Jeremiah 50:17

Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.

Cross-reference

Jeremiah 50:6 identifies the shepherds who caused Israel, the scattered sheep, to go astray.

In Jeremiah 50:7, enemies devour Israel and justify it, the same scenario as the lions devouring here.

In Jeremiah 50:33, the same scattered flock is described as oppressed and held captive — reinforcing the theme of Israel's suffering under enemies.

Jeremiah 23:2 condemns shepherds for scattering and driving away the flock, directly parallel to Israel's scattering.

Jeremiah 23:1 pronounces woe on shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep, matching the scattered sheep metaphor.

Jeremiah 5:6 lists lion, wolf, leopard as predators for judgment, reinforcing the lion metaphor for enemies scattering Israel.

Jeremiah 2:15 uses the same lion imagery — lions roaring and laying waste — directly parallel to the devouring lions in 50:17.

Jeremiah 39:1–8 Historical context

Jeremiah 39:1-8 records the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar, directly illustrating the 'last to crush' Babylon's conquest mentioned here.

Jeremiah 51:34 uses the same devour/crush imagery for Babylon's treatment of Israel, echoing the 'lion' metaphor from this verse.

In Jeremiah 30:16, God promises that those who devour Israel will themselves be devoured, a direct reversal of the lion's devouring.

In Jeremiah 10:25, the nations are condemned for devouring Jacob, directly matching the devouring by the lions here.

In Jeremiah 4:7, a lion from its thicket symbolizes a destroyer (Babylon), the same lion imagery used for the second lion here.

In Jeremiah 31:10, God who scattered Israel will gather them, providing the restoration after the scattering described here.

Jeremiah 51:24 announces God's repayment to Babylon for the evil done in Zion — the direct consequence of the devouring in 50:17.

Jeremiah 51:49 states Babylon must fall for the slain of Israel — linking the broken bones of 50:17 to divine judgment.

In Jeremiah 49:19, God is like a lion who drives Edom away, contrasting with the enemy lions in 50:17.

Jeremiah 51:35 calls for vengeance on Babylon for the violence done to Israel, providing the justice context for the scattering described here.

Jeremiah 51:38 describes Babylon's enemies roaring like lions, reversing the predator role from 50:17 where Babylon was the lion.

Ezekiel 34:5 says sheep were scattered for lack of a shepherd, explaining the cause behind Israel's scattered state.

Ezekiel 34:6 describes sheep wandering over mountains and scattered over the earth, reinforcing the scattered flock image.

Ezekiel 34:12 promises the shepherd will seek out the scattered sheep, offering hope after the scattering described.

Joel 3:2 Parallel

Joel 3:2 states God will judge nations for scattering Israel among them, linking judgment to the scattering.

In Luke 15:4-6, the shepherd seeks the lost sheep, directly paralleling the scattered flock of Israel needing restoration.

In John 10:10-12, the wolf scatters the sheep, mirroring the lions scattering Israel, contrasting the good shepherd with predators.

In 1 Peter 2:25, believers were like sheep going astray but have returned to the Shepherd, echoing the scattered flock theme from Jeremiah.

Isaiah 47:6 Parallel

Isaiah 47:6 explains God gave Israel into Babylon's hand with no mercy, providing the theological reason for the devouring referenced here.

Isaiah 10:5–7 Prophetic fulfillment

Isaiah 10:5-7 explicitly names Assyria as God's rod to punish Israel — the very instrument that devoured them.

Isaiah 8:7 Prophetic fulfillment

Isaiah 8:7 prophesies Assyria as a flood sweeping over Israel and Judah — directly foretelling the Assyrian devouring.

Isaiah 7:17–20 Prophetic fulfillment

Isaiah 7:17-20 prophesies the coming of Assyria against both Ephraim and Judah — the same invasion that devoured Israel.

2 Chronicles 36:1–23 Historical context

2 Chronicles 36:1-23 summarizes the Babylonian exile and eventual return, covering the entire scattering event mentioned here.

2 Kings 24:1 Historical context

2 Kings 24:1 records Nebuchadnezzar's first invasion and Jehoiakim's submission, an early stage of the Babylonian 'crushing' referenced here.

2 Kings 18:9–13 Historical context

2 Kings 18:9-13 gives the historical account of Assyria's conquest of Samaria, the very event of the 'king of Assyria devouring' Israel.

2 Kings 17:6 Historical context

2 Kings 17:6 records the fall of Samaria to Assyria and deportation, the specific event of the 'first lion' devouring Israel.

2 Kings 15:29 Historical context

2 Kings 15:29 records the Assyrian deportation under Tiglath-Pileser, the historical event behind the 'first lion' (Assyria) in Jeremiah 50:17.

Numbers 24:9 portrays Israel as a lion, a direct contrast to this verse where Israel is prey devoured by lions.

Deuteronomy 28:64 Prophetic fulfillment

Deuteronomy 28:64 is the covenant curse of scattering that finds fulfillment in Israel's exile by Assyria and Babylon.

Matthew 10:6 calls the lost sheep of the house of Israel, directly echoing this OT depiction of Israel as scattered sheep.

Zechariah 2:8 warns nations who plundered Israel that they touch God's apple of eye — connecting to the plundering by Assyria and Babylon.

Zechariah 1:19 interprets the horns that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem — the same scattering by foreign powers described here.

Habakkuk 2:8 declares that Babylon, which plundered nations, will itself be plundered — directly connecting to Babylon's devouring in this verse.

Nahum 2:11 Parallel

Nahum 2:11 uses the same lion metaphor for Nineveh, reinforcing that the 'lion' (Assyria) who devoured Israel will be destroyed.

Hosea 8:8 Parallel

Hosea 8:8 says Israel is swallowed up and a useless vessel — a direct parallel to the scattered flock and broken bones of 50:17.

Ezekiel 36:24 promises gathering from the nations — directly reversing the scattering and devouring of Israel in 50:17.

In Lamentations 2:16, enemies boast they have swallowed Israel — echoing the devouring lion imagery of 50:17.

Isaiah 42:22 describes Israel as plundered and trapped with none to rescue - directly echoing the devoured flock here.

Isaiah 43:14 pronounces judgment on Babylon, the lion that devoured Israel - showing God's response to the scattering.

In Isaiah 49:25, God promises to rescue captives from the mighty, directly answering the scattering by lions here. A promise of deliverance.

Isaiah 14:1 Contrast

Isaiah 14:1 promises restoration and return to the land, contrasting the scattering described here.

In Matthew 9:36-38, Jesus sees crowds as sheep without a shepherd, echoing the scattered flock imagery and pointing to the need for a shepherd.

In 1 Kings 22:17, Micaiah also sees Israel as sheep without a shepherd - a parallel image of scattering, but in a different military context.

Isaiah 52:4 Historical context

In Isaiah 52:4, the Assyrian oppression is cited as historical background for the first lion (Assyria) that devoured Israel.

Esther 3:8 Parallel

Esther 3:8 also describes the Jews as scattered among the nations, reflecting the ongoing dispersion after the exile.

Zechariah 10:2 describes God's people wandering like sheep for lack of a shepherd, mirroring the scattered flock imagery in this verse.