Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's question, "Is wisdom no more in Teman?" isn't just a rhetorical jab; it's a devastating exposure of Edom's folly. It highlights that their famed wisdom, even the practical counsel for which their region was renowned, was utterly useless in the face of their arrogance and cruel behavior towards others. This wasn't just a lack of good ideas; it was a complete spiritual and intellectual bankruptcy that God was about to expose.
Concerning Edom. Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage marks the beginning of a prophecy specifically against Edom, the descendants of Esau. The text immediately questions if wisdom has vanished from Teman, a region and people within Edom known for their sagacity, implying their pride and reliance on human intellect will be useless in the face of coming judgment. This sets the stage for God's pronouncement of Edom's utter desolation, highlighting their folly and the futility of their supposed wisdom.
Imagine a place famous for its brilliant thinkers, a hub of counsel and sharp minds. Now, imagine God asking, 'Where did it all go?' Jeremiah 49:7 does just that, but why?
Jeremiah's prophecy against Edom opens with a series of rhetorical questions that are absolutely stunning in their directness. God, through Jeremiah, doesn't just predict doom; He points to a profound spiritual and intellectual emptiness.
The Reputation of Teman
Teman, a region within Edom, was renowned for its wisdom. Think of it like ancient Greece or a modern center of academia and philosophy. The people there were known for their prudence, their counsel, and their deep understanding. Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, was a Temanite, highlighting this association with wisdom (Job 2:11).
God's Unsettling Inquiry
But now, the Lord of Hosts asks: 'Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom vanished?' (Jeremiah 49:7). This isn't just about losing knowledge; it's about a complete collapse of the discernment and good judgment that had once defined them. It implies that their so-called wisdom offered no protection, no foresight, and no refuge when God's judgment arrived.
Edom and Israel were close relatives, both descended from Abraham. Yet, their relationship was marked by deep animosity. What does this divine questioning of Edom's wisdom reveal about God's view of their actions?
The prophecy against Edom isn't delivered in a vacuum. Edom, the descendants of Esau, had a long and often hostile history with Israel, the descendants of Jacob. Despite being commanded by God to let the Israelites pass through their land peacefully on their way to the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 2:4-5), Edom refused and even threatened them.
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A Pattern of Opposition
This enmity continued through Israel's history. The Edomites exulted when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians and showed cruelty to refugees (as mentioned in the context). This deep-seated hatred, especially when directed against God's chosen people, did not go unnoticed by the Lord.
Wisdom Failing in the Face of Sin
Jeremiah's questions about Edom's lost wisdom serve as a prelude to judgment. Their famed counsel and prudence failed them because their hearts were filled with pride and malice, not righteousness. True wisdom, in God's eyes, includes living in peace and demonstrating love, especially towards fellow believers. When sin corrupts the heart, even the wisest can become foolish and face God's severe consequences.
Understand the original words
YHVH Tseva'ot · Hebrew Noun
A title emphasizing God's sovereignty over the armies of heaven and earth, representing His absolute authority and power to execute judgment and salvation.
chokmah · Hebrew Noun
The ability to discern God's truth and live in accordance with His will; in the Old Testament, it is closely linked to the fear of the Lord.
etsah · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the advice, purpose, or plan of an individual or a nation; often used in the context of human plans being weighed against God's divine counsel.
The prophecy against Edom in Jeremiah 49:7 isn't just about a distant nation; it highlights a deep, familial betrayal. The Edomites, descendants of Esau (Jacob's brother), were renowned for their wisdom, but in their moment of greatest need, their counsel fails them because they sided with Judah's enemies and exulted in Jerusalem's destruction.
c. 1000 BC
David Subjugates Edom
Following a long period of animosity and Edom's refusal to let the Israelites pass through their land, King David wages war against Edom, establishing Israelite dominance and placing garrisons throughout the territory.
c. 900 BC
Edom Revolts Against Judah
During the reign of King Joram of Judah, Edom successfully revolts and establishes its own monarchy, ending Judah's control over the region.
c. 800 BC - 586 BC
Periods of Conflict and Resurgence
Throughout these centuries, Edom and Judah engage in intermittent conflict, with Judah sometimes reasserting control and Edom sometimes acting as an independent or even hostile power.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins his campaigns against Judah, initiating a series of exiles that will eventually lead to the destruction of Jerusalem.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Edom's Exultation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple. Edomites are noted for their cruel rejoicing and aiding the Babylonians, leading to widespread prophecies against them.
c. 580 BC
Prophecies Against Edom
Prophets like Jeremiah and Obadiah deliver strong condemnations against Edom for their actions during and after Jerusalem's fall, predicting their devastation.
c. 130 BC
Forced Conversion of Edomites
The Hasmonean ruler John Hyrcanus conquers the remaining Edomites and forces them to convert to Judaism, integrating them into the Jewish nation.
This passage directly mirrors Jeremiah's inquiry about wisdom in Teman, highlighting Edom's reputation for wisdom and the impending loss of it due to God's judgment.
1 Kings 4:30This verse speaks to the renowned wisdom of the 'children of the East,' which included the Edomites and particularly the people of Teman, providing context for Jeremiah's rhetorical questions.
Job 2:11Eliphaz the Temanite, a prominent figure known for his wisdom (though flawed in its application), hails from Teman, reinforcing the region's historical association with intellectual and philosophical thought.
Ezekiel 35:15This passage echoes the theme of Edom's downfall and its rejoicing over Israel's destruction, aligning with Jeremiah's prophetic judgment on Edom's pride and the loss of their perceived wisdom.
Lamentations 4:21The bitterness of Edom's exultation over Jerusalem's fall, as described here, fuels the prophetic judgment in Jeremiah and highlights the moral failing that accompanies their intellectual pride.
barnesJeremiah 49:7: "Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?"
Edom stretched along the south of Judah from the border of Moab on the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean and the Arabian deserts, and held the same relation to Judah which Moab held toward the kingdom of Israel. Although expressly reserved from attack by Moses Deuteronomy 2:5 , a long feud caused the Edomites to cherish so bitter an enmity again…
jfbJeremiah 49:7: "Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?"
- Concerning Edom—a distinct prophecy, copied in part from Obadiah, but with the freedom of one himself inspired and foretelling a later calamity. Obadiah's was fulfilled probably in Sennacherib's time (compare Isa 34:5; Am 1:11); Jeremiah's about the same time as his preceding prophecies (Jer 49:12; Eze 25:12).wisdom—for which the Arabs an…
God's question, "Is wisdom no more in Teman?" isn't just a rhetorical jab; it's a devastating exposure of Edom's folly. It highlights that their famed wisdom, even the practical counsel for which their region was renowned, was utterly useless in the face of their arrogance and cruel behavior towards others. This wasn't just a lack of good ideas; it was a complete spiritual and intellectual bankruptcy that God was about to expose.
This passage marks the beginning of a prophecy specifically against Edom, the descendants of Esau. The text immediately questions if wisdom has vanished from Teman, a region and people within Edom known for their sagacity, implying their pride and reliance on human intellect will be useless in the face of coming judgment. This sets the stage for God's pronouncement of Edom's utter desolation, highlighting their folly and the futility of their supposed wisdom.
This passage marks the beginning of a prophecy specifically against Edom, the descendants of Esau. The text immediately questions if wisdom has vanished from Teman, a region and people within Edom known for their sagacity, implying their pride and reliance on human intellect will be useless in the face of coming judgment. This sets the stage for God's pronouncement of Edom's utter desolation, highlighting their folly and the futility of their supposed wisdom.
"Concerning Edom.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
“Is wisdom no more in Teman?
Has counsel perished from the prudent?
Has their wisdom vanished?" — God's question, "Is wisdom no more in Teman?" isn't just a rhetorical jab; it's a devastating exposure of Edom's folly. It highlights that their famed wisdom, even the practical counsel for which the…
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Last reviewed October 2026