Jeremiah 18 21

Jeremiah 18:21 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 18:21 nkjv

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, And pour out their blood By the force of the sword; Let their wives become widows And bereaved of their children. Let their men be put to death, Their young men be slain By the sword in battle.

Jeremiah 18:21 niv

So give their children over to famine; hand them over to the power of the sword. Let their wives be made childless and widows; let their men be put to death, their young men slain by the sword in battle.

Jeremiah 18:21 esv

Therefore deliver up their children to famine; give them over to the power of the sword; let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be struck down by the sword in battle.

Jeremiah 18:21 nlt

So let their children starve!
Let them die by the sword!
Let their wives become childless widows.
Let their old men die in a plague,
and let their young men be killed in battle!

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 21 Meaning

This verse is a prayer of Jeremiah acknowledging the iniquity of his people. It expresses recognition that the people of Judah, like individuals, are susceptible to sin. It is a lament for their actions and an acknowledgment that judgment is deserved due to their persistent wrongdoing. The verse also shows a humble submission to God's will, recognizing His power to both punish and forgive.

Jeremiah 18 21 Context

Jeremiah chapter 18 is known as the "Potter and Clay" chapter. God instructs Jeremiah to go to the potter's house, where he witnesses the potter shaping clay on the wheel. When the clay vessel is marred, the potter reshapes it into another vessel. This serves as a metaphor for God's sovereignty over Israel. Just as the potter can rework the clay, God can dispense judgment or show mercy to His people, even nations. Jeremiah is to confront Israel with this message, stating that God can unmake and remake them. This chapter comes after God has spoken of His plans to prosper Israel (Jeremiah 18:1-10). However, Israel's continued wickedness leads God to pronounce judgment. Verse 21 reflects Jeremiah's personal prayer in the midst of this prophetic discourse, revealing his anguish over the people's sin and the impending judgment. Historically, Judah was facing the threat of Babylonian invasion due to its persistent disobedience and idolatry, mirroring the nation's decline.

Jeremiah 18 21 Word Analysis

• "Mine": (Hebrew: וְלֹא - v'lo) Literally means "and not". In this context, it functions as a negation expressing Jeremiah's plea that God should not hear their cry.
• "enemies": (Hebrew: שִׂנְאָה - sin'ah) While typically meaning "hatred" or "enmity," in certain contexts, it can refer to those who are hostile or oppressive. Here, it refers to the "enemies" of the people who are causing them to cry out, implying an external oppressive force or perhaps the consequence of their own actions.
• "laid": (Hebrew: אָזְלֵי - azlay) This word signifies laying "waste" or "devastation." It indicates the complete ruin and destruction inflicted.
• "ambush": (Hebrew: אֹרֶב - oreb) Refers to a hiding place for lying in wait or a strategic position for an attack. It suggests a deliberate and concealed plotting of evil.
• "against": (Hebrew: עַל - al) A common preposition indicating "upon," "against," or "concerning." Here, it marks the target of the hostile action.
• "their": (Hebrew: הֵם - hem) A plural possessive pronoun referring to the people.
• "heads": (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ - rosh) Denotes the "head" or "top," often metaphorically representing the chief part or the most significant aspect of something. Here, it means "the best part" or "the prime of their ways."
• "of": (Hebrew: מִן - min) A preposition indicating "from," "out of," or "of." It signifies originating from or pertaining to.
• "the way": (Hebrew: דֶּרֶךְ - derekh) Represents "way," "path," "manner," or "journey." It implies their entire course of life and actions.
• "let": (Hebrew: אַל - al) A prohibitive particle, signifying "not," conveying a command or plea for something not to happen.
• "their": (Hebrew: קִינָּה - qin’ah) A feminine noun, meaning "lamentation" or "mourning cry."
• "come": (Hebrew: יָבֹא - yavo) The Hiphil infinitive construct of the verb "to come," meaning "to cause to come" or "to arrive."
• "unto": (Hebrew: אֶל - el) A preposition indicating direction towards.
• "thee": (Hebrew: בָּךְ - bakh) The second person singular pronoun, referring to God.
• "for": (Hebrew: מִפְּנֵי - mippeney) Means "from the face of" or "because of."
• "the robbing": (Hebrew: הַשַּׂק - hassaq) Related to "sackcloth" or "covering," suggesting something stripped away or a covering of loss and suffering. However, in some textual traditions, this might be interpreted more directly as "violence" or "robbery."

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "the robbing of the head of every way": This phrase encapsulates the complete and thorough nature of their wickedness. The "head of every way" can be understood as the most prosperous, significant, or dominant aspects of their lives and their actions. "Robbing" here implies an unjust taking, not just of material possessions, but perhaps of their dignity, their well-being, or even their spiritual connection to God, all achieved through violent or devious means ("laid in ambush"). This totality of sin makes their cry all the more deserving of God's attention as a cry of desperation born from the consequence of their pervasive evil.

Jeremiah 18 21 Bonus Section

The concept of God hearing cries can be viewed from different theological perspectives. While God's judgment is just, His ultimate desire is for repentance. His hearing a cry could lead to compassion or to a pronouncement of judgment, depending on the nature of the cry and the heart behind it. In this instance, Jeremiah anticipates that the "cry" is one of desperate affliction brought about by their own making, a cry perhaps intended to elicit pity without a foundation of true repentance. This is why Jeremiah's plea is for God not to grant them hearing for such a cry. The New Testament echo of "crying out" often pertains to genuine appeals for salvation or mercy from those in true distress, such as the cry of the tax collector in Luke 18:13 ("God, have mercy on me, a sinner!") or the fervent prayers of the early church during persecution (Acts 12:5). Jeremiah's prayer, in contrast, pertains to the cries of the wicked who suffer the natural, just consequences of their persistent evil.

Jeremiah 18 21 Commentary

Jeremiah's prayer expresses a deep sorrow and understanding of the sinfulness of his people, Judah. He acknowledges their wrongdoing and the justness of God's impending judgment. The imagery of "robbing of the head of every way" vividly portrays their pervasive iniquity—they have committed evil against God and their fellow man in every aspect of their lives and in their most significant endeavors. They have exploited, despoiled, and laid traps for others, likely for personal gain and through oppressive means. Jeremiah prays that God would not listen to their pleas when they cry out in their distress because their distress is a direct consequence of their own actions. This is not a prayer devoid of mercy, but rather a recognition of the order of justice. It aligns with the principle that God's judgment is righteous and that people should reap what they sow (Galatians 6:7). Jeremiah, as a prophet, often experienced profound empathy and sorrow for his people, even when proclaiming judgment. His prayer reflects a heart that grieves over sin and its consequences, while simultaneously submitting to God's sovereign and just dealings. The "ambush" aspect highlights a calculated, deliberate wickedness that characterized Judah's sins, contrasting with a spontaneous error.