The Bible Says
Jeremiah 49:20-22 Meaning

When the prophet Jeremiah sets forth God’s judgment against Edom, he proclaims in Jeremiah 49:20, Therefore hear the plan of the LORD which He has planned against Edom, and His purposes which He has purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: surely they will drag them off, even the little ones of the flock; surely He will make their pasture desolate because of them (v. 20). The tone of certainty and unchangeability communicates the LORD’s sovereignty and the concrete-nature of His plan. Edom was a neighboring kingdom located south of the Dead Sea, descending from Esau, the brother of Jacob. By addressing Teman (a notable city or region in Edom known for its wise men), Jeremiah highlights that God’s judgment reaches into the heart of Edomite identity and pride.

The phrase, drag them off, conveys the completeness of this devastation. Even the most vulnerable of Edom, referred to metaphorically as the little ones of the flock (v. 20), will not escape. The mention of a desolate pasture depicts a once-thriving region brought low, reminding readers that human defenses cannot withstand divine reckoning. Such absolute language reinforces that no power stands above God’s plan (Psalm 2).

This verse also conveys that God’s purposes are deliberate and deliberate in their timing. Jeremiah’s ministry (circa late 7th century to early 6th century BC) occurred during the sunset years of Judah and involved calls to repentance for both Judah and surrounding nations. By linking Edom’s downfall to God’s sovereign design, Jeremiah tenderly warns other nations and future generations that resisting God’s direction leads to an inevitable humbling.

The sweeping effects of this judgment intensify in verse 21: The earth has quaked at the noise of their downfall. There is an outcry! The noise of it has been heard at the Red Sea (v. 21). The Red Sea sits to the southwest of Edom, near the Gulf of Aqaba, illustrating the broad impact of Edom’s collapse. In ancient times, distant peoples often heard travelers’ reports, so the reference to the quaking earth and an outcry resonating as far as the Red Sea confirms the magnitude of Edom’s demise.

Jeremiah’s use of the phrase the earth has quaked frames this downfall not only as a political event but as a cosmic one. It is as though creation itself recoils at such catastrophic judgment. The prophet’s words evoke images of terror gripping the hearts of those who watch their once-mighty neighbor crumble. In biblical narrative, trembling of the earth frequently signals God’s direct intervention or presence (Exodus 19, Psalm 1), pointing again to the hand of the Almighty orchestrating these events.

By highlighting the extraordinary range of this outcry, Jeremiah communicates the seriousness of rebellion and haughtiness before God. The shaken ground testifies that injustice and pride long left unchecked will inevitably come to a crashing end under His wisdom and power.

Finally, the passage culminates with, Behold, He will mount up and swoop like an eagle and spread out His wings against Bozrah; and the hearts of the mighty men of Edom in that day will be like the heart of a woman in labor (v. 22). Bozrah served as a major city in Edom, possibly its capital, and the imagery of an eagle’s swift approach portrays the inescapable speed of God’s judgment. Eagles, known for their keen vision and vigorous attack, symbolize the unstoppable power bearing down on Edom.

This imagery amplifies the fear that even Edom’s strongest warriors experience. Their hearts, once filled with confidence, are rendered vulnerable and anguished, likened to the intense pain of a mother in labor. In many places in Scripture, labor pains signify the birth of new circumstances—here, the new circumstance is Edom’s humiliating downfall, known fully and painfully by those who once considered themselves invincible.

The reference to the eagle’s wings can also connect to the broader biblical theme of God’s ability to act swiftly to protect or judge (Matthew 24). In Jeremiah’s context, God chooses to bring a swift end to the pride of Edom, announcing that no earthly shield can block His glance or stop His purpose.