Jeremiah 49:31Arise, go up to a nation that is at ease, that dwells without care, says Yahweh; that have neither gates nor bars, that dwell alone.
The setting
Babylonian war council, ~605 BC. Nebuchadnezzar points to a map showing isolated Arab tribes with no city walls or military alliances, easy targets in modern Saudi Arabia.
The emotion here: stern determination like a judge pronouncing sentence on the overconfident
The original word
šā'an (שָׁאַן) — to be at ease like a cat in the sun, careless tranquility
Why it matters
These nomadic tribes had no fortified cities because they believed the desert itself was their protection
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 49:31
Their weakness was also their strength — no walls meant they could normally just move when threatened
Common misconceptionPeople think God is attacking peaceful people, but 'dwelling alone' meant they refused alliances that could have protected them. Their isolation was pride, not peace.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 49:31
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 49:31 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 49:31 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include false security, divine judgment, vulnerability. Notable phrases: nation that is at ease; dwells without care. This verse contains a command. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 49:31 mean to you, today?
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