Why will the Lord “roar from on high; and from his holy habitation utter his voice” and “shout, like those who tread grapes”?
The movement throughout Jeremiah 25:1–38 is that judgment begins with Judah, but the scope of the Lord’s judgment immediately widens to the surrounding nations and ultimately to the whole earth. This not only reveals who the Lord is but also places the judgment of Judah in the context of the judgment of the world. This widening of the scope of judgment is repeated and emphasized in this final passage (Jeremiah 25:30–38).
The Lord once again calls on his prophet Jeremiah, You, therefore, shall prophesy against them all these words.
The message of judgment that will follow is for Judah and all the nations of the world.
The first image in this oracle of judgment is of a lion roaring. There is a return to this image at the end of the passage in Jeremiah 25:38. The Hebrew word yisag, translated as roar,
is often used in the metaphor of a lion roaring before it attacks its prey. The image is probably therefore of the Lord proclaiming his immanent judgment on Judah like a lion about to pounce on its prey. The word yisag is repeated three times emphasizing the loudness and terrifying nature of the Lord’s voice.1 The Lord will also shout, like those who tread grapes.
This image serves to heighten the sound of the Lord’s voice. It probably refers to the energy with which those who tread grapes go about their task. The implication is that the Lord is not hesitant in bringing judgment against a sinful and rebellious world.2
The Lord will roar from on high, and from his holy habitation utter his voice.
These two phrases are parallel to each other and describe the place from which the Lord speaks. Other prophets use very similar words to introduce words of judgment. At the start of Amos the prophet says, The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem.
Joel uses the same words in Jeremiah 3:16. This phrase seems to be commonly used by prophets to introduce words of judgment. Jeremiah, therefore, uses the phrase, but changes it by leaving out any reference to Zion or Jerusalem as the place where the Lord lives.3 The implication of leaving out reference to Zion and Jerusalem is that the Lord is speaking from heaven. The one who made his dwelling place with Israel on earth is the Lord who dwells in heaven ruling over and now judging the whole earth.
The word habitation
comes from the Hebrew word maon and it is used in Jeremiah 21:13 to speak of the people’s sense of confidence in Jerusalem as a place of safety. The implication in Jeremiah 25:30 is that any sense of being safe in the world is unfounded. The Lord is secure in his dwelling place in heaven and the dwelling place of man on earth is under threat.4
As in the rest of the chapter, judgment begins with Judah. The Lord will roar against his fold.
The Hebrew word is naweh and refers to a pasture. It is used to refer to Canaan as the place that the Lord will give to his people to live (Exodus 15:13). The Lord is ready to pour out his judgment on the people living in the land that he had given them.5 The last phrase in Jeremiah 25:30 is, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
The word earth can also mean land and so this could either mean all the people of Judah or all the people of the earth. The reference is probably to the people of Judah, but the very next verse makes it clear that judgment will not stop there; it will extend to the ends of the earth.
6
30 Et toi, tu leur prophétiseras toutes ces choses, Et tu leur diras: L'Eternel rugira d'en haut; De sa demeure sainte il fera retentir sa voix; Il rugira contre le lieu de sa résidence; Il poussera des cris, comme ceux qui foulent au pressoir, Contre tous les habitants de la terre.