Jeremiah 49:28-29
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This passage reveals that "Hazor" likely refers not to a specific city, but to a collection of settled Arab communities, contrasting with the nomadic Kedar tribes. The prophecy highlights that even those who'd moved beyond a purely tent-dwelling existence were not safe from Nebuchadnezzar's reach.
Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down. Thus says the LORD: “Rise up, advance against Kedar! Destroy the people of the east! Their tents and their flocks shall be taken, their curtains and all their goods; their camels shall be led away from them, and men shall cry to them: ‘Terror on every side!’
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage introduces a prophecy directed against the Arab tribes of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, identifying them as targets for Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It immediately follows judgment prophecies against other nations and sets the stage for God's judgment to extend to these eastern peoples. The verses that follow will describe the Chaldean invasion and the devastation it brings to their nomadic way of life.
When God speaks judgment against a people, understanding who they are helps us grasp the weight of His decree. Who were these 'men of the east' that Nebuchadnezzar was commissioned to strike?
This prophecy targets two groups: Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor.
Kedar
Hazor
Together, these groups represented peoples of the Arabian desert and its fringes, whose way of life—centered on tents, flocks, and mobility—was about to be violently disrupted.
Ask a follow-up
God declares judgment through Jeremiah, but He doesn't swing the sword Himself. Who is His instrument, and what does this commission reveal about God's sovereignty?
The verse clearly states that Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, is the agent of God's judgment against Kedar and Hazor.
God's Sovereign Hand
This perspective is crucial: while Nebuchadnezzar carries out the action, the ultimate authority and purpose behind the judgment belong to the LORD.
Understand the original words
magor · Hebrew Noun
A state of extreme dread, panic, or overwhelming calamity. It is often used in prophetic literature to describe the reaction of those facing the righteous judgment of God.
This prophecy comes during the height of Nebuchadnezzar's power, after his victory at Carchemish and as he was subjugating nations around Judah. The focus on Kedar and Hazor highlights how even seemingly remote nomadic tribes were not immune to the sweeping military ambitions of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
c. 630-600 BC
Assyrian Empire's Influence Wanes
As the Neo-Assyrian Empire declined, regional powers like Babylon and nomadic Arab tribes, including the descendants of Ishmael (Kedar) and others in regions like Hazor, began to assert themselves more.
626 BC
Nebuchadnezzar becomes King of Babylon
Nabopolassar, father of Nebuchadnezzar, establishes a new Babylonian dynasty, setting the stage for the Neo-Babylonian Empire's rise.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar decisively defeats the Egyptian and Assyrian forces, establishing Babylonian dominance over the Near East. This victory paves the way for Babylonian expansion into areas previously influenced by Assyria, including Arabia.
c. 600-580 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Prophesies against Arab Tribes
Jeremiah delivers prophecies concerning the Arab tribes of Kedar and Hazor, foretelling their subjugation by Nebuchadnezzar. This aligns with Babylon's military campaigns and consolidation of power.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling much of the Judean population. This event is part of the broader pattern of Babylonian conquest and terror in the region.
550 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great founds the Achaemenid Persian Empire, which will eventually conquer Babylon in 539 BC and alter the political landscape further.
This passage also prophesies the downfall of the Arabs, specifically mentioning the "tents of Kedar," highlighting their nomadic lifestyle and the coming destruction by a conquering force, much like Jeremiah 49:28.
Ezekiel 27:21This verse directly mentions Kedar as a source of goods for Tyre, showing their historical significance and trade connections, which would be disrupted by the conquest described in Jeremiah.
Psalm 120:5-7This psalm expresses the psalmist's distress over dwelling among those who are like Kedar, describing them as people of conflict and war. This provides a poetic parallel to the judgment coming upon Kedar in Jeremiah 49:28.
Genesis 25:13This verse identifies Kedar as a son of Ishmael, providing the genealogical background for the people mentioned in Jeremiah's prophecy and explaining their connection to the broader Arab tribes.
Judges 6:3-5This passage describes the Midianites and Amalekites, also referred to as 'men of the east,' who would raid Israelite lands, illustrating the historical pattern of eastern nomadic tribes being a source of both trade and conflict.
clarkeJeremiah 49:28: "Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east."
Concerning Kedar, and Concerning the Kingdoms of Hazor - This is the title of another new prophecy. Kedar was the name of one of the sons of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13) who settled in Arabia, and who gave name to a powerful tribe of Arabs who used to traffic with the Tyrians in cattle. It appears fro…
gillJeremiah 49:28: "Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east."
Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor,.... A new prophecy concerning the Arabians; for Kedar was a son of Ishmael, Genesis 25:13 ; whose posterity inhabited Arabia Petraea. Hazor was Petra itself, the metropolis of the country, whose king had several petty kings and kingdoms unde…
This passage reveals that "Hazor" likely refers not to a specific city, but to a collection of settled Arab communities, contrasting with the nomadic Kedar tribes. The prophecy highlights that even those who'd moved beyond a purely tent-dwelling existence were not safe from Nebuchadnezzar's reach.
This passage introduces a prophecy directed against the Arab tribes of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, identifying them as targets for Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It immediately follows judgment prophecies against other nations and sets the stage for God's judgment to extend to these eastern peoples. The verses that follow will describe the Chaldean invasion and the devastation it brings to their nomadic way of life.
This passage introduces a prophecy directed against the Arab tribes of Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, identifying them as targets for Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It immediately follows judgment prophecies against other nations and sets the stage for God's judgment to extend to these eastern peoples. The verses that follow will describe the Chaldean invasion and the devastation it brings to their nomadic way of life.
"Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon struck down.
Thus says the LORD:
“Rise up, advance against Kedar!
Destroy the people of the east! Their tents and their flocks shall be taken,…" — This passage reveals that "Hazor" likely refers not to a specific city, but to a collection of settled Arab communities, contrasting with the nomadic Kedar tribes. The prophecy highlights that even t…
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Last reviewed October 2026