Jeremiah 21:1 kjv
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
Jeremiah 21:1 nkjv
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
Jeremiah 21:1 niv
The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said:
Jeremiah 21:1 esv
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying,
Jeremiah 21:1 nlt
The LORD spoke through Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malkijah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to speak with him. They begged Jeremiah,
Jeremiah 21 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 21:1 | "The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD..." | Context: King Zedekiah's plea |
| Jer 21:2 | "...Inquire of the LORD for us..." | Zedekiah seeking divine counsel |
| Jer 21:3 | "...Thus says the LORD, 'Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands...'" | Divine intervention in battle |
| Jer 21:4 | "...and gather them against this city for war..." | God orchestrates the siege |
| Jer 21:5 | "...and I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm..." | God's direct opposition |
| Jer 21:6 | "...with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence..." | Instruments of judgment |
| Jer 21:7 | "...and give Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and those in the city who survive the pestilence, the sword, and the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon..." | Outcome of the siege |
| Jer 21:10 | "...for I have set my face against this city for evil and not for good, declares the LORD..." | God's determined judgment |
| Jer 21:11 | "And to the house of the king of Judah say, 'Hear the word of the LORD..." | Message directed at the royalty |
| Jer 21:12 | "'O house of David, thus says the LORD: "'Execute justice in the morning..." | Call to righteous rule |
| Jer 34:2 | "'Say, "Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon..." | Similar prophecy in another context |
| Jer 34:3 | "'and he shall burn it with fire..." | Consequence of disobedience |
| Ezek 11:9 | "But as I turn with you, you shall be laid bare, and as I turn away from you, you shall be laid bare..." | God's perspective on the people |
| Ezek 12:13 | "And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare..." | God's sovereign plan |
| Lam 1:18 | "The LORD is in the right, for I have rebelled against his commandment..." | Judah's acknowledgment of sin |
| Ps 18:9 | "He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet." | God's power over judgment |
| Isa 1:20 | "but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword.” | Conditional covenant promises |
| Jer 7:15 | "and I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brothers, the whole offspring of Ephraim." | Similar pronouncements of exile |
| Jer 22:5 | "For if you will not heed these words, by me as I live, declares the LORD, this house shall become a ruin." | Consequence of ignoring God's word |
| Jer 29:17 | "thus says the LORD of hosts, 'Behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence..." | Prophecy of impending disaster |
Jeremiah 21 verses
Jeremiah 21 1 Meaning
The verse marks the beginning of a prophetic oracle directed at Zedekiah, the king of Judah. It conveys a divine message through Jeremiah, delivered after Nebuchadnezzar's forces had surrounded Jerusalem. The core message is one of judgment and an inescapable fate for those within the city during the siege, implying their impending surrender and defeat.
Jeremiah 21 1 Context
Jeremiah chapter 21 is part of Jeremiah's ministry during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. The book of Jeremiah chronicles God's judgment upon Judah for its persistent idolatry, unfaithfulness, and injustice, despite Jeremiah's repeated warnings. Chapter 21 specifically addresses a delegation sent by King Zedekiah, who is in a desperate situation. Zedekiah, facing the Babylonian army, sends two priests, Zephaniah son of Maaseiah and the second priest, to inquire of Jeremiah what the LORD says about the impending crisis. This act of seeking the prophet's counsel is a direct response to the siege and the dire circumstances the city finds itself in.
Jeremiah 21 1 Word Analysis
"The word" (הַדָּבָר - hadavár): This phrase signifies a divine communication, a message directly from God, establishing the authority and divine origin of what follows. It's a standard prophetic formula indicating the impartation of God's speech.
"which came" (בֹּא - bo): Literally "to come" or "to go." Here it signifies the coming of God's word to Jeremiah, indicating divine revelation or inspiration.
"to Jeremiah" (אֶל-יִרְמְיָה - el-Yirmeyahu): The recipient of the divine message. Jeremiah's name means "Yahweh lifts up" or "Yahweh casts down," reflecting the duality of his prophetic task of pronouncements of judgment and eventual hope.
"from the LORD" (מֵאֵת יְהוָה - me'et Yehovah): Clearly attributes the source of the message to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel.
"When" (וַיְהִי - vayehí): Marks the temporal setting of the event. The conjunction "and" (וַ - va) connects it to the previous narrative, indicating a sequence of events.
"King Zedekiah" (מֶלֶךְ-צִדְקִיָּהוּ - Melekh-Tzidqiyahu): The reigning monarch of Judah at this critical juncture. His name means "Yahweh is my righteousness." However, his reign and his seeking of divine counsel through Jeremiah were ultimately marked by disobedience and rebellion against God's command.
"sent" (שָׁלַח - shalach): Indicates an action of dispatching or commissioning. Zedekiah officially sent representatives.
"two priests" (שְׁנֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים - shənei hakōhanim): The messengers sent. Priests were often intermediaries in matters of religion and seeking divine guidance.
"and the second priest" (וְאֶת-הַכֹּהֵן הַשֵּׁנִי - v'et-hakōhēn hasheni): The designation of the second priest, emphasizing Zedekiah's efforts to seek God's will through established religious channels. This reflects the desperate measure taken by the king.
"to Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah" (אֶל-יִרְמְיָה בֶּן-חִלְקִיָּה - el-Yirmeyahu ben-Ḥilqiyah): Identifies Jeremiah more fully. Hilkiah was a prominent priest (father of Jehoahaz and husband of Huldah the prophetess in 2 Kings 22:14). This connection suggests a priestly background for Jeremiah, giving his pronouncements weight, though he functioned as a prophet outside the typical priestly role.
Groups of words analysis:
- "The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD": This is a classic prophetic formula emphasizing the divine origin and authority of Jeremiah's message. It’s not Jeremiah's opinion but God's direct communication.
- "King Zedekiah sent": This highlights the source of the inquiry being the highest authority in the land, the king, indicating the gravity of the situation.
- "two priests... and the second priest": The delegation comprises key figures within the religious establishment, seeking spiritual guidance, albeit under duress. The king sought answers from God through these representatives.
Jeremiah 21 1 Bonus Section
The specific mention of King Zedekiah sending priests rather than going himself, or sending someone directly related to him personally, could be interpreted in several ways: it reflects the king's fear or perhaps a symbolic representation of seeking divine intercession through religious authority. The fact that Zedekiah is seeking a prophetic word in the midst of the siege, despite Jeremiah's ongoing prophecies of doom and the failures of past kings and prophets, illustrates a pattern of crisis-driven faith, rather than a sustained, faithful walk with God. The historical context highlights the crumbling of the Davidic dynasty, with Zedekiah being the last king, under a foreign occupying power, a situation prophetically foreseen and declared.
Jeremiah 21 1 Commentary
Jeremiah 21:1 sets the stage for a crucial prophetic interaction during a dire national crisis. King Zedekiah, facing the relentless Babylonian siege, resorts to seeking divine counsel through Jeremiah. The phrasing "the word... from the LORD" underscores that Jeremiah is a conduit for God's authoritative pronouncements. This instance reveals Zedekiah’s desperation; though his leadership is flawed, he does turn to God, even if belatedly and under pressure. The mention of priests signifies the traditional channels through which the people of Israel sought God's will, underscoring the spiritual dimension of the impending judgment. The message Jeremiah receives directly addresses the king and his household, revealing God's intention to judge the leadership and the city.