Jeremiah 49:23
in Jeremiah 49Concerning Damascus: “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
KJV
Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
⋯
This verse in Jeremiah 49
Commentary
6 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Though the superscription is confined to Damascus, the prophecy relates to the whole of Aram, called by us Syria, which was divided into two parts, the northern, of which Hamath was the capital, and the southeastern, belonging to Damascus. Hamath is confounded - Or, is ashamed. For Hamath see Isa 10:9 note. Arpad lay about fourteen miles north of Aleppo, at a place now called Tel Erfad. Fainthearted - The sinews are relaxed unknit, through terror. There is sorrow on the sea - In the sea.
This site's exposition
Concerning Damascus
on Jeremiah 49:23-27
Damascus “has become feeble,” seized by anguish “like a woman in labor,” the figure these oracles use of Moab and Edom. “How is the city of praise not forsaken,” mourns a capital Assyria had already taken (2 Kings 16:9). The fire on “the fortresses of Ben-hadad” strikes the royal house.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Damascus - Being the head of this country, is put for the whole country. Hamath - Hamath and Arpad were two cities also of Syria. On the sea - Their inhabitants that live near the sea shall be troubled.
Concerning Damascus,.... Or, "unto Damascus" (d); or, "against Damascus" (e); that is, "thus saith the Lord"; which is to be repeated from the foregoing instances, Jer 49:
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Prophecy as to Damascus, &c. The kingdom of Damascus was destroyed by Assyria, but the city revived, and it is as to the latter Jeremiah now prophesies. The fulfilment was probably about five years after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar [JOSEPHUS, Antiquities, 10.9,7].
Concerning Damascus - This is the head or title of another prophecy. Damascus was one of the principal cities of Syria. It was taken by David, 2Sa 8:6, was retaken in the reign of Solomon, 1Ki 11:24, etc., and regained its independence. Its kings were often at war with the ten tribes, and once it joined with them for the destruction of Judah. To defend himself against these powerful enemies Ahaz made a league with the king of Assyria, who besieged Damascus, took, and demolished it. From that time we hear nothing of Damascus till we meet with it in this prophecy. It appears to have been rebuilt and restored to some consequence. It made an obstinate resistance to Nebuchadnezzar; but was at last taken and sacked by him. At present it is both a large and populous city, with considerable commerce. Hamath is confounded - This is a city of Syria, on the Orontes. The Greeks called it Epiphania. Arpad - Not far from Damascus. Sorrow on the sea - They are like the troubled sea, that cannot rest.
The words behind it
14 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לְדַמֶּ֗שֶׂק | ledamesek | of Damascus | H1834 → | 45 times |
| בּ֤וֹשָֽׁה | booshah | it will be ashamed | H954 → | 127 times |
| חֲמָת֙ | chamat | Hamath | H2574 → | 35 times |
| וְאַרְפָּ֔ד | vearpad | and Arpad | H774 → | |
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| שְׁמֻעָ֥ה | shemuah | new[s] | H8052 → | 27 times |
| רָעָ֛ה | raah | bad | H7451 → | 662 times |
| שָׁמְע֖וּ | shameu | they have heard | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| נָמֹ֑גוּ | namogu | they will melt away | H4127 → | |
| בַּיָּ֣ם | baiyam | [is] in the sea | H3220 → | 396 times |
| דְּאָגָ֔ה | deagah | anxiety | H1674 → | |
| הַשְׁקֵ֖ט | hashket | to be quiet | H8252 → | 41 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יוּכָֽל׃ | yukhal | it will be able | H3201 → | 194 times |
לְדַמֶּ֗שֶׂקof Damascus
ledamesekH1834 →45 times
בּ֤וֹשָֽׁהit will be ashamed
booshahH954 →127 times
חֲמָת֙Hamath
chamatH2574 →35 times
וְאַרְפָּ֔דand Arpad
vearpadH774 →
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
שְׁמֻעָ֥הnew[s]
shemuahH8052 →27 times
רָעָ֛הbad
raahH7451 →662 times
שָׁמְע֖וּthey have heard
shameuH8085 →1159 times
נָמֹ֑גוּthey will melt away
namoguH4127 →
בַּיָּ֣ם[is] in the sea
baiyamH3220 →396 times
דְּאָגָ֔הanxiety
deagahH1674 →
הַשְׁקֵ֖טto be quiet
hashketH8252 →41 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יוּכָֽל׃it will be able
yukhalH3201 →194 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Isaiah 57:20But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waves churn up mire and muck.
it leads to
- Proverbs 4:16–17
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
- Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
- Job 18:5–14
Indeed, the lamp of the wicked is extinguished; the flame of his fire does not glow.
- Job 15:20–24
A wicked man writhes in pain all his days; only a few years are reserved for the ruthless.
- Psalms 73:18–20
Surely You set them on slick ground; You cast them down into ruin.
- Proverbs 4:16–17
Through
Isaiah 10:9“Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?
it leads to
- 2 Kings 16:9
So the king of Assyria responded to him, marched up to Damascus, and captured it. He took its people to Kir as captives and put Rezin to death.
- 2 Chronicles 35:20
After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt marched up to fight at Carchemish by the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to confront him.
- 2 Kings 16:9
Through
Genesis 15:2But Abram replied, “O Lord GOD, what can You give me, since I remain childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
it leads to
- Genesis 25:21
Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
- Genesis 25:21
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Jeremiah
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Carl Friedrich Keil, The Prophecies of Jeremiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament.