Jeremiah 21 6

Jeremiah 21:6 kjv

And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.

Jeremiah 21:6 nkjv

I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die of a great pestilence.

Jeremiah 21:6 niv

I will strike down those who live in this city?both man and beast?and they will die of a terrible plague.

Jeremiah 21:6 esv

And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence.

Jeremiah 21:6 nlt

I will send a terrible plague upon this city, and both people and animals will die.

Jeremiah 21 verses

Jeremiah 21 6 meaning

Jeremiah 21:6 declares a divine pronouncement of judgment against the inhabitants of Jerusalem. God Himself asserts that He will actively bring calamity upon the city, indiscriminately striking down both humans and animals dwelling within its walls. The specific method of this widespread death will be a severe and widespread pestilence, signifying God's direct agency in the coming destruction as a consequence of their rebellion and unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 21 6 Context

Jeremiah chapter 21 unfolds during the final days of the Kingdom of Judah, specifically when Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonian army led by Nebuchadnezzar (around 589-587 BCE). King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, sends Pashhur and Zephaniah the priest to inquire of Jeremiah whether the Lord might miraculously intervene and fight for them, just as He did for Hezekiah against Sennacherib of Assyria. The people, misled by false prophets, might have clung to a misguided hope for divine intervention due to the city being God's dwelling place. However, Jeremiah's prophecy shatters this hope, revealing a stark and terrifying truth: God Himself is not fighting for Judah, but against it. Verse 6 specifically details one of the primary forms of this divine judgment, emphasizing the utter futility of resistance and the depth of God's wrath due to Judah's prolonged disobedience and idolatry.

Jeremiah 21 6 Word analysis

• I will strike down (וְהִכֵּיתִי - və·hik·kê·ṯî):
  • və- is the conjunction "and."
  • hik·kê·ṯî is from the verb nakah (נָכָה), meaning "to strike, smite, kill." This Hiphil (causative) perfect verb, first person singular, denotes a decisive and active will.
  • Significance: This is a direct declaration by God, indicating His personal agency. It's not a mere allowance or passive withdrawal, but an active, aggressive, and certain act of judgment by the Divine Hand.
• the inhabitants (יֹשְׁבֵי - yōšəḇê):
  • yōšəḇê is the construct plural form of yashav (יָשַׁב), meaning "to dwell, sit, inhabit." Literally, "dwellers of."
  • Significance: Refers to everyone residing in Jerusalem, regardless of status or individual guilt, indicating a collective judgment on the city.
• of this city (הָעִיר הַזֹּאת - hā·‘îr haz·zōṯ):
  • hā·‘îr (the city) and haz·zōṯ (this). Clearly identifying Jerusalem.
  • Significance: Pinpoints the specific target of God's wrath. This removes any ambiguity; the judgment is upon God's chosen city, now estranged by its sin.
• both man and beast (מֵאָדָם וְעַד בְּהֵמָה - mê·’ā·ḏām wə·‘aḏ bə·hê·māh):
  • mê·’ā·ḏām ("from man") and wə·‘aḏ bə·hê·māh ("even to beast"). A merism, encompassing all forms of life.
  • Significance: Highlights the comprehensive nature of the destruction. God’s judgment often impacts the entire created order connected to human sin, signifying desolation and a reversal of creation blessings.
• and they shall die (וּמֵתוּ - ū·mê·ṯū):
  • ū- (and), mê·ṯū from mut (מוּת), meaning "to die."
  • Significance: An unavoidable, certain fate. It is the direct consequence and ultimate outcome of God's action.
• of a great pestilence (בְּדֶבֶר גָּדוֹל יָמוּתוּ - bə·ḏe·ḇer gā·ḏōl yā·mū·ṯū):
  • bə- (by/with), ḏe·ḇer (דֶּבֶר) - pestilence, plague.
  • gā·ḏōl (גָּדוֹל) - great, severe.
  • Significance: Deber specifically indicates disease or plague. It's often one of a triad of judgments (sword, famine, pestilence) that God employs. "Great" underscores its scale, intensity, and deadly efficacy, signifying a judgment that sweeps through quickly and overwhelmingly, leaving no escape for the designated victims. This form of judgment highlights God's sovereign control over life and death, outside of direct human warfare.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "I will strike down the inhabitants of this city": This phrase asserts God’s personal, active involvement in the impending disaster. It's not the Babylonians alone, but God Himself, wielding the Babylonians as an instrument, or bringing the direct judgment upon them through other means like pestilence. The targeting of "this city" (Jerusalem) reveals a devastating reversal: God is abandoning His people, or rather, punishing His unfaithful people in their holiest city.
• "both man and beast": This phrase indicates the totality and indiscriminateness of the judgment. God's wrath spares no living thing within the city walls, symbolizing complete desolation. In biblical understanding, the fate of animals is often linked to humanity's covenant relationship with God. When humanity transgresses, creation suffers.
• "and they shall die of a great pestilence": This specifies the method of execution for the divine judgment. Pestilence, famine, and the sword are recurring themes of judgment throughout Scripture. The "great" emphasizes the overwhelming, deadly nature of the disease that will sweep through Jerusalem, acting as an invisible and relentless foe even for those who might escape the sword or endure the famine for a time. It underscores the severity of their transgressions that necessitated such a comprehensive and deadly affliction from God.

Jeremiah 21 6 Bonus section

The mention of "man and beast" being affected by the plague subtly connects to broader theological themes of the interconnectedness of creation under God's sovereignty. In the ancient Near East, a king's rule (and the god associated with him) was often seen as impacting the fertility of the land and well-being of its creatures. Here, Yahweh demonstrates His ultimate power by orchestrating their demise. This also echoes similar judgments, such as the plagues on Egypt, where the judgment on the people extended to their livestock, emphasizing a total overthrow of the existing order. Furthermore, the selection of pestilence as a judgment tool bypasses human efforts at defense or evasion; city walls cannot keep out disease. This contrasts sharply with the earlier hope for military deliverance (Zedekiah's initial inquiry in Jer 21:2), emphasizing the impotence of human strength against divine wrath. The Hebrew term deber often encompasses not just bubonic plague-like disease but can also denote general "deadly blows" or severe epidemics, sometimes overlapping with the effects of famine (e.g., weakened bodies becoming susceptible).

Jeremiah 21 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 21:6 delivers a severe and unsparing word from the Lord, signaling the inescapable doom of Jerusalem. It clarifies that the true antagonist is not merely the besieging Babylonian army, but Yahweh Himself, actively orchestrating the city's destruction as a punitive act against its inhabitants' persistent rebellion. The phrase "I will strike down" underscores divine agency, disabusing any notions of passive misfortune or mere human conflict. The all-encompassing nature of "both man and beast" signifies utter desolation, demonstrating that God's judgment sweeps away all life connected with the rebellious city, symbolizing the breaking of covenant blessing where creation thrives under obedience. The specific means, "a great pestilence," is a signature divine judgment, swift, pervasive, and often more devastating than military might, leaving no one truly safe. This verse serves as a chilling testament to the consequences of chronic unfaithfulness and underscores God's holiness and justice against sin, even among His chosen people.