Jeremiah 34:20 kjv
I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth.
Jeremiah 34:20 nkjv
I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their life. Their dead bodies shall be for meat for the birds of the heaven and the beasts of the earth.
Jeremiah 34:20 niv
I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.
Jeremiah 34:20 esv
And I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who seek their lives. Their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.
Jeremiah 34:20 nlt
I will give you to your enemies, and they will kill you. Your bodies will be food for the vultures and wild animals.
Jeremiah 34 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 34:20 | Thus says the LORD: Against whom are you doing this? Behold, I am against you | Jer 34:12, Jer 17:1-2 |
| Deuteronomy 28:28 | The LORD will strike you with madness and with blindness and with stunned minds. | Deut 28:28 |
| Isaiah 3:1-7 | And I will give youths to be their princes, and children shall rule over them. | Isa 3:1-7 |
| Jeremiah 22:5-7 | but if you will not obey my words, this house shall become a ruin, says the LORD. | Jer 22:5-7 |
| Ezekiel 33:20 | Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not equal.’ | Ezek 33:20 |
| Proverbs 1:30-31 | They will eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices. | Prov 1:30-31 |
| Psalm 7:11-13 | God is a righteous judge and a God who expresses indignation every day. | Psa 7:11-13 |
| Matthew 7:1-2 | For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. | Matt 7:1-2 |
| Revelation 18:6 | Pay her back as she also has paid, and for her deeds return to her double. | Rev 18:6 |
| Jeremiah 1:14 | Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be poured out on all the inhabitants of the land.” | Jer 1:14 |
| Jeremiah 21:4 | says the LORD, Behold, I am putting a sword into their hand... | Jer 21:4 |
| Leviticus 25:39-43 | You shall not rule over him with ruthlessness, but shall fear your God. | Lev 25:39-43 |
| Amos 8:4-6 | Hear this, you who trample on the needy... | Amos 8:4-6 |
| Zechariah 1:15 | I am keenly expecting. | Zech 1:15 |
| Nehemiah 5:1-5 | We are suffering great hardship from the enemy. | Neh 5:1-5 |
| 1 Corinthians 10:22 | Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? | 1 Cor 10:22 |
| Psalm 94:1 | O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! | Psa 94:1 |
| Romans 12:19 | Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God... | Rom 12:19 |
| Jeremiah 39:5 | But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah... | Jer 39:5 |
| Jeremiah 34:1-7 | Concerning Zedekiah king of Judah and his covenant that he made with the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them. | Jer 34:1-7 |
Jeremiah 34 verses
Jeremiah 34 20 Meaning
This verse is a severe pronouncement of judgment against Judah for their covenant unfaithfulness, specifically regarding the mistreatment of formerly enslaved people. It signifies God's wrath upon them for breaking solemn promises.
Jeremiah 34 20 Context
Jeremiah chapter 34 details King Zedekiah's covenant with the people of Jerusalem to free their slaves, a response to the imminent Babylonian invasion. However, Zedekiah and the leaders later renege on this promise, a grave sin in the eyes of God. This verse directly follows the prophecy of the imminent destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians as a consequence of their broken covenant and mistreatment of the freed slaves. It highlights God's direct opposition to those who practice injustice and break their solemn oaths, emphasizing that their actions will bring divine judgment upon them.
Jeremiah 34 20 Word Analysis
- Thus: An adverb indicating a result or consequence, introducing God's direct speech.
- says: The third-person singular verb, indicating God as the speaker.
- the LORD: (YHWH) The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel.
- Behold: An interjection commanding attention, drawing the listener to the gravity of the statement.
- I: The first-person pronoun, referring to God Himself.
- am: The present tense of the verb "to be," indicating an immediate and active state.
- against: A preposition showing opposition or enmity.
- you: The second-person plural pronoun, referring to the people and leaders of Judah.
- doing: The present participle of "to do," emphasizing the ongoing nature of their transgressions.
- this: A demonstrative pronoun pointing to the specific act of breaking their covenant and re-enslaving those they had freed.
Words-Group Analysis
- "Thus says the LORD": This is a typical prophetic formula, signaling a direct message from God. It carries the absolute authority of divine revelation.
- "Behold, I am against you": This is a strong declaration of divine opposition and impending judgment. It signifies God's personal intervention due to their wrongdoing. The "you" collectively refers to the unfaithful leadership and populace of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 34 20 Bonus Section
The act of making a covenant was highly significant in ancient Near Eastern cultures, carrying deep religious and legal weight. When God is stated to be "against" a people, it signifies a complete severance of favor and the initiation of punitive action, stemming from His role as the ultimate Judge and guardian of His covenant. The specific offense here relates to the laws of the Hebrew Bible regarding the humane treatment of slaves and the proclamation of liberty, which were God-given requirements to protect the vulnerable and uphold justice. The rejection of these principles was a direct affront to God Himself.
Jeremiah 34 20 Commentary
This verse serves as a potent reminder of God's absolute sovereignty and His intolerance for broken covenants and injustice. When people, particularly a covenant people like Judah, deliberately violate solemn promises and oppress others, they invoke God's direct wrath. The phrase "I am against you" is not a mere threat but a declaration of war by the Almighty. This principle extends to all who exploit and disregard the vulnerable, highlighting that God sees and judges such actions. The judgment pronounced here is a consequence of their sin, mirroring the pattern seen throughout scripture: faithfulness to God and His commands brings blessing, while unfaithfulness invites severe discipline.