Thomas Aquinas Commentary Jeremiah 25:30-33

"Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, Jehovah will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he will mightily roar against his fold; he will give a shout, as they that tread [the grapes], against all the inhabitants of the earth. A noise shall come even to the end of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh: as for the wicked, he will give them to the sword, saith Jehovah. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great tempest shall be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth. And the slain of Jehovah shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the face of the ground." — Jeremiah 25:30-33 (ASV)

1. Here, he gives the interpretation of the vision:

   • First, against the nations.
   • Second, against the princes of the nations, at wail, O shepherds (Jeremiah 25:34).

   Concerning the first point, there are two parts.

   1. First is the threat, when he speaks of God’s indignation: the LORD from on high—that is, from the height of His justice—he shall roar, terribly, like an angry lion. The lion shall roar; who shall not fear? (Amos 3:8). The punishment is universal: upon the place of his beauty, that is, the temple. It is as if he were saying, “His wrath will begin from the temple and will then proceed to the whole earth.”

      The phrase and the shout of those that tread grapes signifies the joy of the victors in pillaging the lands. The victors are symbolized by the grape-treaders because they shed the blood of men, just as the latter spill the blood of the grapes. For this reason, it is written in Isaiah 63:3, I have trampled the wine press alone, and from the nations, there was no man with me. I have trampled them in my fury, and tread upon them in my wrath; and their blood is sprinkled on my vesture, and I have soiled all my garments. As it says below: in vain will the treader of the grape sing his accustomed song (Jeremiah 48:33).

      He also sets forth the justice of the punishment when he speaks of the judgment: the LORD enters into judgment with the nations. The judgment of the LORD with his people and with Israel shall be determined (Micah 6:2). And the manner of judgment is: the wicked I have given over. Because if you should provoke me to anger, the sword shall devour you, because the mouth of the LORD has spoken it (Isaiah 1:20).

   2. Second, he outlines the progression of the punishment and its order: thus says the LORD.

      • First, he gives the progression: behold, affliction shall go forth, because one nation will attack another, and it will itself be attacked by another, and so on. The phrase from the heights refers to the most powerful nations, such as the Chaldeans, the Greeks, etc. The kingdom is transferred from nation to nation because of injustices and wrongs, injuries, and diverse deceits . As it says below: behold, the whirlwind of the LORD, his fury going forth, a rushing storm; it shall rest upon the head of the wicked (Jeremiah 30:23).

      • Second, he gives the effect of the tribulation, because they will be deprived of life: and there shall be slain of the LORD—that is, by the Lord. As it says above: the sword of the LORD shall devour from one end of the earth to the other (Jeremiah 12:12). And they will lack burial: and they shall not be mourned, and they shall not be gathered together, neither shall they be buried. The same is said above (Jeremiah 16:4).