Lectionary Calendar
Friday, August 29th, 2025
the Week of Proper 16 / Ordinary 21
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Contemporary English Version

Jeremiah 49:25

I once was pleased with your famous city. But now I warn you, "Escape while you still can!"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Damascus;   Syria;  

Dictionaries:

- Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Obadiah, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Damascus;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Dedan;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Jeremiah (2);   Zechariah, Book of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
How can the city of praise not be abandoned,the town that brings me joy?
Hebrew Names Version
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
King James Version
How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
English Standard Version
How is the famous city not forsaken, the city of my joy?
New American Standard Bible
"How the city of praise has not been deserted, The town of My joy!
New Century Version
Damascus was a city of my joy. Why have the people not left that famous city yet?
Amplified Bible
"Why has the renowned city not been deserted, The city of My joy!
World English Bible
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
Geneva Bible (1587)
How is the glorious citie not reserued, the citie of my ioy?
Legacy Standard Bible
How the city of praise has not been forsaken,The town of My joy!
Berean Standard Bible
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?
Complete Jewish Bible
How can a city so praised be deserted, a city that gave me such joy?
Darby Translation
How is not the town of praise forsaken, the city of my joy!
Easy-to-Read Version
"Damascus is a happy city. The people have not left that ‘fun city' yet.
George Lamsa Translation
How is the glorious city ruined, the city of joy!
Good News Translation
The famous city that used to be happy is completely deserted.
Lexham English Bible
How the city of praise has not been abandoned! The city of my joy!
Literal Translation
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But how shulde so worshipfull and glorious a cite be forsaken?
American Standard Version
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
Bible in Basic English
How has the town of praise been wasted, the place of joy!
JPS Old Testament (1917)
'How is the city of praise left unrepaired, the city of my joy?'
King James Version (1611)
How is the citie of praise not left, the citie of my ioy?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But howe happeneth it that the famous citie, the citie of my ioy, is not spared?
English Revised Version
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
How forsoken thei a preisable citee, the citee of gladnesse?
Update Bible Version
How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
Webster's Bible Translation
How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
New English Translation
How deserted will that once-famous city be, that city that was once filled with joy!
New King James Version
Why is the city of praise not deserted, the city of My joy?
New Living Translation
That famous city, a city of joy, will be forsaken!
New Life Bible
Why does the city of praise, the town of My joy, still have people in it?
New Revised Standard
How the famous city is forsaken, the joyful town!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Alas! is she not forsaken - The city so praised! The citadel I rejoiced in!
Douay-Rheims Bible
How have they forsaken the city of renown, the city of joy!
Revised Standard Version
How the famous city is forsaken, the joyful city!
Young's Literal Translation
How is it not left -- the city of praise, The city of my joy!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"How the city of praise has not been deserted, The town of My joy!

Contextual Overview

23 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. 24 You people of Damascus have lost your courage, and in panic you turn to run, gripped by fear and pain. 25 I once was pleased with your famous city. But now I warn you, "Escape while you still can!" 26 Soon, even your best soldiers will lie dead in your streets. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken. 27 I will set fire to your city walls and burn down the fortresses King Benhadad built.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Jeremiah 33:9, Jeremiah 48:2, Jeremiah 48:39, Jeremiah 51:41, Psalms 37:35, Psalms 37:36, Isaiah 1:26, Isaiah 14:4-6, Daniel 4:30, Revelation 18:10, Revelation 18:16-19

Cross-References

Genesis 17:1
Abram was ninety-nine years old when the Lord appeared to him again and said, "I am God All-Powerful. If you obey me and always do right,
Genesis 27:28
God will bless you, my son, with dew from heaven and with fertile fields, rich with grain and grapes.
Genesis 28:13
The Lord was standing beside the ladder and said: I am the Lord God who was worshiped by Abraham and Isaac. I will give to you and your family the land on which you are now sleeping.
Genesis 28:21
and bring me safely home again, you will be my God.
Genesis 35:3
Afterwards, we'll go to Bethel. I will build an altar there for God, who answered my prayers when I was in trouble and who has always been at my side.
Genesis 43:23
"It's all right," the servant replied. "Don't worry. The God you and your father worship must have put the money there, because I received your payment in full." Then he brought Simeon out to them.
Genesis 49:2
Come, gather around, as I tell your future.
Genesis 49:12
Your eyes are darker than wine, your teeth whiter than milk.
Genesis 49:13
Zebulun, you will settle along the seashore and provide safe harbors as far north as Sidon.
Genesis 49:17
You are a snake that bites the heel of a horse, making its rider fall.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How is the city of praise not left,.... The city of Damascus, famous for its antiquity, its wealth and riches, strength and power; and with the Heathens for its devotion and superstition. So Julian i the emperor calls it,

"the truly city of Jupiter; the eye of the whole east; Damascus the holy and the greatest;''

but more especially for its delightful and pleasant situation. Benjamin Tudelensis k says it was, in his time,

"a very great and beautiful city, surrounded with a wall; and the country about it was full of gardens and orchards, fifteen miles' walk on every side of it; and no city in the whole world appeared with such plenty of fruit as that did.''

Monsieur Thevenot l relates, that

"the city of Damascus is in the middle of a spacious plain, surrounded with hills, but all distant from the town, almost out of sight; those on the north side are the nearest, on which side it hath a great many gardens, full of trees, and most fruit trees; these gardens take up the ground from the hill of the forty martyrs, even to the town; so that at a distance it seems to be a forest.''

Mr. Maundrell m tells us, that the Turks relate this story of their prophet Mahomet, that,

"coming near Damascus, he took his station at a high precipice, in order to view it; and considering the ravishing beauty and delightfulness of it, he would not tempt his frailty by entering into it; but instantly departed with this reflection on it, that there was but one paradise designed for men, and for his part he was resolved not take his in this world;''

and, adds the same traveller,

"you have indeed from the precipice the most perfect prospect of Damascus; and certainly no place in the world can promise the beholder at a distance greater voluptuousness. It is situate in an even plain of so great extent, that you can but just discern the mountains that compass it on the farther side. In its length it extends near two miles, and is encompassed with gardens, extending no less, according to common estimation, than thirty miles round; which makes it look like a noble city in a vast wood.''

Strabo n says of this city, that it is worthy of praise, and almost the most famous city of all near Persia. The sense of it either is, how is it that so famous a city was not spared by the enemy, that they did not leave it untouched, but destroyed and demolished it? or how is it that it was not fortified by the inhabitants of it; that a parapet was not built about the wall all around, to strengthen it, and keep out the enemy? This sense, as well as the former, is mentioned both by Jarchi and Kimchi, who direct to Nahum 3:8, for the confirmation of this sense of the word:

the city of my joy! these are either the words of the prophet, who had a great regard to the city of Damascus as ancient, well built, and opulent city, and lamented its destruction; or rather of the king of it, as Jarchi; or of the inhabitants of it, who said this to one another as they fled; so Kimchi: but there is no necessity of rendering it "my joy", only "joy"; for the "jod" affixed may not be considered as a pronoun, but as a paragogic, or a Syriac termination, which is common; though some interpret this of the city of Jerusalem, and as spoken by the Lord, or by the prophet in his name, upbraiding the Syrians for their hatred to it, and disturbance they gave it; and which is now mentioned as one cause and reason of their ruin; see Amos 1:3.

i Opera, par. 2. Ep. 24. p. 145. k Itinerarium, p. 54, 55. l Travels, par. 2. B. 1. p. I9. m Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 121, 122. Ed. 7. n Geograph. l. 16. p. 520.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

An exclamation of sorrow wrung from the prophet at the thought of the people of Damascus remaining to be slaughtered. The words my joy express the prophet’s own sympathy. The praise of Damascus for beauty has been universal from the days of Naaman 2 Kings 5:12, to those of recent travelers.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 49:25. How is the city of praise not left — Damascus is so ruined that she can no more be called a praiseworthy or happy city.


 
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