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Jeremiah 18:16

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

To make their land empty and ruined, something people will mock forever; everyone who passes by will be shocked and shake their heads in disbelief.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

This verse describes how the land will become so devastated that travelers will be horrified and shake their heads at the destruction they see.

📚 Historical Context

Jeremiah was a prophet in ancient Judah during the 7th-6th century BC, a time when the nation faced threats from Babylon due to widespread idolatry and disobedience to God's covenant. In Jeremiah 18, God uses the metaphor of a potter reshaping clay to illustrate His sovereignty over nations, warning Judah that their persistent sin could lead to their land becoming a wasteland. This verse specifically describes the resulting desolation, where the land would be mocked and cause astonishment among travelers, symbolizing the severe consequences of unrepentance.

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