Jeremiah 49:5
“Behold, I will bring a terror on you,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, “from all who are around you. All of you will be driven completely out, and there will be no one to gather together the fugitives.”
What does Jeremiah 49:5 mean?
God is speaking here to the Ammonites, a nation that had been hostile to Israel, and His words carry the weight of inevitable judgment. The image of terror coming "from all who are around you" means that enemies will close in from every direction, leaving no escape route and no ally to help. The final phrase about no one gathering the fugitives captures something particularly devastating: not only will the people be scattered and defeated, but they'll face this alone, without rescue or reunion. For those reading this today, it's worth noting that Jeremiah often delivers hard messages like this to demonstrate God's justice and sovereignty over nations. While this particular verse describes judgment on a specific ancient people, it reflects a broader biblical truth that God takes seriously the harm nations do to others, and that injustice doesn't ultimately stand unchallenged.