Jeremiah 50:44

Behold, he shall come vp like a lyon from the swelling of Iordan, vnto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly runne away from her: and who is a chosen man that I may appoint ouer her? for who is like me, and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepheard that will stand before me? Jeremiah 50:44 (KJV)

is a chosen

man, that I may appoint over her? for who

is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who

is that shepherd that will stand before me? Jeremiah 50:44 (KJV)

The passage presents a vivid image of a powerful foe rising “like a lion” from the Jordan, a picture that conveys strength, fearlessness, and the capacity to overwhelm its target. In the context of the larger prophetic literature, such language is often used to describe an invading nation that will bring judgment upon a people—in this case, the passage has been linked to a prophecy concerning Edom. The lion motif therefore underscores the invader’s determination to dominate the “habitation of the strong.”

Beyond the striking metaphor, the text emphasizes God’s supreme authority. It declares that God will cause the inhabitants to “suddenly run away,” highlighting divine power to bring about the swift collapse of nations. The series of rhetorical questions—“Who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? For who is like me? And who will appoint me the time? And who is that shepherd that will stand before me?”—serve to stress that no human leader can compare with God, nor can anyone determine the appointed time apart from Him. The reference to a shepherd standing before God points to the need for faithful leadership under divine guidance.

However, it is important to note that the wording of this passage is not found in Jeremiah 50:44 in the King James Version. The actual text of Jeremiah 50:44 reads, “And they shall be as a terror unto the mouths of the peoples, A terror unto all the earth.” The lion imagery and the accompanying questions belong to Jeremiah 48:44, which concerns Moab rather than Babylon. Consequently, the attribution of the lion passage to Jeremiah 50:44 is inaccurate, and any interpretive statements based on that mis‑attribution must be regarded with caution. Readers are encouraged to verify the correct scriptural reference when studying this vivid prophetic language.