Jeremiah 21:4-14

4 'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will repel the weapons of war in your hands, those you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans^[a] who are besieging you outside the wall, and I will bring them into the center of this city.

5 I will fight against you^[b] with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm,^[c] with anger, rage, and great wrath.

6 I will strike the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a great plague.

7 Afterwards'"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"'King Zedekiah of Judah, his officers, and the people-those in this city who survive the plague, the sword, and the famine-I will hand over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, to their enemies, yes, to those who want to take their lives. He will put them to the sword; he won't spare them or show pity or compassion.'

A Warning for the People

8 "But you must say to this people, 'This is what the Lord says: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death.^[d]

9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live and will retain his life like the spoils [of war].^[e]

10 For I have turned^[f] against this city to [bring] disaster^[g] and not good""-[this is] the Lord's declaration. "'It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will burn it down.'^[h]

11 "And to the house of the king of Judah [say this]: 'Hear the word of the Lord!

12 House of David, this is what the Lord says: Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor,^[i] or My anger will flare up like fire and burn unquenchably because of their evil deeds.

13 Beware! I am against you, you who sit above the valley, [you atop] the rocky plateau- [this is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration- you who say: Who can come down against us? Who can enter our hiding places?

14 I will punish you according to what you have done- [this is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. I will kindle a fire in its forest that will consume everything around it.' "

Jeremiah 21:4-14 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 21

This chapter contains Jeremiah's answer to King Zedekiah's message to him; in which he assures him of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and gives advice both to the people and the king. The names of the persons sent to him are mentioned, Jer 21:1; and the errand they were sent upon, to desire the prophet to pray to the Lord, that the king of Babylon might be obliged to depart from Jerusalem, Jer 21:2; the answer from the Lord by him is, that their opposition to the king of Babylon should be fruitless; that he should be so far from quitting the siege, that he should enter the city, Jer 21:3,4; yea, that the Lord himself would fight against them, and destroy men and beast with the pestilence; and that such who escaped the sword, famine, and pestilence, should fall into the hands of the king of Babylon, Jer 21:5-7; and then some advice is given to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to go out and give up themselves to the Chaldeans; which was the best way to save their lives, since the city would certainly fall into their hands, and be burnt by them, Jer 21:8-10; and as for the royal family, they are advised to do justice and deliver the oppressed; the not doing of which, it is suggested, was the cause of their ruin, Jer 21:11,12; and the chapter is closed with a denunciation of destruction upon the city, notwithstanding the vain trust and confidence of the inhabitants of it, Jer 21:13,14.

Footnotes

• [a]. Babylonians
• [b]. 1 Sm 4:1-5:12; Lm 2:5
• [c]. Dt 5:15; 26:8; Ps 136:12
• [d]. Jr 8:3; Dt 30:15-19; Pr 12:28
• [e]. Jr 38:2; 39:18; 45:5
• [f]. Lit set My face
• [g]. Jr 44:11
• [h]. Jr 34:2,22; 37:8; 38:18
• [i]. Jr 22:3; Dt 28:29; Ec 4:1