Jeremiah 21 14

Jeremiah 21:14 kjv

But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.

Jeremiah 21:14 nkjv

But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings," says the LORD; "I will kindle a fire in its forest, And it shall devour all things around it." ' "

Jeremiah 21:14 niv

I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you.'?"

Jeremiah 21:14 esv

I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds, declares the LORD; I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is around her."

Jeremiah 21:14 nlt

And I myself will punish you for your sinfulness,
says the LORD.
I will light a fire in your forests
that will burn up everything around you.'"

Jeremiah 21 verses

Jeremiah 21 14 meaning

This verse declares the LORD's certain and complete judgment upon Jerusalem, stating that their punishment will be directly proportional to their actions. The divine pronouncement, "says the LORD," underscores the unalterable nature of this decree. A consuming fire, actively kindled by God, will sweep through the metaphorical "forest" of the city, devouring everything in its path, signifying utter and widespread destruction.

Jeremiah 21 14 Context

Jeremiah chapter 21 opens with King Zedekiah, during Nebuchadnezzar's final siege of Jerusalem (589-587 BC), sending officials to Jeremiah to inquire if the LORD would miraculously intervene against the Babylonians. This demonstrates a superficial appeal to God in desperation, ignoring years of prophetic warnings about their apostasy. Jeremiah's response is stark and unwavering: God Himself will fight against Judah, not for them. He declares that the city and its inhabitants will be delivered into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, and a clear choice is presented—surrender to the Chaldeans to live, or resist and die by sword, famine, and pestilence. This particular verse (21:14) immediately follows a pronouncement of judgment on "the house of the king of Judah" (21:11-12) and the residents of Jerusalem (21:13), warning them against their evil doings and their reliance on the city's seemingly impregnable defenses. It underscores the divine decision for unreserved destruction as a consequence of their deep-seated rebellion.

Jeremiah 21 14 Word analysis

• And I will punish you: (וּפָקַדְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם - ūp̄āqaḏtî ‘ălêkem)
  • פָּקַד (pāqaḏ): "visit, inspect, count, appoint, punish." Here, it carries the strong connotation of punitive visitation, a precise divine reckoning. It's not a casual visit but one for strict accountability.
  • This phrase highlights God's direct agency and intentionality in bringing judgment. The "you" refers collectively to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, who have repeatedly provoked God.
• according to the fruit of your doings: (כְּפְרִי מַעַלְלֵיכֶם - kəp̄ərî ma‘aləlêḵem)
  • כְּפְרִי (kəp̄ərî): "according to the fruit of." This is a strong metaphor, emphasizing that the consequences are the natural, unavoidable outcome directly produced by their actions. Like a tree bearing fruit, their deeds yield a bitter harvest.
  • מַעַלְלֵיכֶם (ma‘aləlêḵem): "your deeds, your practices, your doings." Often used in scripture to describe actions, particularly those that are sinful or rebellious, which provoke God's wrath. This signifies the just nature of the coming punishment; it is earned by their persistent disobedience, injustice, and idolatry.
• says the LORD: (נְאֻם יְהוָה - nə’um YHVH)
  • נְאֻם (nə’um): "oracle, utterance, declaration of." This formulaic phrase firmly establishes the divine origin and unchangeable authority of the message. It's not Jeremiah's personal opinion but a direct word from God.
  • יְהוָה (YHVH): The sacred, covenantal name of God. This reinforces that the one speaking is the faithful God of Israel, who fulfills both His promises and His warnings. It personalizes the divine declaration, connecting it to the God who chose and redeemed them, but now also judges them.
• and I will kindle a fire: (וְהִצַּתִּי אֵשׁ - wəhiṣṣattî ’ēš)
  • הִצַּתִּי (hiṣṣattî): "I will set on fire, kindle." This emphasizes God's active role as the initiator and agent of the destruction. It is not an accident or solely an act of Nebuchadnezzar; it is a divine judgment.
  • אֵשׁ (’ēš): "fire." A pervasive biblical symbol for divine wrath, judgment, purification, and absolute destruction. In this context, it is explicitly destructive.
• in its forest: (בְּיַעְרָהּ - bəya‘rāh)
  • יַעְרָהּ (ya‘rāh): "its forest." The "its" refers to the city or land of Judah. This is a powerful metaphor.
    • Scholars often interpret this metaphorically for Jerusalem itself, which, with its numerous inhabitants, dense buildings, grand palaces, and the temple (built with cedars from Lebanon), was like a thick, mighty forest, seemingly impenetrable and secure.
    • Alternatively, it could refer to the prominent, significant, or powerful people within the city, compared to the sturdy trees of a forest.
    • The implication is that even the most robust, deeply rooted, and flourishing aspects of the city and its leadership will be consumed.
• and it shall devour all things around it: (וְאָכְלָה כָּל סְבִיבֶיהָ - wə’āk̄lâ kāl səvîḇeyhā)
  • אָכְלָה (’āk̄lâ): "it shall devour, consume." This depicts the fire not just as kindled, but as actively, totally, and aggressively consuming.
  • כָּל סְבִיבֶיהָ (kāl səvîḇeyhā): "all its surroundings, everything around it." This signifies the absolute and comprehensive nature of the judgment. No part within the defined area—the city's strength, people, and periphery—will be spared. The destruction will be thorough and leave nothing intact.

Jeremiah 21 14 Bonus section

This prophecy against Judah echoes similar judgment pronouncements where specific locations or entities are compared to a "forest" to highlight their destruction. For example, Isaiah 10:18-19 describes the consuming of Assyria's "glory of his forest," and Ezekiel 20:46-48 portrays a divine fire devouring every tree in the "forest of the South" (a metaphor for Judah). Such comparisons emphasize that even entities considered mighty, flourishing, or deeply rooted in their perceived strength are vulnerable to God's judgment. The metaphor serves to underscore the perceived invincibility of the target (like a dense forest), making its ultimate destruction by fire even more striking. The consistent use of "I will" by God throughout this passage emphasizes His absolute sovereignty over history and the events unfolding. It reminds Judah that their plight is not a random turn of events or merely a stronger power's conquest, but a direct, deliberate act of their covenant God in response to their profound rebellion.

Jeremiah 21 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 21:14 delivers an unyielding message of divine judgment. It unequivocally states that God Himself is the one punishing Judah, not merely allowing external enemies to act independently. The punishment is explicitly tied to "the fruit of your doings," establishing a direct correlation between the nation's consistent wickedness, idolatry, and social injustice, and their catastrophic demise. This underscores the principle of divine justice: what one sows, one reaps. The declaration "says the LORD" solidifies the pronouncement as an authoritative, unalterable divine decree.

The imagery of God kindling a "fire in its forest" vividly portrays the devastating scale and origin of this judgment. The "forest" represents the proud, strong, and seemingly impenetrable city of Jerusalem, including its royal structures, Temple, and dense population. Fire, in scripture, consistently symbolizes God's consuming wrath and comprehensive destruction. The phrase "it shall devour all things around it" emphasizes the totality and inescapable nature of this judgment; every part of their supposed strength and security will be consumed. This prophecy was tragically fulfilled with the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, where the city, temple, and royal palaces were indeed set ablaze, leaving an indelible mark of God's holy indignation against sin. It stands as a timeless warning that persistent rebellion against God brings certain and absolute judgment.