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Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Amplified Bible

Jeremiah 49:23

Concerning Damascus [in Syria]. "Hamath and Arpad are perplexed and shamed, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened; Troubled and anxious like a [storm-tossed] sea Which cannot be calmed.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Damascus;   Hamath;   Syria;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Arpad;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Evil;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Arpad;   Hamath;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Arpad;   Hamath;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Damascus;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Hamath;   Obadiah, Book of;   Sea;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Arpad, Arphad ;   Damascus;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Arpad;   Dedan;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ar'pad;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Arpad;   Care;   Damascus;   Jeremiah (2);   Zechariah, Book of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Arpad;   Damascus;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
About Damascus:
Hebrew Names Version
Of Dammesek. Hamat is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil news, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it can't be quiet.
King James Version
Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
English Standard Version
Concerning Damascus: "Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard bad news; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.
New American Standard Bible
Concerning Damascus: "Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They despair. There is anxiety at the sea, It cannot be calmed.
New Century Version
This message is to the city of Damascus: "The towns of Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, because they have heard bad news. They are discouraged. They are troubled like the tossing sea.
World English Bible
Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil news, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it can't be quiet.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Vnto Damascus he sayeth, Hamath is confounded and Arpad, for they haue heard euill tidings, and they are faint hearted as one on the fearefull sea that can not rest.
Legacy Standard Bible
Concerning Damascus."Hamath and Arpad are put to shame,For they have heard a bad report;They are melting away.There is anxiety by the sea,It cannot be quieted.
Berean Standard Bible
Concerning Damascus: "Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard a bad report; they are agitated like the sea; their anxiety cannot be calmed.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord says about Damascus: The towns of Hamath and Arpad have heard your bad news. They have lost hope, and worries roll over them like ocean waves.
Complete Jewish Bible
Concerning Dammesek: "Hamat and Arpad are confused; having heard bad news, they dissolve in fear, like the churning sea, which cannot calm itself.
Darby Translation
Concerning Damascus. Hamath is put to shame, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they are melted away: there is distress on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Easy-to-Read Version
This message is about the city of Damascus: "The towns of Hamath and Arpad are afraid. They are afraid because they heard the bad news. They are discouraged. They are worried and afraid.
George Lamsa Translation
Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard evil tidings; they are dismayed, they are disturbed like the sea, they cannot find rest.
Good News Translation
This is what the Lord said about Damascus: "The people in the cities of Hamath and Arpad are worried and troubled because they have heard bad news. Anxiety rolls over them like a sea, and they cannot rest.
Lexham English Bible
Concerning Damascus: "Hamath and Arpad are ashamed, for they have heard bad news; they melt. There is concern in the sea. It is not able to keep quiet.
Literal Translation
Concerning Damascus: Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news, they are melted; anxiety is in the sea, it cannot be quiet.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Vpon Damascus, Hemath and Arphad shall come confucion, for they shall heare euell tydinges: they shal be tossed to and fro like the see that can not stonde still.
American Standard Version
Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Bible in Basic English
About Damascus. Hamath is put to shame, and Arpad; for the word of evil has come to their ears, their heart in its fear is turned to water, it will not be quiet.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Of Damascus. Hamath is ashamed, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they are melted away; there is trouble in the sea; it cannot be quiet.
King James Version (1611)
Concerning Damascus, Hamath is confounded, & Arpad, for they haue heard euil tidings, they are faint hearted, there is sorrow on the sea, it can not be quiet.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Upon Damascus, Hemath, and Arphad, shall come confusion: for they shal heare euyll tidinges, they shalbe tossed to and fro like the sea that can not stand styll.
English Revised Version
Of Damascus. Hamath is ashamed, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they are melted away: there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
To Damask. Emath is schent, and Arphath, for thei herden a ful wickid heryng; thei weren disturblid in the see, for angwisch thei miyten not haue reste.
Update Bible Version
Of Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; for they have heard evil tidings, they melt [with fear]; on the sea [there is] anxiety, it can't be quiet.
Webster's Bible Translation
Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are faint-hearted; [there is] sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
New English Translation
The Lord spoke about Damascus. "The people of Hamath and Arpad will be dismayed because they have heard bad news. Their courage will melt away because of worry. Their hearts will not be able to rest.
New King James Version
Against Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are shamed, For they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; There is trouble on the sea; It cannot be quiet.
New Living Translation
This message was given concerning Damascus. This is what the Lord says: "The towns of Hamath and Arpad are struck with fear, for they have heard the news of their destruction. Their hearts are troubled like a wild sea in a raging storm.
New Life Bible
About Damascus, He says, "Hamath and Arpad are troubled, for they have heard bad news. Their hearts have become weak. They are troubled like the sea which cannot be quiet.
New Revised Standard
Concerning Damascus. Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard bad news; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea that cannot be quiet.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Of Damascus. Turned pale have Hamath and Arpad, For, a calamitous report, have they heard - they tremble, - In the sea, is anxiety, it cannot, rest.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Against Damascus. Emath is confounded and Arphad: for they have heard very bad tidings, they are troubled as in the sea: through care they could not rest.
Revised Standard Version
Concerning Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are confounded, for they have heard evil tidings; they melt in fear, they are troubled like the sea which cannot be quiet.
Young's Literal Translation
Concerning Damascus: Ashamed hath been Hamath and Arpad, For an evil report they have heard, They have been melted, in the sea [is] sorrow, To be quiet it is not able.
THE MESSAGE
The Message on Damascus: "Hamath and Arpad will be in shock when they hear the bad news. Their hearts will melt in fear as they pace back and forth in worry. The blood will drain from the face of Damascus as she turns to flee. Hysterical, she'll fall to pieces, disabled, like a woman in childbirth. And now how lonely—bereft, abandoned! The once famous city, the once happy city. Her bright young men dead in the streets, her brave warriors silent as death. On that day"—Decree of God -of-the-Angel-Armies— "I'll start a fire at the wall of Damascus that will burn down all of Ben-hadad's forts."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Concerning Damascus. "Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, It cannot be calmed.

Contextual Overview

23Concerning Damascus [in Syria]. "Hamath and Arpad are perplexed and shamed, For they have heard bad news; They are disheartened; Troubled and anxious like a [storm-tossed] sea Which cannot be calmed.24"Damascus has become helpless; She has turned away to flee, Terror (panic) has seized her; Anguish and distress have gripped her Like a woman in childbirth. 25"Why has the renowned city not been deserted, The city of My joy! 26"Therefore, her young men will fall in her streets, And all her men of war will be destroyed in that day," says the LORD of hosts. 27"I will set fire to the wall of Damascus, And it will consume the palaces of Ben-hadad."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Damascus: Genesis 14:15, Genesis 15:2, 1 Kings 11:24, Isaiah 17:1-3, Isaiah 37:13, Amos 1:3-5, Zechariah 9:1, Zechariah 9:2, 2 Corinthians 11:32

Hamath: Numbers 13:21, 2 Samuel 8:9, 2 Kings 17:24, 2 Kings 18:34, 2 Kings 19:13, Isaiah 10:9, Isaiah 11:11

fainthearted: Heb. melted, Deuteronomy 20:8, *marg. Joshua 2:11, Joshua 14:8, 2 Samuel 17:10, Isaiah 13:7, Nahum 2:10

sorrow: Isaiah 57:20

on the sea: or, as on the sea, Psalms 107:26, Psalms 107:27, Luke 8:23, Luke 8:24, Luke 21:25, Luke 21:26, Acts 27:20

Reciprocal: Isaiah 36:19 - Arphad Jeremiah 25:22 - isles which are beyond the sea Jeremiah 49:1 - Concerning Ezekiel 21:7 - For the Ezekiel 27:8 - Arvad

Cross-References

Genesis 37:4
His brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than all of his brothers; so they hated him and could not [find it within themselves to] speak to him on friendly terms.
Genesis 37:18
And when they saw him from a distance, even before he came close to them, they plotted to kill him.
Genesis 37:24
then they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty; there was no water in it.
Genesis 37:28
Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] traders were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And so they took Joseph [as a captive] into Egypt.
Genesis 42:21
And they said to one another, "Truly we are guilty regarding our brother [Joseph], because we saw the distress and anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us [to let him go], yet we would not listen [to his cry]; so this distress and anguish has come on us."
Genesis 49:7
"Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel. I will divide and disperse them in Jacob, And scatter them in [the midst of the land of] Israel.
Genesis 49:20
"Asher's food [supply] shall be rich and bountiful, And he shall yield and deliver royal delights.
Psalms 64:3
Who have sharpened their tongues like a sword. They aim venomous words as arrows,
Psalms 118:13
You [my enemy] pushed me violently so that I was falling, But the LORD helped me.
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world." [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Concerning Damascus,.... Or, "unto Damascus" d; or, "against Damascus" e; that is, "thus saith the Lord"; which is to be repeated from the foregoing instances, Jeremiah 49:1. This is to be understood, not only of the city of Damascus, but of the whole kingdom of Syria, of which Damascus was the metropolis; see Isaiah 7:8;

Hamath is confounded, and Arpad; two cities in Syria; the first is generally thought to be Antioch of Syria, sometimes called Epiphania; and the other the same with Arvad, inhabited by the Arvadim, or Aradians; see 2 Kings 18:34; these, that is, the inhabitants of them, as the Targum, were covered with shame, thrown into the utmost confusion and consternation:

for they have heard evil tidings; of the Chaldean army invading the land of Syria, and of their coming against them; and perhaps of their taking of Damascus their capital city; all which must be bad news unto them, and give them great uneasiness:

they are fainthearted; or "melted" f; their hearts melted like wax, and flowed like water; they had no heart nor spirit left in them, through fear of the enemy;

[there is] sorrow in the sea, it cannot be quiet: the Targum is,

"fear in the sea, carefulness hath taken hold on them, behold, as those that go down to the sea to rest, and cannot rest;''

or, as other copies, cannot flee. So Jarchi, and Kimchi interpret it, as if the note of similitude was wanting, and the sense this, that the inhabitants of the above places were either like the troubled sea itself, which cannot rest; or like persons in a storm at sea, who are in the utmost uneasiness and distress: or else it designs such that belonged to the kingdom of Syria, that dwelt in the isles of the sea; who were in great fright when they heard of the invasion of their country by the Chaldeans, particularly the Antaradians.

d לדמשק "ad Damascum", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus. e "Contra Damascum", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt. f נמגו "liquefacti sunt", Vatablus, Cocceius, Schmidt.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Though the superscription is confined to Damascus, the prophecy relates to the whole of Aram, called by us Syria, which was divided into two parts, the northern, of which Hamath was the capital, and the southeastern, belonging to Damascus.

Hamath is confounded - Or, is ashamed. For Hamath see Isaiah 10:9 note. Arpad lay about fourteen miles north of Aleppo, at a place now called Tel Erfad.

Fainthearted - The sinews are relaxed unknit, through terror.

There is sorrow on the sea - In the sea. As the sea is used (marginal reference) of the agitation of the thoughts of evil men, its sense here also probably is, there is sorrow, or rather anxiety, in the agitated hearts of the Syrians.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 49:23. CONCERNING DAMASCUS. — This is the head or title of another prophecy. Damascus was one of the principal cities of Syria. It was taken by David, 2 Samuel 8:6, was retaken in the reign of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:24, c., and regained its independence. Its kings were often at war with the ten tribes, and once it joined with them for the destruction of Judah. To defend himself against these powerful enemies Ahaz made a league with the king of Assyria, who besieged Damascus, took, and demolished it. From that time we hear nothing of Damascus till we meet with it in this prophecy. It appears to have been rebuilt and restored to some consequence. It made an obstinate resistance to Nebuchadnezzar but was at last taken and sacked by him. At present it is both a large and populous city, with considerable commerce.

Hamath is confounded — This is a city of Syria, on the Orontes. The Greeks called it Epiphania.

Arpad — Not far from Damascus.

Sorrow on the sea — They are like the troubled sea, that cannot rest.


 
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