Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's striking that God includes "the beasts of the field" as serving Nebuchadnezzar; this isn't just about human kingdoms submitting, but an almost cosmic acknowledgment of his divinely appointed, albeit temporary, authority over all creation. This detail emphasizes the absolute and sweeping nature of the dominion God granted him, a power so vast it extended even to the creatures of the wild.
Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is instructed to craft a yoke and send it to the kings of surrounding nations, symbolizing their impending submission to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. God declares that He has given all these lands and even the wild animals into Nebuchadnezzar's hand, establishing him as His servant to carry out His judgment. This declaration emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers and the scope of Nebuchadnezzar's divinely appointed dominion.
Ever feel like world events are chaotic and out of control? This verse offers a powerful reminder about who is really in charge.
Jeremiah 27:6 declares with bold certainty: 'Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon...' This isn't just a political observation; it's a divine decree. God is asserting His supreme authority over earthly kingdoms. Nations rise and fall, empires expand and crumble, but all of it unfolds according to His sovereign plan. He uses human leaders, even those who don't acknowledge Him, as instruments to carry out His purposes. Think of Nebuchadnezzar as a tool in God's hand, powerful and terrifying, yet ultimately accountable to the One who appointed him.
Why would God call a pagan conqueror 'my servant'? This title reveals a deeper truth about God's interaction with the world.
It might shock you to read that God calls Nebuchadnezzar 'my servant.' How can a king known for his brutality and idolatry be God's servant? This title doesn't imply Nebuchadnezzar was morally righteous or willingly obedient to God's commands. Instead, it signifies that God used him to accomplish His divine will. Just as a hawk can be used by a falconer to hunt, even a wicked ruler can be an instrument in God's hand for judgment or for executing His broader plan. Nebuchadnezzar was serving God's purposes, even if his own heart was far from Him.
Ask a follow-up
The verse doesn't just mention lands and people; it includes 'the beasts of the field.' What's the significance of this unusual addition?
When God states, 'and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him,' He's emphasizing the sheer scope of Nebuchadnezzar's divinely appointed authority. This isn't just about political control over human populations; it extends to the natural world. It implies that Nebuchadnezzar's dominion was so vast and complete that even the wild creatures were, in a sense, subject to his rule. This hyperbole paints a picture of absolute power, demonstrating that God's authority—and the authority He delegates—encompasses all creation, not just human affairs.
Understand the original words
ebed · Hebrew Noun
A term used for a person or nation that performs tasks or fulfills a role under the authority of a superior, particularly applied to those fulfilling God's sovereign purposes, even if they do not know Him.
This verse highlights God's sovereign hand in international politics, using Nebuchadnezzar as His 'servant' to judge and rule nations, even down to the animals, during a period of intense imperial expansion and conquest.
c. 605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar, as crown prince, decisively defeats the Egyptian and Assyrian forces. This victory marks the rise of Babylon as the dominant world power and sets the stage for its imperial expansion.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar begins his reign and carries out the first major deportation of Judeans, including members of the royal family and the prophet Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation of Judah
After a brief rebellion, Jerusalem is besieged again, and Jehoiachin, the king of Judah, along with thousands more citizens and artisans, are exiled to Babylon. This event directly precedes Jeremiah's prophecy in chapter 27.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Despite Jeremiah's warnings, Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, rebels against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar returns, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, and carries out a final, larger deportation.
562 BC
Death of Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar dies after a long and powerful reign, during which his empire significantly expanded and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's statement by declaring that God gives dominion over all peoples, lands, and even the beasts to whomever He wills, directly paralleling God's sovereign control over Nebuchadnezzar's vast empire.
Isaiah 1:3This verse, cited by commentators, highlights a similar concept where even the animals (ox and donkey) show more understanding of God's will than His own people, underscoring the divine authority being demonstrated through Nebuchadnezzar's rule.
Jeremiah 25:9This verse is frequently referenced alongside Jeremiah 27:6, as it also identifies Nebuchadnezzar as 'my servant' and announces God's decree to bring judgment upon the nations through him.
Ezekiel 29:18-20Here, God grants Nebuchadnezzar extensive spoil and dominion over Egypt as wages for his service, illustrating the divine empowerment and reward for kings used as instruments of God's judgment, much like in Jeremiah 27:6.
Genesis 1:28Commentators draw a parallel between God granting humanity dominion over the beasts in Genesis and Nebuchadnezzar's authority over 'the beasts of the field,' showing how such dominion is ultimately a divine grant, though sometimes wielded by those who don't fully recognize it.
clarkeJeremiah 27:6: "And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him."
And now have I given - These kingdoms are at my sovereign disposal; and at present, for the punishment of their rulers and people, I shall give them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
jfbJeremiah 27:6: "And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him."
- beasts of the field—not merely the horses to carry his Chaldean soldiers, and oxen to draw his provisions [Grotius]; not merely the deserts, mountains, and woods, the haunts of wild beasts, implying his unlimited extent of empire [Estius]; but the beasts themselves by a mysterious instinct of nature. A reproof t…
It's striking that God includes "the beasts of the field" as serving Nebuchadnezzar; this isn't just about human kingdoms submitting, but an almost cosmic acknowledgment of his divinely appointed, albeit temporary, authority over all creation. This detail emphasizes the absolute and sweeping nature of the dominion God granted him, a power so vast it extended even to the creatures of the wild.
Jeremiah is instructed to craft a yoke and send it to the kings of surrounding nations, symbolizing their impending submission to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. God declares that He has given all these lands and even the wild animals into Nebuchadnezzar's hand, establishing him as His servant to carry out His judgment. This declaration emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers and the scope of Nebuchadnezzar's divinely appointed dominion.
Jeremiah is instructed to craft a yoke and send it to the kings of surrounding nations, symbolizing their impending submission to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. God declares that He has given all these lands and even the wild animals into Nebuchadnezzar's hand, establishing him as His servant to carry out His judgment. This declaration emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers and the scope of Nebuchadnezzar's divinely appointed dominion.
"Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him." — It's striking that God includes "the beasts of the field" as serving Nebuchadnezzar; this isn't just about human kingdoms submitting, but an almost cosmic acknowledgment of his divinely appointed, al…
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Last reviewed October 2026