Jeremiah 25

“The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah…” Naming Judah and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,” Naming Jeremiah and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not…” The line’s distinctive content terms include early, hear, hearkened. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, gods, hands. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD ; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to…” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD , and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon…” Naming Babylon and Nebuchadrezzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the…” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this…” Naming Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then took I the cup at the LORD’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:” The line’s distinctive content terms include drink, hand, LORD. Its relationship to verses 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation…” Naming Jerusalem and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;” Naming Egypt and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and…” Naming Ashdod and Ashkelon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,” Naming Ammon and Edom keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,” Naming Tyrus and Zidon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,” Naming Buz and Dedan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,” Naming Arabia keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,” Naming Elam and Medes keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, fierce, habitations. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.

“He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include anger, covert, desolate. Its relationship to verses 37 shows what work it does in this passage.