific hairstyles, to face judgment alongside the major empires.
c. 2000 BC
Abraham's Descendants Settle Arabia
Descendants of Abraham through his sons Jokshan (Dedan) and Ishmael (Tema) begin to establish themselves in various regions of Arabia.
c. 1700 BC
Buz's Descendants Reside in Arabia Deserta
The descendants of Buz, brother of Uz and grandson of Abraham's brother Nahor, are believed to have settled in the region of Arabia Deserta.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian Campaigns in Arabia
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conducts military campaigns that extend into Arabia, impacting tribes like Dedan and Tema, and bringing them into the wider geopolitical arena.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportations
King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins his campaigns against Judah and surrounding nations, leading to the first wave of exiles, including notable figures from the Judean elite.
c. 589-582 BC— this verse
Babylonian Sieges and Incursions
Nebuchadnezzar II wages war against Judah and Egypt, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and further exiles. Jeremiah's prophecies often address the nations surrounding Judah during this tumultuous period.
c. 582 BC
Babylonian Deportations to Halah, Habor, and Haran
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, further deportations are carried out by the Babylonians, scattering Jewish populations and impacting the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East.
This passage directly prohibits the specific practice of 'cutting the corners of their hair,' highlighting it as a foreign, pagan custom that God's people were to avoid. It shows that the 'corner-clipped' tribes in Jeremiah were marked by a practice forbidden to Israel.
Jeremiah 9:26This verse is referenced by commentators as explaining the practice of 'all who cut the corners of their hair,' indicating it was a widely recognized, perhaps even notorious, custom among certain peoples. It reinforces the understanding of the 'corner-clipped' as a distinct group with specific cultural markers.
Ezekiel 27:15This passage also mentions Dedan, linking them to extensive trade and commercial activities, particularly with Tyre. It provides context for why these Arabian tribes, like Dedan, Tema, and Buz, were significant enough to be included in God's pronouncements, likely due to their influence or involvement in the wider geopolitical landscape.
Genesis 25:3This verse traces the lineage of Dedan back to Abraham through his son Jokshan, establishing a genealogical connection and indicating their ancient roots. It helps to understand these tribes not as random groups, but as part of the broader family of nations stemming from Abraham.
Job 32:2This verse introduces Elihu, who is identified as from the land of Buz, a region also mentioned in Jeremiah 25:23. It connects a biblical character's origin to one of the specific tribes named, grounding the prophecy in a more personal, relatable context.
barnesJeremiah 25:23: "Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,"
Dedan - See the Isaiah 21:13 note. Buz - See Job 32:2 note. All that are ... - See the marginal reference note.
clarkeJeremiah 25:23: "Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,"
Dedan - Was son of Abraham, by Keturah, Genesis 25:3 . Tema - Was one of the sons of Ishmael, in the north of Arabia, Genesis 36:15. Buz - Brother of Uz, descendants of Nahor, brother of Abraham, settled in Arabia Deserta, Genesis 22:21.
It's easy to skim past the specific tribes mentioned, but the phrase "all who cut the corners of their hair" points to a distinctive, pagan practice. This custom, forbidden to Israel, marked these tribes as thoroughly outside God's covenant, highlighting their inclusion in judgment.
Jeremiah is delivering a sweeping judgment from God, not just against the nations surrounding Israel, but also against distant tribes in Arabia. These tribes, including Dedan, Tema, and Buz, are mentioned as part of a vast array of peoples who will all drink the cup of God's wrath. The verse highlights a specific, perhaps foreign, custom of "cutting the corners of their hair," marking them as distinct and included in this widespread divine decree.
Jeremiah is delivering a sweeping judgment from God, not just against the nations surrounding Israel, but also against distant tribes in Arabia. These tribes, including Dedan, Tema, and Buz, are mentioned as part of a vast array of peoples who will all drink the cup of God's wrath. The verse highlights a specific, perhaps foreign, custom of "cutting the corners of their hair," marking them as distinct and included in this widespread divine decree.
"Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who cut the corners of their hair; all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the mixed tribes who dwell in the desert;" — It's easy to skim past the specific tribes mentioned, but the phrase "all who cut the corners of their hair" points to a distinctive, pagan practice. This custom, forbidden to Israel, marked these tr…
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Last reviewed October 2026
