The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
The lion has come out of his hiding place, and the destroyer of nations is on his way. He has left his home to make your land empty and ruined; your cities will be destroyed, with no one left living in them.
The writer is warning that a powerful enemy (like a fierce lion) is coming to destroy the land and leave the cities completely empty.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah was prophesying around 626-586 BC, during the final years of the kingdom of Judah. The 'lion' and 'destroyer of nations' likely refers to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who would eventually conquer Jerusalem in 586 BC. This prophecy was given as a warning to the people of Judah about the coming Babylonian invasion that would result in exile.
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