Jeremiah 49:19
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The verse shifts focus from the invading lion to God's sovereign power, asking who can stand against Him. This highlights that the mighty conqueror is merely an instrument in God's hand, and no earthly ruler, however powerful, can truly challenge divine authority.
Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet has been denouncing judgment against Edom, comparing its people to a flock that will be scattered. This verse describes the impending invasion by a mighty force, likened to a lion emerging from the dense thickets of the Jordan River. God declares that this powerful enemy will suddenly overwhelm Edom, forcing its inhabitants to flee from their secure homeland. The ensuing questions powerfully assert God's ultimate sovereignty, challenging any earthly power to stand against His chosen instrument of judgment.
Edom is compared to a lush pasture, a place of safety and abundance. But a terrifying force is coming, fierce and untamed.
Jeremiah uses the vivid image of a lion emerging from the Jordan's thickets to describe the impending invasion of Edom. This isn't just any lion; it's one driven by a powerful force, likely symbolizing the Chaldean army under Nebuchadnezzar.
A Terrifying Analogy
This imagery underscores that even the most ferocious and seemingly unstoppable human forces are under God's ultimate command.
Who can stand against God? This verse isn't just a rhetorical question; it's a profound declaration of divine uniqueness and absolute power.
Ask a follow-up
The latter part of Jeremiah 49:19 shifts dramatically from the description of the invasion to a series of powerful questions that emphasize God's unparalleled sovereignty.
The Unquestionable Sovereign
These questions aren't seeking information; they are pronouncements. God is asserting His ultimate authority over all nations and all human endeavors, including warfare and conquest.
Understand the original words
ʾĂrî · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for power, ferocity, and divine judgment; often used to describe a force that is irresistible and terrifying to its prey.
rōʿeh · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for a leader, king, or ruler who is responsible for the care, protection, and guidance of a people (the "flock").
The prophecy against Edom in Jeremiah 49:19 is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and subsequent campaigns. The image of a lion emerging from the Jordan signifies the swift and powerful advance of Nebuchadnezzar's army, a force so overwhelming that no earthly power, depicted as a shepherd or chosen ruler, could stand against it or God's sovereign will.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria to Assyria
The northern kingdom of Israel falls to the Neo-Assyrian Empire, leading to the displacement of many Israelites. This event increases pressure and migration towards the south and east.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Judean Campaign
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon defeats the Egyptian-led coalition at the Battle of Carchemish and begins his campaigns against Judah, deporting some of its elite to Babylon. This marks the rise of Babylonian power.
597 BC
Second Deportation of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin, to Babylon. Jerusalem remains under Babylonian control but with a puppet ruler.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the population to Babylon. This is a catastrophic event for Judah and its people.
c. 586 BC - 582 BC— this verse
Babylonian Campaigns Against Edom and other Nations
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar campaigns against surrounding nations, including Edom. This period is when Jeremiah's prophecies against these nations, including the one in chapter 49, are fulfilled.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This ushers in a new era for the exiles.
This passage also describes the Assyrian king as a tool of God's judgment, comparing him to an axe and a saw, highlighting that even powerful conquerors are ultimately under God's sovereign hand.
Ezekiel 34:1-10This passage critiques the faithless shepherds (leaders) of Israel, paralleling Jeremiah's rhetorical question about who the shepherd is that can stand against God, emphasizing God's ultimate authority over all leadership.
Daniel 2:21This verse speaks of God's power to 'change times and seasons,' 'set up kings,' and 'put them down,' underscoring the divine prerogative that Jeremiah 49:19 invokes when God asks, 'Who will appoint me the time?'
Exodus 15:11This prophetic song after the Red Sea deliverance exclaims, 'Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?', directly echoing Jeremiah's rhetorical question, 'For who is like me?' and affirming God's unparalleled might.
calvinJeremiah 49:19: "Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?"
- Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a ch…
gillJeremiah 49:19: "Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?"
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan,.... The Targum rightly interprets it of a king and his army, paraphrasing the words thus, "behold, a kin…
The verse shifts focus from the invading lion to God's sovereign power, asking who can stand against Him. This highlights that the mighty conqueror is merely an instrument in God's hand, and no earthly ruler, however powerful, can truly challenge divine authority.
The prophet has been denouncing judgment against Edom, comparing its people to a flock that will be scattered. This verse describes the impending invasion by a mighty force, likened to a lion emerging from the dense thickets of the Jordan River. God declares that this powerful enemy will suddenly overwhelm Edom, forcing its inhabitants to flee from their secure homeland. The ensuing questions powerfully assert God's ultimate sovereignty, challenging any earthly power to stand against His chosen instrument of judgment.
The prophet has been denouncing judgment against Edom, comparing its people to a flock that will be scattered. This verse describes the impending invasion by a mighty force, likened to a lion emerging from the dense thickets of the Jordan River. God declares that this powerful enemy will suddenly overwhelm Edom, forcing its inhabitants to flee from their secure homeland. The ensuing questions powerfully assert God's ultimate sovereignty, challenging any earthly power to stand against His chosen instrument of judgment.
"Behold, like a lion coming up from the jungle of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make him run away from her. And I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can s…" — The verse shifts focus from the invading lion to God's sovereign power, asking who can stand against Him. This highlights that the mighty conqueror is merely an instrument in God's hand, and no earth…
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Last reviewed October 2026
