Jeremiah 25:33
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This verse emphasizes that the slain are not just victims, but specifically "the slain of the LORD," highlighting God's direct hand in the judgment. The utter lack of burial rites, and their fate to be "dung upon the ground," isn't just about disrespect for the dead, but underscores a complete obliteration of their memory and significance in God's eyes.
“And those pierced by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall be dung on the surface of the ground.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy follows God's judgment on Judah, describing how His wrath will be poured out on all nations through a cup of judgment. Jeremiah now expands on the devastating impact of this divine anger, picturing a widespread slaughter so immense that the dead will lie unburied and unmourned across the entire land, treated as mere refuse.
Who are these 'slain of the LORD'? It’s more than just a casualty count; it points to the divine author of destruction.
The phrase "slain of the LORD" is a powerful declaration. It’s not just that people died during a war or by a human enemy; it’s that the LORD Himself is the one causing this slaughter. This emphasizes that even when human armies clash, God is sovereignly orchestrating events, using them to carry out His judgment. It means there's a divine purpose and a divine hand behind the devastation, a solemn reminder that God judges sin.
This isn't about random violence, but about God’s deliberate action in response to the world's rebellion.
The verse lists three things that won't happen to the slain: lamenting, gathering, or burying. What does this profound absence signify?
The lack of lamentation, gathering, and burial is not a minor detail; it’s a profound indicator of the scale and horror of God's judgment.
The ultimate description, 'dung upon the ground,' strips away any pretense of honor or remembrance. It signifies utter worthlessness in the eyes of the world, a complete and final judgment that leaves no dignified trace behind.
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The judgment described here isn't confined to one city or nation. What does the geographical scope tell us about God's justice?
The verse powerfully states that the slain will extend 'from one end of the earth even unto the other.' This sweeping statement is crucial for understanding the magnitude of God's judgment.
It signifies that God's justice is not limited to a single people or region. When He brings judgment, it can and will have a global reach, affecting nations far and wide. This isn't to say that every single person on earth will die at that moment, but rather that the impact of this judgment, and the principle of God's justice, extends universally. It’s a warning that no corner of the earth is beyond God's notice or His power to bring reckoning.
Understand the original words
chalal · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
In a biblical context, those who are killed by the direct agency or sovereign permission of God as a consequence of their rejection of Him.
This verse vividly depicts the utter devastation and disgrace awaiting those slain by the LORD, a consequence of persistent rebellion not just for Jerusalem, but for all nations that reject Him. The imagery of unburied corpses and scattered remains underscores the totality of God's judgment, a sobering reminder that His wrath extends globally.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Jerusalem and deports some of the Jewish elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile and the gradual subjugation of Judah.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. This event further weakens Jerusalem and signals escalating judgment.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the heart of Jewish worship and national identity. This is the culmination of God's judgment on Judah for its persistent unfaithfulness.
c. 586-539 BC
Exile in Babylon
The majority of the remaining Judeans are taken into exile in Babylon. They live as a displaced people, mourning their lost homeland and wrestling with God's judgment.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, conquers Babylon. This marks a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape and sets the stage for the eventual return of the exiles.
This passage uses the phrase 'slain of the LORD' and describes God's judgment by fire and sword, echoing the comprehensive and destructive nature of God's wrath described in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 8:2Jeremiah previously described the horrific fate of those slain, stating their bones would be spread out, unlamented and unburied, highlighting the continuity of this theme of utter desolation.
Ezekiel 14:21This verse speaks of God sending judgment – sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence – upon a land, resulting in utter destruction, much like the widespread slaughter prophesied in Jeremiah.
Revelation 19:17-18This passage describes a future, massive slaughter where birds feast on the flesh of the slain, a vivid and gruesome image of divine judgment that parallels the unburied, dung-like fate of the slain in Jeremiah.
Deuteronomy 28:26This passage describes a curse where the dead bodies of God's people would become food for birds and wild animals, lacking proper burial, underscoring the shame and utter ruin associated with disobedience and divine judgment.
gillJeremiah 25:33: "And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground."
And the slain of the Lord,.... Slain by his permission, yea, by his orders, according to his will, in his wrath and sore displeasure, and to glorify his vindictive justice: shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; not that this shou…
calvinJeremiah 25:33: "And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground."
And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.
Et erunt interfecti Jehovae, in die illa ab extremitate terrae…
This verse emphasizes that the slain are not just victims, but specifically "the slain of the LORD," highlighting God's direct hand in the judgment. The utter lack of burial rites, and their fate to be "dung upon the ground," isn't just about disrespect for the dead, but underscores a complete obliteration of their memory and significance in God's eyes.
This prophecy follows God's judgment on Judah, describing how His wrath will be poured out on all nations through a cup of judgment. Jeremiah now expands on the devastating impact of this divine anger, picturing a widespread slaughter so immense that the dead will lie unburied and unmourned across the entire land, treated as mere refuse.
This prophecy follows God's judgment on Judah, describing how His wrath will be poured out on all nations through a cup of judgment. Jeremiah now expands on the devastating impact of this divine anger, picturing a widespread slaughter so immense that the dead will lie unburied and unmourned across the entire land, treated as mere refuse.
"“And those pierced by the LORD on that day shall extend from one end of the earth to the other. They shall not be lamented, or gathered, or buried; they shall be dung on the surface of the ground." — This verse emphasizes that the slain are not just victims, but specifically "the slain of the LORD," highlighting God's direct hand in the judgment. The utter lack of burial rites, and their fate to…
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Last reviewed October 2026
