Jeremiah 29:18 kjv
And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:
Jeremiah 29:18 nkjv
And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth?to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,
Jeremiah 29:18 niv
I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse and an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.
Jeremiah 29:18 esv
I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them,
Jeremiah 29:18 nlt
Yes, I will pursue them with war, famine, and disease, and I will scatter them around the world. In every nation where I send them, I will make them an object of damnation, horror, contempt, and mockery.
Jeremiah 29 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 29:18 | "I will pursue them with sword, famine and plague to their end" | God’s active judgment upon sin |
| Lev 26:17 | "I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down" | Consequence of disobedience |
| Deut 28:25 | "The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies" | Divine abandonment in judgment |
| Psa 7:12-13 | "If he does not turn back, he will sharpen his sword" | God’s preparation for judgment |
| Psa 21:12 | "You will make them turn their backs when you prepare your shafts" | Divine weapons of destruction |
| Psa 61:3 | "For you are my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy" | Contrast of God as refuge for the faithful |
| Psa 11:6 | "He rains down fiery coals and sulfur on the wicked" | God's instruments of wrath |
| Isa 21:10 | "O my threshed and winnowed [people], hear what I have said" | Imagery of divine sifting and judgment |
| Isa 24:1-6 | "The earth is split apart, the earth is violently broken" | Universal desolation as judgment |
| Isa 34:2-7 | "For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense" | Day of the Lord’s vengeance |
| Isa 66:15-16 | "For behold, the Lord will come in fire... his rebuke is with flames" | Divine judgment by fire |
| Eze 5:12 | "A third part of you shall die of plague... and a third by famine" | Catastrophic judgment with multiple means |
| Eze 6:3 | "And I will bring the sword against you, and will cut off from you righteous and wicked alike" | Universal destruction of the wicked |
| Eze 14:21 | "What further punishment shall my four harsh judgments inflict upon Jerusalem" | God’s severe judgments |
| Dan 9:16 | "In wrath and anger turn back to me your favor toward your servant" | Prayer for turning from judgment |
| Hos 2:9 | "Then I will take back my grain in its time, and my wine in its season" | Withdrawal of divine provision |
| Hos 7:11-12 | "They resort to lies, and take counsel, but not through my Spirit" | Rejection of God’s counsel |
| Amos 5:27 | "Therefore I will take you into exile beyond Damascus" | Judgment of exile |
| Amos 8:11 | "not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord" | Spiritual famine as judgment |
| Mic 7:2 | "The faithful man has perished from the earth" | Absence of the righteous |
| Nah 3:11 | "You too will be struck staggering and will seek refuge from the enemy" | Seeking refuge in distress |
| Mal 4:1 | "For behold, the day is coming, burned as a hot furnace" | Day of burning judgment |
| Luke 19:43-44 | "Your enemies will cast up a barricade against you and surround you" | Fulfillment of destruction on Jerusalem |
| Rev 6:8 | "And I looked, and behold, a pale horse; and its rider’s name was Death" | Instruments of judgment in the Apocalypse |
| Rev 18:7-8 | "How much she glorified herself and lived deliciously, so much give her torment and pain" | Divine retribution on a sinful city |
Jeremiah 29 verses
Jeremiah 29 18 Meaning
This verse reveals God’s active judgment and displeasure towards a rebellious nation, specifically Judah. The prophecy highlights that God will actively pursue them with destruction, leaving no room for escape or comfort. This is not a passive observation but a direct consequence of their sins, marked by continued spiritual unfaithfulness. The severity is emphasized by the utter desolation and the complete abandonment of God’s dwelling place, the Temple.
Jeremiah 29 18 Context
Jeremiah 29:18 is situated within the larger prophecy of Jeremiah concerning the Babylonian exile of Judah. Chapter 29 specifically addresses a letter sent to the exiles in Babylon, offering them a message of hope and instruction amidst their suffering. This particular verse, however, serves as a stark pronouncement of continued divine judgment upon those who remained in Jerusalem and surrounding areas, as well as those within the exile who were apostate. It emphasizes that God’s judgment would pursue them relentlessly due to their persistent sin and idolatry. The "sword, famine, and plague" are classic instruments of divine punishment in the Old Testament, signifying total devastation and the withdrawal of God’s protection. The abandonment of God’s dwelling place points to the ultimate desecration of Jerusalem and the Temple, a consequence of their rebellion.
Jeremiah 29 18 Word Analysis
אֲנִי (ʾanî): "I" – Emphasizes the personal agency of God in enacting the judgment.
רֹדֵף (rōḏēp̄): "pursue" – Implies an active and relentless tracking down, not passive observation.
אַתֶּם (ʾattem): "you" (plural) – Direct address to the disobedient nation of Judah.
חֶרֶב (ḥereḇ): "sword" – Symbolizes violent conflict and warfare.
וּרָעָב (ū-rāʿāḇ): "and famine" – Represents the lack of sustenance, often a consequence of war or divine judgment.
וּדֶבֶר (ū-ḏeḇeṙ): "and pestilence/plague" – Signifies disease and widespread death.
עַד־כָּלָה (ʿaḏ-kālāh): "until consumption/utter end" – Denotes a complete and total annihilation or destruction.
וְלָתֵת (wə-lāṯēṯ): "and to give" – Implies God’s action of assigning or delivering them to these calamities.
בָּהֶם (bāhêm): "upon them" – Direct application of the judgment to the people.
נְאֻם־יְהוָה (nəʾum-YHWH): "Thus says the LORD" – Formal pronouncement attributing the prophecy directly to God, lending it absolute authority.
וְלֹא־יִהְיֶה־לָהֶם (wə-lōʾ-yihyeh-lāhêm): "and there will not be for them" – Indicates the absence of any mitigating factors or hope for them.
לָהֶם (lāhêm): "for them" – Pertaining to the recipients of the judgment.
מוֹשִׁיב (môšîḇ): "one who makes dwell/reside" – God’s unique role in granting security and stability to His people, now withdrawn.
בְּעִירִי (bəʿîrî): "in my land" – Refers to the land God had given them, which they had defiled. The possession of the land was conditional upon obedience.
לְחָרְדָה (lə-ḥārədāh): "for terror/dread" – The ultimate state of their existence in the land, filled with fear.
וְלֹא־שָׁם (wə-lōʾ-šām): "and not there" – Emphasizes the absence of any respite or place of safety.
Grouped Analysis:
- The trio of "sword, famine, and plague" represents a comprehensive catastrophic judgment, a standard biblical motif for total devastation.
- The phrase "until consumption" underscores the thoroughness of God’s judgment, leaving nothing intact.
- The concept of God withholding the "one who makes dwell" signifies the loss of security, stability, and divine presence, particularly in the land promised by God.
Jeremiah 29 18 Bonus Section
The concept of God "pursuing" with judgment is not necessarily punitive malice but the consequence of broken covenant. When a covenant relationship is violated to such an extent, the established consequences (often outlined in the covenant itself, e.g., Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 28) are enacted. The "consumption" speaks to the forfeiture of the land promise, as the land itself would not "dwell" with them in a blessed manner when they were defiled. This contrasts with God's promise to "make you dwell in safety" (Lev 26:6) for those who obey.
Jeremiah 29 18 Commentary
This verse articulates the devastating consequence of persistent rebellion against God. It's a divine declaration of complete destruction upon the disobedient nation of Judah. God is not merely allowing these disasters to happen; He is actively orchestrating them. The repetition of the word "for them" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of their doom. Their continued unfaithfulness, despite previous warnings and judgments, seals their fate to experience absolute desolation and fear in the very land that was meant to be a blessing.
- Practical application: When a nation or an individual consistently rejects God's ways, the spiritual and often material consequences are dire. While God is merciful, His justice demands accountability for persistent sin. This verse serves as a potent reminder of the serious consequences of straying from divine paths, illustrating that there are times when the "door of hope" closes due to hardened hearts.