Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals; and I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there.” New Living Translation “I will make Jerusalem into a heap of ruins,” says the LORD. “It will be a place haunted by jackals. The towns of Judah will be ghost towns, with no one living in them.” English Standard Version I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals, and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Berean Standard Bible “And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Berean Literal Bible “And I will make Jerusalem into heaps, a dwelling for jackals; and the cities of Judah I will make a desolation, without inhabitant.” King James Bible And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. New King James Version “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a den of jackals. I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.” New American Standard Bible “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant.” NASB 1995 “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” NASB 1977 “And I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Legacy Standard Bible I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Amplified Bible “I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, A haunt and dwelling place of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Berean Annotated Bible “And I will make Jerusalem (city of peace) a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals (serpents); and I will make the cities of Judah (praised) a desolation, without inhabitant. Christian Standard Bible I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a jackals’ den. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, an uninhabited place. Holman Christian Standard Bible I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a jackals’ den. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, an uninhabited place. American Standard Version And I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling-place of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant. Contemporary English Version I heard the LORD reply, "When I am finished, Jerusalem and the towns of Judah will be piles of ruins where only jackals live." English Revised Version And I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling place of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant. GOD'S WORD® Translation I will turn Jerusalem into a pile of rubble, a home for jackals. I will destroy the cities of Judah so that no one can live there. Good News Translation The LORD says, "I will make Jerusalem a pile of ruins, a place where jackals live; the cities of Judah will become a desert, a place where no one lives." International Standard Version "I'll make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a refuge for jackals. I'll make the towns of Judah desolate, without inhabitants." NET Bible The LORD said, "I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins. Jackals will make their home there. I will destroy the towns of Judah so that no one will be able to live in them." New Heart English Bible "I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling place of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant." Webster's Bible Translation And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” World English Bible “I will make Jerusalem heaps, a dwelling place of jackals. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Version“And I make Jerusalem become heaps, "" A habitation of dragons, "" And I make the cities of Judah a desolation, "" Without inhabitant.” Berean Literal Bible “And I will make Jerusalem into heaps, a dwelling for jackals; and the cities of Judah I will make a desolation, without inhabitant.” Young's Literal Translation And I make Jerusalem become heaps, A habitation of dragons, And the cities of Judah I make a desolation, Without inhabitant. Smith's Literal Translation And I gave Jerusalem for heaps and a dwelling of jackals; and the cities of Judah I will give a desolation from none inhabiting. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd I will make Jerusalem to be heaps of sand, and dens of dragons: and I will make the cities of Juda desolate, for want of an inhabitant. Catholic Public Domain Version And I will make Jerusalem into piles of sand and into a lair for serpents. And I will make the cities of Judah desolate, so much so that there will be no inhabitant. New American Bible I will turn Jerusalem into a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals; The cities of Judah I will make a waste, where no one dwells. New Revised Standard Version I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a lair of jackals; and I will make the towns of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd I will make Jerusalem heaps and a den of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate without an inhabitant. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And I shall make Jerusalem desolate, a dwelling for jackals, and the cities of Judea I shall give to the wilderness that is without one inhabitant OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And I will make Jerusalem heaps, A lair of jackals; And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, Without an inhabitant. Brenton Septuagint Translation And I will remove the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and make it a dwelling-place of dragons; and I will utterly waste the cities of Juda, so that they shall not be inhabited. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Lament over Zion…10I will take up a weeping and wailing for the mountains, a dirge over the wilderness pasture, for they have been scorched so no one passes through, and the lowing of cattle is not heard. Both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled; they have gone away. 11“And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a haunt for jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” 12Who is the man wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of the LORD spoken, that he may explain it? Why is the land destroyed and scorched like a desert, so no one can pass through it?… Cross References And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, Micah 3:12 Therefore, because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge. Jeremiah 26:18 “Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’ Isaiah 64:10-11 Your holy cities have become a wilderness. Zion has become a wasteland and Jerusalem a desolation. / Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all that was dear to us lies in ruins. a haunt for jackals; Jeremiah 10:22 Listen! The sound of a report is coming—a great commotion from the land to the north. It will make the cities of Judah a desolation, a haunt for jackals. Jeremiah 49:33 “Hazor will become a haunt for jackals, a desolation forever. No one will dwell there; no man will abide there.” Isaiah 34:13-14 Her towers will be overgrown with thorns, her fortresses with thistles and briers. She will become a haunt for jackals, an abode for ostriches. / The desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and one wild goat will call to another. There the night creature will settle and find her place of repose. and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, Jeremiah 44:6 Therefore My wrath and anger poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, so that they have become the desolate ruin they are today. Jeremiah 4:7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited. Isaiah 1:7-8 Your land is desolate; your cities are burned with fire. Foreigners devour your fields before you—a desolation demolished by strangers. / And the Daughter of Zion is abandoned like a shelter in a vineyard, like a shack in a cucumber field, like a city besieged. without inhabitant. Jeremiah 33:10 This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted—inhabited by neither man nor beast—there will be heard again Isaiah 13:20 She will never be inhabited or settled from generation to generation; no nomad will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flock there. Jeremiah 51:43 Her cities have become a desolation, a dry and arid land, a land where no one lives, where no son of man passes through. Lamentations 1:1 How lonely lies the city, once so full of people! She who was great among the nations has become a widow. The princess of the provinces has become a slave. Zephaniah 3:6 “I have cut off the nations; their corner towers are destroyed. I have made their streets deserted with no one to pass through. Their cities are laid waste, with no man, no inhabitant. 2 Kings 25:9 He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. Nehemiah 2:3 and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Treasury of Scripture And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Jerusalem. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest. Jeremiah 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant. Nehemiah 4:2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned? a den. Jeremiah 10:22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons. Isaiah 13:22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. Isaiah 34:13 And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. the cities. Jeremiah 34:22 Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant. Isaiah 44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof: Lamentations 2:2,7,8 The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: he hath thrown down in his wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; he hath brought them down to the ground: he hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof… desolate. Jeremiah 25:11,18 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years… Lamentations 3:47 Fear and a snare is come upon us, desolation and destruction. Micah 6:16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people. Jump to Previous Broken Cities Den Desolate Desolation Dragons Dwelling Dwelling-Place Habitation Haunt Heap Heaps Inhabitant Jackals Jerusalem Judah Lair Living-Place Mass Ruins Stones Towns WasteJump to Next Broken Cities Den Desolate Desolation Dragons Dwelling Dwelling-Place Habitation Haunt Heap Heaps Inhabitant Jackals Jerusalem Judah Lair Living-Place Mass Ruins Stones Towns WasteJeremiah 9 1. Jeremiah laments the people for their manifold sins;9. and for their judgment. 12. Disobedience is the cause of their bitter calamity. 17. He exhorts to mourn for their destruction; 23. and to trust not in themselves, but in God. 25. He threatens both Jews and Gentiles. And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble This phrase signifies the impending judgment and destruction that God will bring upon Jerusalem due to the people's persistent disobedience and idolatry. Historically, this prophecy was fulfilled during the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The imagery of a "heap of rubble" underscores the total devastation that would leave the city in ruins, a stark contrast to its former glory as the center of worship and the dwelling place of God. This serves as a warning and a call to repentance, emphasizing the consequences of turning away from God. a haunt for jackals and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings and was marked by themes of judgment and restoration. 2. Jerusalem The capital city of Judah, central to Jewish worship and identity. It was the location of the Temple and a symbol of God's presence among His people. 3. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, consisting of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. It was the focus of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry and faced impending judgment due to its disobedience. 4. Jackals Often used in the Bible to symbolize desolation and abandonment. Their presence indicates a place that has been deserted and left to the wild. 5. Desolation A state of emptiness and ruin, often used in prophetic literature to describe the consequences of turning away from God. Teaching Points The Consequences of DisobedienceJeremiah 9:11 serves as a stark reminder that turning away from God leads to destruction and desolation. It calls believers to examine their lives and ensure they are walking in obedience to God's commands. God's Sovereignty in Judgment The prophecy underscores God's control over nations and cities. Believers can trust that God's judgments are just and purposeful, even when they result in hardship. Hope Beyond Desolation While the verse speaks of destruction, it is part of a larger account that includes restoration. Believers can find hope in God's promises of renewal and redemption, even in the midst of judgment. The Importance of Repentance The desolation of Jerusalem serves as a call to repentance. Believers are encouraged to turn from sin and seek God's forgiveness to avoid spiritual desolation. The Role of Prophets Jeremiah's role as a prophet highlights the importance of listening to God's messengers. Believers should be attentive to those who speak God's truth and be willing to respond to their warnings. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 9:11?2. How can we avoid making our cities "a heap of ruins" like Jerusalem? 3. What lessons from Jeremiah 9:11 apply to modern-day Christian communities? 4. How does Jeremiah 9:11 connect with God's warnings in Deuteronomy 28? 5. What role does repentance play in preventing desolation as seen in Jeremiah 9:11? 6. How can we ensure our actions align with God's will to avoid judgment? 7. What historical events led to the prophecy in Jeremiah 9:11? 8. How does Jeremiah 9:11 reflect God's judgment and mercy? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the desolation described in Jeremiah 9:11? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 9? 11. Jeremiah 9:11 states Jerusalem will be a heap of ruins—do archaeological records fully support this level of devastation? 12. What do jackals symbolize in the Bible? 13. What do jackals symbolize in the Bible? 14. Jeremiah 11:9-10: Is there archaeological or historical evidence of a widespread 'conspiracy' among Judah and Israel during Jeremiah's time? What Does Jeremiah 9:11 Mean And I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubbleJeremiah speaks God’s sober verdict on a city that once carried His name. The phrase is not poetic exaggeration but a literal forecast. When Babylon’s armies arrived in 586 BC, they tore down walls, burned homes, leveled the temple, and left little standing (2 Kings 25:9-10; Lamentations 2:8-9). • God’s justice matches His warnings—He had pleaded for repentance through prophets (Jeremiah 7:3-7). • The ruins themselves became a visual sermon, reminding survivors and later generations that covenant unfaithfulness carries consequences (Deuteronomy 28:15-52). A haunt for jackals Jackals flourish where people no longer live. Their appearance signals utter abandonment, emphasizing that the holy city will resemble barren wilderness rather than bustling streets. Similar imagery paints fallen Babylon and Edom (Isaiah 13:20-22; 34:13). • The contrast is stark: Jerusalem was meant to be “the joy of the whole earth” (Psalm 48:2), yet sin turns promised blessing into wasteland. • Even creation seems to testify against rebellion, as scavengers occupy what once housed worshipers. And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation God’s judgment is not contained to the capital; every fortified town and village that shared Judah’s idolatry faces the same fate (Jeremiah 4:7; 7:34). • National sin produces national devastation. • The scope underscores that trust in alliances, walls, or traditions is futile when hearts remain hard (Jeremiah 17:5; Micah 3:9-12). Without inhabitant The prophecy ends with total emptiness—no one left to light lamps, sing hymns, or till fields. Exile would remove nearly the entire population (Jeremiah 25:11; 44:2). • Absence magnifies loss; silence where worship once rose drives home the cost of dismissing God’s word (Jeremiah 6:8). • Yet this emptiness prepares for mercy: God later promises return and rebuilding (Jeremiah 29:10-14), proving judgment is a severe mercy meant to restore. summary Jeremiah 9:11 combines four pictures—rubble, jackals, desolate cities, and uninhabited land—to declare that persistent sin brings real, historical ruin. The fulfilled devastation of 586 BC validates the literal truthfulness of God’s warnings and His unwavering righteousness. At the same time, the verse implicitly calls every generation to repent while mercy is offered, remembering that the God who judges also redeems all who turn back to Him. (11) A den of dragons.--Better, here and in Jeremiah 10:22; Isaiah 13:22, jackals. The word means, literally, a howler. The English version follows the LXX. and Vulgate versions; but even taking "dragons" in its non-mythical sense as applied to some species of serpent, there is nothing in the word to lead us to assign this meaning. The mistake has probably arisen from the likeness of the word to those translated "serpent" in Exodus 7:9-10; Exodus 7:12, "whale" in Genesis 1:21 and Job 7:12, and "dragons" in Psalm 74:13; Psalm 91:13. . . . Verse 11. - I will make, etc. Notice how the utterances of the prophets stand side by side with those of Jehovah. A true prophet has no personal views; so that whether his revelations are expressed in the one form or the other makes no difference. Dragons; rather, jackals.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “And I will makeוְנָתַתִּ֧י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (yə·rū·šā·lim) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel a heap of rubble, לְגַלִּ֖ים (lə·ḡal·lîm) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 1530: Something rolled, a heap of stone, dung, a spring of water a haunt מְע֣וֹן (mə·‘ō·wn) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4583: An abode, of God, men, animals, a retreat for jackals; תַּנִּ֑ים (tan·nîm) Noun - common plural Strong's 8577: A marine, land monster, sea-serpent, jackal and I will make אֶתֵּ֥ן (’et·tên) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set the cities עָרֵ֧י (‘ā·rê) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 5892: Excitement of Judah יְהוּדָ֛ה (yə·hū·ḏāh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites a desolation, שְׁמָמָ֖ה (šə·mā·māh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 8077: Devastation, astonishment without מִבְּלִ֖י (mib·bə·lî) Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 1097: Failure, nothing, destruction, without, not yet, because not, as long as inhabitant.” יוֹשֵֽׁב׃ (yō·wō·šêḇ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry Links Jeremiah 9:11 NIVJeremiah 9:11 NLT Jeremiah 9:11 ESV Jeremiah 9:11 NASB Jeremiah 9:11 KJV Jeremiah 9:11 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 9:11 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 9:11 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 9:11 French Bible Jeremiah 9:11 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 9:11 I will make Jerusalem heaps a dwelling (Jer.) |
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