Jeremiah 15:4 kjv
And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 15:4 nkjv
I will hand them over to trouble, to all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for what he did in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 15:4 niv
I will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 15:4 esv
And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 15:4 nlt
Because of the wicked things Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem, I will make my people an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Jeremiah 15 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 15:4 | "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth;" | Jeremiah 15:4 |
| Deuteronomy 28:25 | "The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, but flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." | Consequence of disobedience |
| Psalm 35:4 | "Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt." | Enemy action against the righteous |
| Isaiah 5:24 | "Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have refused the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel." | God's judgment for rejecting His law |
| Jeremiah 1:16 | "And I will utter my judgments against them for all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands." | Judgment for forsaking God |
| Jeremiah 7:15 | "And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim." | Divine abandonment of disobedient |
| Jeremiah 22:26 | "And I will give them up into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of them whose face thou fearest, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans." | Specific judgment by Babylon |
| Jeremiah 34:20 | "And I will give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth;" | Repetition of judgment statement |
| Hosea 5:10 | "The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water." | Princes' transgression leading to wrath |
| Amos 2:14 | "Therefore the stronghold shall perish, and the strength of the prince shall fail, saith the LORD." | Loss of strength due to sin |
| Leviticus 26:33 | "And I will scatter you among the nations, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste." | Scattering and desolation as punishment |
| Jeremiah 4:6 | "I have set up a banner toward Zion: tremble, stay not, for I bring evil from the north, and a great destruction." | Impending danger from the north |
| Jeremiah 19:7 | "And I will cause them to fall before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will deliver their dead bodies unto the hand of the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth." | Similar pronouncement of judgment |
| 2 Kings 21:10-15 | Account of Manasseh's wickedness leading to God's pronouncement of judgment on Jerusalem. | Historical basis for judgment |
| Ezekiel 14:21 | "For thus saith the Lord GOD; How shall I do it unto Jerusalem? when I have sent upon it my four sore judgments, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?" | God's diverse judgments |
| Matthew 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" | Jesus' lament over Jerusalem's rejection |
| Luke 19:42 | "Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at the least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes." | Lost opportunity for peace |
| Acts 7:51 | "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." | Accusation of persistent resistance |
| Romans 1:24, 26 | "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: ... For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:" | God giving up sinners to their desires |
| Revelation 18:2 | "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." | Figurative description of destruction |
Jeremiah 15 verses
Jeremiah 15 4 Meaning
This verse declares God’s judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah. It states that they will be given into the hand of their enemies because of their sins, specifically their refusal to heed God's voice or to obey His laws. The impending destruction and scattering are a direct consequence of their persistent disobedience.
Jeremiah 15 4 Context
Jeremiah 15:1-4 is part of God’s extended discourse to Jeremiah concerning the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the deportation of its people. This specific passage serves as a powerful pronouncement of judgment directly from God, emphasizing the inescapable consequences of Judah’s sustained sinfulness and refusal to listen to His prophets. The preceding verses (Jer 15:1-3) detail the extent of God’s impending judgment, mentioning pestilence, sword, famine, and captivity. This verse further clarifies the devastating results, particularly the exposure of the dead. Historically, this message would have been delivered during a period of great turmoil and anxiety for Jerusalem, likely leading up to or during the Babylonian sieges, as the city’s defiance against God and Babylon alike continued. The prophecy reflects the stern justice of God and the severe penalties for covenant unfaithfulness.
Jeremiah 15 4 Word Analysis
וְלָכֵן (wə·lā·ḵên): "And therefore" or "So then". This conjunction links the judgment announced here directly to the preceding reasons, highlighting that the action is a logical and decreed consequence.
כֹּה (kōh): "Thus" or "So". A common adverb used to introduce direct speech or pronouncements, indicating an authoritative statement from God.
אָמַר (ʾā·mar): "Said". A common verb for speaking, indicating the direct speech of God.
יְהוָה (Yə·hō·wāh): "LORD". The covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His faithfulness to His word, both in promises and judgments.
הִנְנִי (hin·nî): "Behold, I" or "Look, I". An emphatic particle used to draw attention to a coming event or divine action. It signals an impending and significant occurrence.
נֹתֵן (nō·ṯên): "Giving" or "Delivering". Present participle of the verb "nathan" (to give). It implies an ongoing or determined action of God placing them into enemy hands.
אוֹתָם (ʾō·ṯām): "them". Refers back to the people of Jerusalem and Judah.
בְּיַד (bə·yaḏ): "into the hand of" or "into the power of". This phrase signifies submission, control, and lack of freedom; being placed under the authority or dominion of another.
צָרֵיהֶם (ṣā·rê·hem): "their enemies". Plural of "sar" (adversary, enemy). Indicates those who oppose and seek to harm them.
וּבְיַד (ū·ḇə·yaḏ): "and into the hand of". Repeats the structure for emphasis on the scope of their enemies.
מְבַקְשֵׁי (mə·ḇaq·šê): "seekers of" or "those who seek". The participle from "bawaqash" (to seek, search for), implying active pursuit.
נַפְשָׁם (naf·šām): "their life" or "their soul". Refers to the essential self, their very existence and well-being. So, "seekers of their life" means those who intend to kill them.
וּפְגָרֵיהֶם (ū·pə·gā·rê·hem): "and their dead bodies". From "pagar" (corpse, dead body). This word is often used for the unburied, unceremonious dead, suggesting a ignominious end.
יִהְיוּ (yi·hə·yū): "shall be". Future tense of "hayah" (to be).
לְמַאֲכָל (lə·ma·’ă·ḵāl): "for food" or "as food". Indicates something to be consumed.
לְעוֹף (lə·‘ō·wāp̱): "unto the fowl" or "for birds". Refers to birds of prey or scavengers.
הַשָּׁמַיִם (haš·šā·ma·yim): "of the heaven" or "of the sky".
וּלְבֶהֱמָה (ū·lə·ḇe·hĕ·māh): "and for beasts" or "and for cattle". Refers to animals, specifically wild animals or beasts of the field.
הָאָרֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ): "of the earth".
Groups of Words:
- "delivering them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life": This phrase signifies complete subjugation and a complete lack of protection. Their lives are forfeit to those who hate and pursue them.
- "their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth": This depicts the ultimate disgrace and lack of burial. It signifies utter abandonment by God and man, left as carrion for scavengers, a fulfillment of curses for disobedience.
Jeremiah 15 4 Bonus Section
The phrase "seekers of their life" (מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשָׁם) implies a relentless and purposeful pursuit of destruction, going beyond mere conflict. It suggests an intent to annihilate, to hunt them down and extinguish their very existence. This level of animosity from enemies is often portrayed in Scripture as a consequence of God withdrawing His protection due to the sins of His people. The consequence of their dead bodies being left unburied—for the fowls and beasts—is a profound reversal of the dignity afforded to a person in ancient societies. Proper burial was not only a matter of respect but also tied to beliefs about atonement and cleanliness. Their exposed bodies are a visible testament to their fallen state and God’s displeasure. This imagery is echoed in later prophetic and apocalyptic literature, describing the thoroughness of divine judgment upon wicked cities and nations.
Jeremiah 15 4 Commentary
This verse starkly pronounces the dire consequences of Israel’s unfaithfulness. God’s judgment is not capricious; it is a direct response to their willful rejection of His law and voice. The imagery of being given into the hands of enemies and their dead bodies becoming food for scavengers emphasizes the complete loss of security, honor, and divine protection. This is a fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28. The specific mention of being given over to "seekers of their life" underlines the ferocity and intent of the enemies who would pursue them to destruction. The ultimate indignity—their corpses left exposed to birds and beasts—underscores the depth of their desolation and the loss of sacred burial rites, which was deeply significant in ancient Near Eastern culture as a sign of communal and familial care, even in death.