Jeremiah 21:7 kjv
And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
Jeremiah 21:7 nkjv
And afterward," says the LORD, "I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence and the sword and the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life; and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword. He shall not spare them, or have pity or mercy." '
Jeremiah 21:7 niv
After that, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.'
Jeremiah 21:7 esv
Afterward, declares the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword. He shall not pity them or spare them or have compassion.'
Jeremiah 21:7 nlt
And after all that, says the LORD, I will hand over King Zedekiah, his staff, and everyone else in the city who survives the disease, war, and famine. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their other enemies. He will slaughter them and show them no mercy, pity, or compassion.'
Jeremiah 21 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 21:7 | "And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as have escaped in this city from pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, nor have pity, nor have mercy." | (God's judgment on Judah) |
| 2 Kings 25:4 | "And it came to pass, that, when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, then all the men of war, fleeing every man by the way of the gate between the two walls: he went out the way of the plain." | (Zedekiah's attempt to flee) |
| Jeremiah 34:3 | "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to master of the house of David; Therefore thus saith the LORD; Because thou hast not heard my counsels," | (Failure to heed God's word) |
| Jeremiah 34:21 | "And I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which go away from you." | (Specific mention of princes) |
| Jeremiah 37:17 | "Then Jeremiah the prophet came unto king Zedekiah, when he was in prison, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Beaten thou shalt be. And thus saith the LORD, Beware lest thou receive him into thy house: for if thou suffer him, the penalty of death shall be in this city." | (Prophet's warning) |
| Jeremiah 39:6 | "Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before thine eyes: and the king of Babylon smote also all the nobles of Judah." | (The princes are slain) |
| Jeremiah 52:10 | "And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he set his eyes also upon Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death." | (Zedekiah's fate) |
| 2 Chronicles 36:13 | "And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he hardened his neck, and made his heart an unfleshed, that he might not return unto the LORD God of Israel." | (Zedekiah's rebellion) |
| Isaiah 39:7 | "And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon." | (Foreshadowing of exiles) |
| Ezekiel 12:13 | "I will spread therefore my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there." | (Ezekiel's prophecy) |
| Amos 3:7 | "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." | (God reveals His plans) |
| Psalm 37:32 | "The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him." | (Enemies seeking life) |
| Psalm 79:8 | "O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low." | (Consequences of sin) |
| Isaiah 10:5 | "O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation." | (God using nations) |
| Habakkuk 1:11 | "Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this his power unto his god." | (Arrogance of conquerors) |
| John 3:16 | "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." | (God's ultimate deliverance) |
| Romans 8:37 | "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." | (Overcoming in Christ) |
| Revelation 6:8 | "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." | (Sword and famine) |
| Revelation 13:7 | "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations." | (Power over nations) |
| Revelation 18:6 | "Render unto her as she hath rendered unto you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double." | (Retribution) |
| Romans 11:33 | "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" | (God's inscrutable ways) |
Jeremiah 21 verses
Jeremiah 21 7 Meaning
This verse declares God's decisive action to deliver the king of Judah and his officials into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and into the hand of his soldiers, signifying their impending defeat and capture. It also states that God will deliver the inhabitants of Jerusalem into their hand.
Jeremiah 21 7 Context
Jeremiah chapter 21 describes Jerusalem under siege by Nebuchadnezzar. The people of Jerusalem have sent messengers to Jeremiah asking for God's word regarding their situation. God's message through Jeremiah is one of imminent judgment due to their continued disobedience and rebellion against Him. Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had also broken his oath of loyalty to Babylon, further sealing the city's doom. This verse specifically addresses the king, his officials, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, revealing God's sovereign decree to hand them over to the Babylonian forces. The context is a final, severe warning before the complete fall of the city, emphasizing God's justice and the inescapable consequences of turning away from Him.
Jeremiah 21 7 Word Analysis
- And afterward (וְאַחֲרֵי־ כֵן, və’aḥărey-ḵēn): Signifies a temporal sequence, indicating that after the current distress or judgment, a further and more complete subjugation will occur.
- saith the LORD (נְאֻם־ יְהוָה, nə’um-YHWH): A formal declaration of divine utterance, attributing the following words directly to God, emphasizing their divine authority and truthfulness.
- I will deliver (וּנְתַתִּי, wə·nə·ṯat·tî): The Hiphil infinitive of the root נָתַן (nāṯan, to give), signifying "I will cause to be given" or "I will hand over." This indicates an active and deliberate act by God.
- Zedekiah the king of Judah (אֶת־צִדְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה, ’eṯ-ṣiḏə·qî·yā·hû ’e·l·me·l·ḵə-yə·hû·ḏâ): Refers to the reigning king of Judah, whose reign was marked by rebellion and ultimately the destruction of Jerusalem.
- and his servants (וְאֶת־עֲבָדָיו, wə’eṯ-‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw): The officials and courtiers surrounding the king, also subject to the impending judgment.
- and the people (וְאֶת־הָעָם, wə’eṯ-hā·‘ām): The general populace of Jerusalem, indicating the sweeping nature of the divine judgment.
- and such as have escaped in this city (וְאֵת שְׁאֵרִית הָעָם הַנּוֹתֶרֶת בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת, wə’eṯ-šə’ê·rîṯ hā-‘ām han·nō·ṯe·reṯ bā-‘îr haz·zō·ṯ): Refers to the remnant or survivors within Jerusalem, implying that even those who have managed to survive the initial hardships of the siege will not be spared from the final downfall.
- from pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine (מִדֶּבֶר מִמַּחֲלַת וּמִחֶרֶב וּמִקָּמָא, mid·dē·ḇər-mimm·ma·ḥă·laṯ-wû·mi·ḥê·rə·ḇe·wû·mî·qə·mā’): Lists the calamities that have been afflicting the city and its people, highlighting the dire circumstances. Pestilence (maḥălâ) and famine (qāmā’ or often translated as hunger) were common consequences of siege warfare, along with the sword.
- into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon (בְּיַד נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶל, bə·yaḏ-nə·ḇû·ḵa·ḏər·’eṣ·ṣar-mê·lɛḵ-bā·ḇêl): Identifies the specific agent of God's judgment, Nebuchadnezzar II, the powerful king of Babylon, and his kingdom.
- and into the hand of their enemies (וּבְיַד שֹׂנְאֵיהֶם, wû·ḇə·yaḏ-śō·nə-‘ê·hêm): Broadens the scope of those into whose hands they will be delivered, encompassing any who opposed Judah.
- and into the hand of them that seek their life (וּבְיַד הַמְבַקְּשִׁים אֶת־נַפְשָׁם, wû·ḇə·yaḏ-ham·mɛ·ḇaq·qə·šîm ’eṯ-nap̄·šām): This phrase emphasizes the relentless pursuit and lethal intent of their captors; "seek their life" implies a desire for their destruction.
- and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword (לְמַכָּה בְּפִי־חֶרֶב, lə·maḵ·kā-bə·pî-ḥɛ·rɛḇ): A strong idiom for slaughter, indicating a complete and brutal elimination.
- he shall not spare them, nor have pity, nor have mercy (וְלֹא יָחוּס עֲלֵיהֶם וְלֹא יְרַחֵם, wə·lō-yā·ḥûs ‘ă·lê·hêm wə·lō-yə·ra·ḥêm): These parallel phrases amplify the totality of the judgment, portraying a complete absence of compassion or clemency from their captors, as ordained by God. The repetition emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction.
Jeremiah 21 7 Bonus Section
The unwavering resolve of Nebuchadnezzar and his army, devoid of mercy, reflects a divine appointment. God uses even pagan kings and armies as instruments of His judgment against His own disobedient people. This concept is echoed in Isaiah 10:5, where Assyria is called the "rod of God's anger." The promise of deliverance into the hands of enemies who seek their life is a severe consequence of their continued rebellion and idolatry. While this passage details God's judgment on physical enemies, the New Testament offers a contrasting theme of spiritual deliverance through Jesus Christ. For believers, ultimate security is found not in earthly defenses but in Christ's atoning sacrifice and promised resurrection, ensuring victory over spiritual death and sin (Romans 8:37). The lament in Psalm 79:8 regarding past iniquities being remembered by God points to the cyclical nature of sin, judgment, and God's eventual mercy upon repentance, though not for those actively in rebellion at this moment.
Jeremiah 21 7 Commentary
This verse serves as a stark pronouncement of divine judgment against Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem. God is not passively observing but actively orchestrating their downfall. The inclusion of "pestilence, sword, and famine" describes the comprehensive nature of the siege's suffering, from which no one will ultimately escape. The handing over to Nebuchadnezzar signifies that this defeat is not merely a military setback but an instrument of God's wrath for Judah's unfaithfulness. The assurance that their enemies will "seek their life" and show "no pity, nor mercy" underscores the severity and finality of the impending destruction. This passage highlights the consequence of breaking covenants and turning away from the Lord. It illustrates the principle that God holds nations and their leaders accountable for their obedience.