Jeremiah 49:21
At the sound of their fall the earth will quake; their cry will resound to the Red Sea.
At the sound of their fall

Edom’s collapse would be so decisive that surrounding nations would hear of it with alarm. Though descended from Esau and related to Israel, Edom repeatedly acted with pride and violence toward Jacob’s descendants, especially when Jerusalem fell. God’s judgment answered generations of hostility and showed that no fortified nation stands secure against Him.

Jer 50:46 At the sound of Babylon’s capture the earth will quake;…
Isa 14:16-17 Those who see you will stare; they will ponder your fate:…
Ezk 26:15-18 This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre:…

the earth will quake;

The destruction of Edom is portrayed in terms of upheaval because the Lord Himself acts in judgment. Edom trusted its mountain strongholds, including the rocky heights around Petra, yet human defenses could not preserve a people set against God. The shaking imagery underscores the public and overwhelming character of the judgment.

Nam 1:5-6 The mountains quake before Him, and the hills melt away;…
Psa 18:7-15 Then the earth shook and quaked, and the foundations…
Hag 2:6-7 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Once more…

their cry will resound

The anguish of Edom’s defeat would be heard beyond its borders. Its warriors, wealth, and alliances would fail to prevent the calamity foretold by Jeremiah. The cry of the judged nation warns that prideful confidence and cruelty toward God’s people bring real accountability before the Lord.

Isa 15:4-5 Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices…
Ezk 27:30-32 They will raise their voices for you and cry out bitterly.…
Jer 48:3 A voice cries out from Horonaim: ‘Devastation and…

to the Red Sea.

Edom’s territory extended southward toward the Gulf of Aqaba, an arm of the Red Sea. The report of its ruin would reach throughout the region once associated with Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. The God who made a way through the Red Sea for His people would also judge the nations that exalted themselves against His purposes.

Exo 14:21-31 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,…
Jos 24:6-7 When I brought your fathers out of Egypt…
Neh 9:9-11 You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt;…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Edom
A nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, often at odds with Israel. In this passage, Edom is the subject of God's judgment.

2. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the nations, including Edom.

3. The Red Sea
A significant body of water in biblical history, symbolizing deliverance and judgment. Here, it marks the extent of the impact of Edom's fall.

4. The Earthquake
Symbolic of the magnitude of Edom's downfall, indicating a significant and far-reaching event.

5. The Cry
Represents the distress and lamentation of Edom's people as they face God's judgment.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Judgment
God's judgment is comprehensive and reaches even the most powerful nations. We must recognize His authority over all nations and peoples.

The Consequences of Pride
Edom's downfall serves as a warning against pride and arrogance. We should cultivate humility and dependence on God.

The Far-Reaching Impact of Sin
The imagery of the earth quaking and the cry reaching the Red Sea illustrates how sin and its consequences can affect many. Our actions have broader implications than we might realize.

The Certainty of God's Promises
Just as God fulfilled His promise of judgment against Edom, He will fulfill all His promises, both of judgment and salvation. We can trust in His faithfulness.

The Call to Repentance
Observing Edom's fate should lead us to examine our own lives and turn from sin, seeking God's mercy and grace.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the fall of Edom in Jeremiah 49:21 illustrate the broader theme of God's judgment throughout the Bible?

2. In what ways can pride lead to downfall, both personally and nationally, as seen in the example of Edom?

3. How does the imagery of the earth quaking and the cry reaching the Red Sea help us understand the seriousness of sin's consequences?

4. What lessons can we learn from Edom's judgment about the importance of humility and reliance on God?

5. How can we apply the certainty of God's promises, as demonstrated in His judgment of Edom, to our daily lives and spiritual walk?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Isaiah 34
This chapter also speaks of God's judgment against Edom, emphasizing the theme of divine retribution.

Obadiah 1
The entire book of Obadiah is a prophecy against Edom, highlighting their pride and eventual downfall.

Ezekiel 25
Contains prophecies against Edom, reinforcing the message of judgment due to their actions against Israel.

Psalm 137
Reflects on Edom's role in the destruction of Jerusalem, providing context for their judgment.

Revelation 18
Describes the fall of Babylon, drawing parallels to the fall of Edom as a symbol of God's ultimate justice.
Vain ConfidencesS. Conway
People
Ammonites, Ben, Benhadad, Ben-hadad, Dedan, Elam, Esau, Gad, Hadad, Jeremiah, Kedar, Milcom, Molech, Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar, Teman, Zedekiah
Places
Ai, Arpad, Babylon, Bozrah, Damascus, Dedan, Edom, Elam, Esau, Gomorrah, Hamath, Hazor, Heshbon, Jordan River, Kedar, Moab, Rabbah, Red Sea, Sodom, Teman
Topics
Cry, Downfall, Fall, Moved, Noise, Outcry, Quaked, Quaketh, Red, Resound, Shaken, Shaking, Sounding, Suph, Thereof, Tremble, Trembles, Trembleth, Voice, Whereof
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 49:20-21

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Library
October 30. "Dwell Deep" (Jer. Xlix. 8).
"Dwell deep" (Jer. xlix. 8). God's presence blends with every other thought and consciousness, flowing sweetly and evenly through our business plans, our social converse our heart's affections, our manual toil, our entire life, blending with all, consecrating all, and conscious through all, like the fragrance of a flower, or the presence of a friend consciously near, and yet not hindering in the least the most intense and constant preoccupation of the hands and brain. How beautiful the established
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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