Jeremiah 27:5-6

27:5 “I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, 1  and I give it to whomever I see fit. 2  27:6 I have at this time placed all these nations of yours under the power 3  of my servant, 4  King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made all the wild animals subject to him. 5 

1 tn Heb “by my great power and my outstretched arm.” Again “arm” is symbolical for “strength.” Compare the similar expression in 21:5.

2 sn See Dan 4:17 for a similar statement.

3 tn Heb “have given…into the hand of.”

4 sn See the study note on 25:9 for the significance of the application of this term to Nebuchadnezzar.

5 tn Heb “I have given…to him to serve him.” The verb “give” in this syntactical situation is functioning like the Hiphil stem, i.e., as a causative. See Dan 1:9 for parallel usage. For the usage of “serve” meaning “be subject to” compare 2 Sam 22:44 and BDB 713 s.v. עָבַד 3.

sn This statement is rhetorical, emphasizing the totality of Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion. Neither here nor in Dan 2:38 is it to be understood literally.