Jeremiah 25:18
“Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, with its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is today;”
What does Jeremiah 25:18 mean?
Jeremiah is speaking as God's messenger to the people of Judah, warning them what will happen if they continue turning away from God. He's telling them that Jerusalem and all the cities around it, along with their leaders, will face destruction and become objects of scorn among other nations, unless they turn back. This warning comes from a place of love, not cruelty, like a parent trying to get a child's attention before something terrible happens. The phrase "as it is today" suggests Jeremiah is speaking this to people who are already experiencing some of these consequences, hoping it's not too late for them to change course.