Jeremiah 49:12 Meaning and Explanation
“For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Nations that did not deserve judgment have suffered it; Edom, guilty of worse, certainly will not escape.
The Context of Jeremiah 49:12
Edom will not escape judgment, unlike nations that already have suffered.
What Does Jeremiah 49:12 Mean?
The 'cup' is a metaphor for God's wrath and judgment. The verse references nations that drank from it undeservedly (by their own reckoning) but now have—suggesting Judah and others, who suffered captivity not purely for sin but as part of God's redemptive plan.
If innocent nations face judgment, how much more will the guilty? The question is rhetorical: Edom cannot escape. The drink will be bitter and inescapable—a deliberate echo of other judgment passages in Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 49:12 in the Original Language
cup (כּוֹס kos) — a symbol of divine judgment, also used in Lamentations and the Psalms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 49:12
What does Jeremiah 49:12 mean?
Nations that did not deserve judgment have suffered it; Edom, guilty of worse, certainly will not escape.
What is the context of Jeremiah 49:12?
Edom will not escape judgment, unlike nations that already have suffered.