Jeremiah 22:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Go up to Lebanon, and cry; and lift up thy voice in Bashan, and cry from the passages: for all thy lovers are destroyed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king is called to lament in the high places because all his political allies have been defeated.
The Context of Jeremiah 22:20
Military alliances will collapse, leaving the king isolated and defeated.
What Does Jeremiah 22:20 Mean?
Lebanon and Bashan are high regions of refuge and strength. Yet even from the heights, the lamentation would be futile: all the king's 'lovers'—his military and political allies—are destroyed. The imagery shifts from the king's personal burial to the broader context: his allies have already fallen, leaving him isolated.
'All thy lovers are destroyed' suggests complete military defeat, the dissolution of every alliance that the king relied upon. The call to cry from the passages implies a desperate search for help that will not come.
Jeremiah 22:20 in the Original Language
ohab (אָהַב), 'lovers'—allies; those in covenant relationship with the king.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 22:20
What does Jeremiah 22:20 mean?
The king is called to lament in the high places because all his political allies have been defeated.
What is the context of Jeremiah 22:20?
Military alliances will collapse, leaving the king isolated and defeated.