Jeremiah 18:21
Jeremiah 18:21 in Multiple Translations
Therefore, hand their children over to famine; pour out the power of the sword upon them. Let their wives become childless and widowed; let their husbands be slain by disease, their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives become childless, and widows; and let their men be slain of death, and their young men smitten of the sword in battle.
For this cause, let their children be without food, and give them over to the power of the sword; and let their wives be without children and become widows; let their men be overtaken by death, and their young men be put to the sword in the fight.
But now may their children starve; may they be killed by the sword. May their wives lose their children and their husbands; may their husbands die from disease; may their young men be killed in battle.
Therefore, deliuer vp their children to famine, and let them drop away by the force of the sworde, and let their wiues be robbed of their children, and be widowes: and let their husbands be put to death, and let their yong men be slayne by the sword in the battell.
Therefore, give up their sons to famine, And cause them to run on the sides of the sword, And their wives are bereaved and widows, And their men are slain by death, Their young men smitten by sword in battle,
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and give them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless and widows. Let their men be killed and their young men struck by the sword in battle.
Therefore deliver their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.
Therefore deliver up their children to famine, and bring them into the hands of the sword: let their wives be bereaved of children and widows: and let their husbands be slain by death: let their young men be stabbed with the sword in battle.
So now, allow their children to die from hunger! Or cause them to be killed by their enemies’ swords! Cause their wives to become widows, whose children are all dead! Cause their old men to die in a plague, and cause their young men to be killed in battles!
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 18:21
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 18:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לָ/כֵן֩
תֵּ֨ן
אֶת
בְּנֵי/הֶ֜ם
לָ/רָעָ֗ב
וְ/הַגִּרֵ/ם֮
עַל
יְדֵי
חֶרֶב֒
וְ/תִֽהְיֶ֨נָה
נְשֵׁי/הֶ֤ם
שַׁכֻּלוֹת֙
וְ/אַלְמָנ֔וֹת
וְ/אַ֨נְשֵׁי/הֶ֔ם
יִֽהְי֖וּ
הֲרֻ֣גֵי
מָ֑וֶת
בַּח֣וּרֵי/הֶ֔ם
מֻכֵּי
חֶ֖רֶב
בַּ/מִּלְחָמָֽה
לָ/כֵן֩
kên
H3651
right
Prep | Adv
תֵּ֨ן
nâthan
H5414
to give
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
בְּנֵי/הֶ֜ם
bên
H1121
son
N-mp | Suff
לָ/רָעָ֗ב
râʻâb
H7458
famine
Prep | N-ms
וְ/הַגִּרֵ/ם֮
nâgar
H5064
to pour
Conj | V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
עַל
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep
יְדֵי
yâd
H3027
hand
N-cd
חֶרֶב֒
chereb
H2719
sword
N-fs
וְ/תִֽהְיֶ֨נָה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3fp
נְשֵׁי/הֶ֤ם
ʼishshâh
H802
woman
N-fp | Suff
שַׁכֻּלוֹת֙
shakkûwl
H7909
childless
Adj
וְ/אַלְמָנ֔וֹת
ʼalmânâh
H490
widow
Conj | N-fp
וְ/אַ֨נְשֵׁי/הֶ֔ם
ʼîysh
H376
man
Conj | N-mp | Suff
יִֽהְי֖וּ
hâyâh
H1961
to be
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
הֲרֻ֣גֵי
hârag
H2026
to kill
V-Qal-Inf-c
מָ֑וֶת
mâveth
H4194
death
N-ms
בַּח֣וּרֵי/הֶ֔ם
bâchûwr
H970
youth
N-mp | Suff
מֻכֵּי
nâkâh
H5221
to smite
V-Hophal-Inf-c
חֶ֖רֶב
chereb
H2719
sword
N-fs
בַּ/מִּלְחָמָֽה
milchâmâh
H4421
battle
Prep | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 18:21
לָ/כֵן֩
kên
H3651
"right"
Prep | Adv
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable
Usage: Occurs in 737 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:7; Exodus 37:19; Judges 7:17.
תֵּ֨ן
nâthan
H5414
"to give"
V-Qal-Impv-2ms
This word means to give, put, or set something, with a wide range of applications. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, describing God's actions and human interactions. The word is used to convey giving, selling, or exchanging something.
Definition: : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give, put, set 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend 1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate 1a3) to make, constitute 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned 1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up 1c2) to be put upon
Usage: Occurs in 1816 OT verses. KJV: add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. See also: Genesis 1:17; Genesis 40:21; Exodus 30:12.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
בְּנֵי/הֶ֜ם
bên
H1121
"son"
N-mp | Suff
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
לָ/רָעָ֗ב
râʻâb
H7458
"famine"
Prep | N-ms
Famine or hunger is what this Hebrew word represents, often referring to a lack of food or spiritual nourishment. It appears in books like Genesis and Jeremiah, highlighting the importance of trust in God during difficult times.
Definition: 1) famine, hunger 1a) famine (in land, nation) 1a1) of Jehovah's word (fig) 1b) hunger (of individuals)
Usage: Occurs in 88 OT verses. KJV: dearth, famine, [phrase] famished, hunger. See also: Genesis 12:10; Jeremiah 14:12; Psalms 33:19.
וְ/הַגִּרֵ/ם֮
nâgar
H5064
"to pour"
Conj | V-Hiphil-Impv-2ms | Suff
To pour or flow, like water, and can also mean to deliver or stretch out, as seen in Psalm 42:4.
Definition: 1) to pour, run, flow, pour down 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be poured, be spilt 1a2) to pour oneself, flow, trickle 1a3) to vanish (fig.) 1a4) to be stretched out 1b) (Hiphil) to pour down 1c) (Hophal) to melt
Usage: Occurs in 10 OT verses. KJV: fall, flow away, pour down (out), run, shed, spilt, trickle down. See also: 2 Samuel 14:14; Jeremiah 18:21; Psalms 63:11.
עַל
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
יְדֵי
yâd
H3027
"hand"
N-cd
In the Bible, 'yad' refers to an open hand, symbolizing power or direction. It can also mean strength or a part of something, like a side or a share. The word is used in many contexts, including anatomy and everyday life.
Definition: : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists
Usage: Occurs in 1446 OT verses. KJV: ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. See also: Genesis 3:22; Exodus 7:19; Leviticus 14:22.
חֶרֶב֒
chereb
H2719
"sword"
N-fs
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Definition: 1) sword, knife 1a) sword 1b) knife 1c) tools for cutting stone
Usage: Occurs in 372 OT verses. KJV: axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. See also: Genesis 3:24; 2 Samuel 2:16; Psalms 7:13.
וְ/תִֽהְיֶ֨נָה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-Juss-3fp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
נְשֵׁי/הֶ֤ם
ʼishshâh
H802
"woman"
N-fp | Suff
The Hebrew word for woman, used to describe a female person, wife, or animal, appears in many biblical passages, including Genesis and Exodus, and is often translated as woman, wife, or female.
Definition: : woman 1) woman, wife, female 1a) woman (opposite of man) 1b) wife (woman married to a man) 1c) female (of animals) 1d) each, every (pronoun)
Usage: Occurs in 686 OT verses. KJV: (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. See also: Genesis 2:22; Genesis 34:4; Numbers 5:12.
שַׁכֻּלוֹת֙
shakkûwl
H7909
"childless"
Adj
This Hebrew word means to be childless due to loss, like a parent who has outlived their kids. It's used in the Bible to describe someone who has been bereaved. In the KJV, it's translated as 'barren' or 'bereaved of children'.
Definition: 1) childless (through bereavement) 2) bereaved, robbed of offspring
Usage: Occurs in 6 OT verses. KJV: barren, bereaved (robbed) of children (whelps). See also: 2 Samuel 17:8; Song of Solomon 6:6; Proverbs 17:12.
וְ/אַלְמָנ֔וֹת
ʼalmânâh
H490
"widow"
Conj | N-fp
A widow is a woman whose husband has died, often left alone and vulnerable. The Bible teaches care and compassion for widows, as seen in the stories of Ruth and Naomi. God commands his people to look out for them.
Definition: widow
Usage: Occurs in 54 OT verses. KJV: desolate house (palace), widow. See also: Genesis 38:11; Job 29:13; Psalms 68:6.
וְ/אַ֨נְשֵׁי/הֶ֔ם
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
Conj | N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
יִֽהְי֖וּ
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
הֲרֻ֣גֵי
hârag
H2026
"to kill"
V-Qal-Inf-c
To kill or slay with intent, as seen in the Bible when God instructs the Israelites to destroy certain nations. This word is used in various forms, including to murder or destroy. It appears in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy.
Definition: 1) to kill, slay, murder, destroy, murderer, slayer, out of hand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to kill, slay 1a2) to destroy, ruin 1b) (Niphal) to be killed 1c) (Pual) to be killed, be slain
Usage: Occurs in 158 OT verses. KJV: destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely. See also: Genesis 4:8; 2 Kings 8:12; Psalms 10:8.
מָ֑וֶת
mâveth
H4194
"death"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word refers to death, whether natural or violent, and is used in books like Genesis and Isaiah. It can also mean the place of the dead, or a state of ruin. This concept is seen in the story of Moses, where death is a punishment for disobedience.
Definition: 1) death, dying, Death (personified), realm of the dead 1a) death 1b) death by violence (as a penalty) 1c) state of death, place of death Aramaic equivalent: mot (מוֹת "death" H4193)
Usage: Occurs in 153 OT verses. KJV: (be) dead(-ly), death, die(-d). See also: Genesis 21:16; Job 38:17; Psalms 6:6.
בַּח֣וּרֵי/הֶ֔ם
bâchûwr
H970
"youth"
N-mp | Suff
In the Bible, this word refers to a young person, often a chosen or select individual, like a young man in his prime. It appears in various contexts, including descriptions of young soldiers. The term emphasizes the idea of being selected or set apart.
Definition: youth, young man
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: (choice) young (man), chosen, [idiom] hole. See also: Deuteronomy 32:25; Jeremiah 18:21; Psalms 78:31.
מֻכֵּי
nâkâh
H5221
"to smite"
V-Hophal-Inf-c
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to strike or hit something, and it's used in many different ways, like in Exodus when God strikes down the Egyptians. It can also mean to punish or destroy, as seen in Isaiah. The word is used to describe God's judgment.
Definition: 1) to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill 1a)(Niphal) to be stricken or smitten 1b) (Pual) to be stricken or smitten 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to smite, strike, beat, scourge, clap, applaud, give a thrust 1c2) to smite, kill, slay (man or beast) 1c3) to smite, attack, attack and destroy, conquer, subjugate, ravage 1c4) to smite, chastise, send judgment upon, punish, destroy 1d) (Hophal) to be smitten 1d1) to receive a blow 1d2) to be wounded 1d3) to be beaten 1d4) to be (fatally) smitten, be killed, be slain 1d5) to be attacked and captured 1d6) to be smitten (with disease) 1d7) to be blighted (of plants)
Usage: Occurs in 461 OT verses. KJV: beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. See also: Genesis 4:15; Joshua 10:20; 1 Samuel 29:5.
חֶ֖רֶב
chereb
H2719
"sword"
N-fs
A sword or cutting instrument is what this Hebrew word refers to, including knives and tools for cutting stone. It is used in the Bible to describe weapons and sharp objects.
Definition: 1) sword, knife 1a) sword 1b) knife 1c) tools for cutting stone
Usage: Occurs in 372 OT verses. KJV: axe, dagger, knife, mattock, sword, tool. See also: Genesis 3:24; 2 Samuel 2:16; Psalms 7:13.
בַּ/מִּלְחָמָֽה
milchâmâh
H4421
"battle"
Prep | N-fs
This word means battle or war, describing a fight or conflict. It is used in the Bible to talk about wars and battles, like the ones in the book of Joshua. The KJV translates it as battle or fight.
Definition: battle, war
Usage: Occurs in 308 OT verses. KJV: battle, fight(-ing), war(-rior). See also: Genesis 14:2; 1 Samuel 30:24; 2 Chronicles 13:14.
Study Notes — Jeremiah 18:21
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- Context
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- Jeremiah 18:21 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 18:21
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 18:21
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 18:21
- Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 18:21
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
- Sermons on Jeremiah 18:21
Context — Another Plot against Jeremiah
19Attend to me, O LORD. Hear what my accusers are saying!
20Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them.
21Therefore, hand their children over to famine; pour out the power of the sword upon them. Let their wives become childless and widowed; let their husbands be slain by disease, their young men struck down by the sword in battle.
22Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet. 23But You, O LORD, know all their deadly plots against me. Do not wipe out their guilt or blot out their sin from Your sight. Let them be overthrown before You; deal with them in the time of Your anger.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 109:9–20 | May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow. May his children wander as beggars, seeking sustenance far from their ruined homes. May the creditor seize all he owns, and strangers plunder the fruits of his labor. May there be no one to extend kindness to him, and no one to favor his fatherless children. May his descendants be cut off; may their name be blotted out from the next generation. May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and the sin of his mother never be blotted out. May their sins always remain before the LORD, that He may cut off their memory from the earth. For he never thought to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and brokenhearted, even to their death. The cursing that he loved, may it fall on him; the blessing in which he refused to delight, may it be far from him. The cursing that he wore like a coat, may it soak into his body like water, and into his bones like oil. May it be like a robe wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him. May this be the LORD’s reward to my accusers, to those who speak evil against me. |
| 2 | Lamentations 5:3 | We have become fatherless orphans; our mothers are widows. |
| 3 | Amos 4:10 | “I sent plagues among you like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp, yet you did not return to Me,” declares the LORD. |
| 4 | Deuteronomy 32:25 | Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man. |
| 5 | Jeremiah 16:3–4 | For this is what the LORD says concerning the sons and daughters born in this place, and the mothers who bore them, and the fathers who fathered them in this land: “They will die from deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried, but will lie like dung on the ground. They will be finished off by sword and famine, and their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and beasts of the earth.” |
| 6 | Jeremiah 15:8 | I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring upon them anguish and dismay. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 9:21 | For death has climbed in through our windows; it has entered our fortresses to cut off the children from the streets, the young men from the town squares. |
| 8 | Exodus 22:24 | My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will become widows and your children will be fatherless. |
| 9 | Jeremiah 20:1–6 | When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD. The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call you Pashhur, but Magor-missabib. For this is what the LORD says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. And I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will carry them away to Babylon and put them to the sword. I will give away all the wealth of this city—all its products and valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah—to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon, and there you will die and be buried—you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied these lies.’” |
| 10 | Jeremiah 15:2–3 | If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’ I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the LORD: the sword to kill, the dogs to drag away, and the birds of the air and beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. |
Jeremiah 18:21 Summary
Jeremiah 18:21 is a prayer for God's justice to be upheld, as Jeremiah's enemies have sought to harm him despite his prayers for their well-being. This verse shows that God is a just and sovereign God who will ultimately judge those who do evil, as seen in Psalm 37:1-7. We can trust in God's justice and sovereignty, even when faced with difficult circumstances, and pray for God's will to be done, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:44. By trusting in God's justice, we can forgive our enemies and love them, as Jesus commanded, and leave vengeance to God, as stated in Romans 12:19.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Jeremiah praying for God to punish his enemies so severely in Jeremiah 18:21?
Jeremiah is praying for God's justice to be upheld, as his enemies have sought to harm him despite his prayers for their well-being, as seen in Jeremiah 18:20, and this is in line with the principles of Psalm 35:1-8 and Romans 12:19.
Is Jeremiah 18:21 promoting violence or revenge?
No, Jeremiah 18:21 is a prayer for God's judgment, not a call for personal revenge, and it reflects the biblical principle that God is the avenger, as stated in Deuteronomy 32:35 and Romans 12:19.
How can we apply Jeremiah 18:21 to our own lives when we face persecution or opposition?
We can apply Jeremiah 18:21 by trusting in God's sovereignty and justice, as seen in Psalm 37:1-7, and by praying for God's will to be done, even when faced with difficult circumstances, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:44.
Does Jeremiah 18:21 contradict Jesus' teaching to love our enemies in Matthew 5:44?
No, Jeremiah 18:21 and Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:44 are not contradictory, as Jeremiah is praying for God's justice, while Jesus is teaching about personal relationships and forgiveness, as also seen in Luke 6:27-36.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I have seen God's justice at work in my own life or in the lives of others?
- How can I balance my desire for justice with the command to love my enemies, as taught in Matthew 5:44?
- In what ways can I trust in God's sovereignty and justice when faced with persecution or opposition, as seen in Jeremiah 18:21 and Psalm 37:1-7?
- What are some practical ways I can pray for my enemies, as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:44, and as Jeremiah modeled in Jeremiah 18:20?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 18:21
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine,.... To be starved, and perish by it, as they were in the siege of Jerusalem, both by the Chaldeans, and the Romans: and pour out their [blood] by
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 18:21
Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
Deliver up their children to the famine; a dreadful imprecation; we meet with more of the same nature, 15:15 17:18. We find also several such imprecation in the Psalms, 40:14 69:22-25,27,28 109:6-10, &c. Hence a question is raised, whether it be lawful for God’ s servants to pray for evil against their enemies. That which makes the doubt is, Christ’ s command to us to pray for them that persecute us, ,44, his own example, and Stephen’ s, . See the notes upon the aforementioned texts. It is doubtless our duty to pray for the conversion, forgiveness, and eternal salvation of our worst enemies; so Christ prayed, and Stephen, but neither of them prayed for their outward prosperity in their persecution and rage; and without doubt we may pray against God’ s enemies, that God would tie their hands, weaken their power, confound their devices. For such other particulars as are mentioned in this verse, and the beginning of the following verse, and such as David mentions, Psalms 69, we must know they were both prophets, and did but pray to God to do that thing which God had revealed to them he would do.
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
Jeremiah 18:21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their [blood] by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and [be] widows; and let their men be put to death; [let] their young men [be] slain by the sword in battle.Ver. 21. Therefore deliver up their children to the famine.] He who had prayed so hard for them, could and did pray here as earnestly against them; yet not out of private revenge, but by a prophetic spirit, whereby he foretelleth their calamities auxesi verborum per hypotyposin. This is usual with the psalmist and other prophets. And let their men be put to death.] Heb., Be killed with death. See Revelation 2:23.
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
(21) Therefore deliver up their children . . .—The bitter words that follow startle and pain us, like the imprecations of Psalms 35, 69, 109. To what extent they were the utterances of a righteous indignation, a true zeal for God, which had not yet learnt the higher lesson of patience and forgiveness, or embodied an element of personal vindictiveness, we are not called on to inquire, and could not, in any case, decide. It is not ours to judge another man’s servant. In all like cases we have to remember that the very truthfulness with which the prayer is recorded is at least a proof that the prophet felt, like Jonah, that he did well to be angry (Jonah 4:9), that a righteous anger is at least one step towards a righteous love, and that we, as disciples of Christ, have passed, or ought to have passed, beyond that earlier stage. Pour out their blood by the force of the sword.—Literally, with a bolder metaphor, pour them out into the hands of the sword.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
Verse 21. Therefore deliver up their children] The execrations in these verses should be considered as simply prophetic declarations of the judgments which God was about to pour out on them. If we consider them in their grammatical meaning, then they are not directions to us, to whom our Lawgiver has said, "Love your enemies."
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 18:21
18–23. See introd. note to section.
Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 18:21
Pour out ... sword - literally, “pour them out upon the hands of the sword, i. e., give them up to the sword.” Put to death - Rather, slain of death.
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 18:21
21. Pour out their blood, etc. — Literally, pour them out upon thee hands of the sword; that is, give them up to its power.
Sermons on Jeremiah 18:21
| Sermon | Description | |
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De Vitis Patrum, Book Ix by Heribert Rosweyde | Heribert Rosweyde preaches on the lives of devout men, like Jacobus of Nisibis, who embraced a solitary life in pursuit of virtue and wisdom, demonstrating through their actions th |