Jeremiah 10:18 kjv
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will sling out the inhabitants of the land at this once, and will distress them, that they may find it so.
Jeremiah 10:18 nkjv
For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will throw out at this time The inhabitants of the land, And will distress them, That they may find it so."
Jeremiah 10:18 niv
For this is what the LORD says: "At this time I will hurl out those who live in this land; I will bring distress on them so that they may be captured."
Jeremiah 10:18 esv
For thus says the LORD: "Behold, I am slinging out the inhabitants of the land at this time, and I will bring distress on them, that they may feel it."
Jeremiah 10:18 nlt
For this is what the LORD says:
"Suddenly, I will fling out
all you who live in this land.
I will pour great troubles upon you,
and at last you will feel my anger."
Jeremiah 10 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 28:63 | "...so the Lord will take delight in bringing you to ruin... you shall be plucked off the land..." | God will actively remove them from the land. |
| 1 Kgs 14:15 | "...the Lord will strike Israel, so that it will be like a reed wavering... and he will uproot Israel from this good land..." | Prophecy of God uprooting Israel. |
| 2 Kgs 17:18 | "Therefore the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his sight..." | God's anger leads to removal. |
| Isa 5:13 | "Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge..." | Exile due to spiritual ignorance. |
| Isa 42:25 | "...he poured out on him the heat of his anger and the fury of war..." | God directly inflicts His wrath. |
| Jer 9:16 | "I will scatter them among the nations... and send the sword after them..." | God's scattering as judgment. |
| Jer 16:13 | "...I will hurl you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known..." | Direct prophecy of being hurled out to exile. |
| Jer 25:9-11 | "...I will send and get all the tribes of the north... and bring them against this land..." | God uses nations as instruments of judgment. |
| Amos 9:9 | "...I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations..." | God's sovereign hand in dispersion. |
| Hos 5:15 | "I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt..." | Distress as a call for acknowledgment of guilt. |
| Zeph 1:2-3 | "I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth... I will sweep away man and beast..." | Universal, forceful judgment by God. |
| Hag 2:6-7 | "...I will shake the heavens and the earth... and I will shake all nations..." | God's ultimate shaking of powers and nations. |
| Zech 1:6 | "But my words and my statutes... did they not overtake your fathers?" | Consequences eventually come to pass. |
| Matt 24:21 | "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been..." | Eschatological suffering/distress. |
| Luke 21:23-24 | "...for there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people... they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations..." | Prophecy of Jerusalem's fall, leading to captivity and distress. |
| Rom 2:8-9 | "...wrath and fury to those who are self-seeking... tribulation and distress for every human being..." | Distress as a consequence of unrighteousness. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Principle of sowing and reaping divine consequences. |
| Heb 12:5-6 | "...the Lord disciplines the one he loves..." | Discipline involves suffering for good. |
| 2 Pet 2:9 | "...the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment..." | God's control over tribulation and punishment. |
| Rev 6:16-17 | "...Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne... for the great day of their wrath has come..." | Future ultimate wrath and inescapable judgment. |
| Gen 12:1 | "Go from your country... to the land that I will show you." | Contrast: God's calling out vs. hurling out. |
| 2 Chr 7:19-20 | "...if you turn aside and forsake my statutes... then I will pluck you up from my land..." | Conditional covenant warning of removal. |
| Ps 78:60-61 | "...abandoned his dwelling at Shiloh... and delivered his power to captivity..." | God allowing His presence/people to go into captivity. |
| Job 27:21 | "The east wind carries him away, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place." | Imagery of forceful removal/displacement. |
Jeremiah 10 verses
Jeremiah 10 18 Meaning
Jeremiah 10:18 powerfully conveys the Lord's imminent and decisive judgment upon the inhabitants of Judah. It signifies God's direct, forceful expulsion of His people from their land and the infliction of profound distress upon them. This action is not a random event but a divine act of retribution, ensuring they experientially understand and acknowledge the consequences of their prolonged idolatry and disobedience.
Jeremiah 10 18 Context
Jeremiah 10:18 is situated within a broader chapter that vividly contrasts the futility of idols with the omnipotent Creator God. Earlier in the chapter, Jeremiah passionately exposes the absurdity and impotence of idolatry, critiquing pagan customs and man-made gods that cannot speak, walk, or act (Jer 10:1-16). This immediate verse serves as a powerful demonstration of the living God's power and authority. While the previous verses describe the weakness of idols, Jeremiah 10:17-18 immediately pivots to an urgent warning to the people to gather their wares because divine judgment, heralded by the "Lord of Hosts," is imminent. It explicitly declares the swift and forceful action God will take against His people, directly contradicting any false sense of security or hope placed in dead idols. Historically, Judah faced the growing threat of Babylon, which God used as His instrument of judgment. The verse warns of the impending Babylonian exile, making God's sovereignty over world events unmistakable.
Jeremiah 10 18 Word analysis
- For (KÄ«): This conjunction introduces the reason or explanation for the previous warning to flee or prepare for exile (Jer 10:17). It signals that what follows is a direct word from the Lord, underpinning the urgency.
- thus says (KÅh āÄmar): A formulaic phrase asserting divine authority. It stresses that the ensuing words are a direct, infallible pronouncement from God Himself, not Jeremiah's personal opinion or human conjecture.
- the Lord (YHWH): Refers to the personal covenant God of Israel. His sovereign name here emphasizes that it is the one true God, unlike the false gods mentioned earlier in the chapter, who is bringing this judgment.
- Behold (HinnÄh): An interjection demanding attention. It introduces a solemn, urgent, and often a severe pronouncement, drawing the audience to the critical nature of what is to follow.
- I am hurling out (TolÄq): From the root "talaq" (Strong's H2904), meaning "to hurl, cast, throw." It conveys a violent, forceful, rapid expulsion, like something being slung or cast away. It signifies an abrupt and severe eviction, not a gentle leading. This highlights the immediacy and divine power behind the displacement.
- the inhabitants of the land (YÅshevÄ hÄāÄretz): Refers to the people living in Judah, especially Jerusalem, who had become complacent in their sin and idolatry. It specifically designates those subject to the impending judgment.
- at this time (BaāÄt hazÅt): Emphasizes the imminence and definite timing of the judgment. It signifies that the long-threatened punishment is about to occur; the moment has arrived.
- and I will bring distress upon them (WÉhatzÄrÅtÄ« lÄhem): "Bring distress" from "tsarar" (Strong's H6887), meaning "to be narrow, cause distress, oppress, besiege." This is an active verb, indicating God Himself will inflict affliction, hardship, and anguish. "Distress" (Tzarah) denotes a state of trouble, tribulation, or anguish. God is the active agent in bringing their suffering.
- that they may feel it (WÉyimtzÄāÅ«): From "mÄtzÄā" (Strong's H4672), meaning "to find, obtain, meet, experience." This indicates the purpose of the distress: for the people to genuinely experience, realize, and truly find/understand the gravity and impact of the judgment. It's about tangible, undeniable experience, not just abstract knowledge. It signifies that the consequences of their actions will be deeply personal and inescapable.
Jeremiah 10 18 Bonus section
The verb "tolÄq" (hurling out) in Hebrew is also used in a literal sense for "slinging" a stone. This violent imagery highlights not only the speed and force of the expulsion but also a sense of being cast away, unwanted and powerless. It resonates with the covenant curses found in Deuteronomy, where God warned of being "plucked off the land" if they disobeyed. This specific divine pronouncement also has a polemical edge, contrasting with the inertness of the idols described earlier. While idols could not "hurry along" (Jer 10:5), the true God would hurl out His people, demonstrating His unparalleled and active agency. The intensity of this judgment foreshadows the profound and unprecedented suffering that Babylon's invasion would bring, shaking the very foundations of their national identity and religious practice. Yet, within this severe pronouncement is often a veiled invitation, albeit harsh, for reflection and a return to the One true God, even if unheeded by many in Jeremiah's day.
Jeremiah 10 18 Commentary
Jeremiah 10:18 serves as a stark declaration of God's imminent and inescapable judgment on Judah. Following a sharp critique of idolatry, this verse illustrates that unlike lifeless idols, the Lord is an active and sovereign God who directly intervenes in history. The powerful imagery of "hurling out" portrays a forceful, rapid, and undelayed expulsion from their promised land, reminiscent of casting away something unwanted. This is not a passive event but God's direct act, confirming His control over the nation's destiny and the surrounding powers (like Babylon) used as His instruments. The "distress" promised is a profound and tangible suffering, precisely designed "that they may feel it"āa consequence of their sin so palpable it cannot be ignored. This intentional affliction aims to bring the people to a vivid realization of their transgressions and God's absolute justice, though their response often remained unrepentant. The verse underscores God's commitment to covenant discipline, where His love for His people, though expressed through severe judgment, ultimately seeks their ultimate good or acknowledges their ultimate culpability. It functions as both a warning and a testament to divine justice, highlighting that turning from the Living God to idols leads to profound and deeply felt consequences.
- Example 1: A child ignoring constant warnings about a hot stove eventually touches it, immediately feeling the pain ā the distress brought so they "feel it."
- Example 2: A nation consistently defies international law, leading to severe sanctions and hardshipāthey feel the direct consequences of their actions.