Jeremiah 34:22 kjv
Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.
Jeremiah 34:22 nkjv
Behold, I will command,' says the LORD, 'and cause them to return to this city. They will fight against it and take it and burn it with fire; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant.' "
Jeremiah 34:22 niv
I am going to give the order, declares the LORD, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, take it and burn it down. And I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there."
Jeremiah 34:22 esv
Behold, I will command, declares the LORD, and will bring them back to this city. And they will fight against it and take it and burn it with fire. I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant."
Jeremiah 34:22 nlt
I will call the Babylonian armies back again. They will fight against this city and will capture it and burn it down. I will see to it that all the towns of Judah are destroyed, with no one living there."
Jeremiah 34 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 34:17 | Therefore thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me, to proclaim liberty... | Jer 34:17 (Cause of judgment) |
| Jeremiah 34:18 | "When the men of Judah and the officials of Jerusalem have cut the calf in two... | Jer 34:18 (Covenant violation) |
| Jeremiah 25:9 | Behold, I will summon all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD... | Jer 25:9 (Northern invaders) |
| Ezekiel 20:44 | And you shall know that I am the LORD when I deal with you for my name's sake... | Ezek 20:44 (God's holiness) |
| Leviticus 25:10 | Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land... | Lev 25:10 (Jubilee principle) |
| Nehemiah 5:12 | Then they said, "We will hand them over and demand them back... | Neh 5:12 (Breaking promise) |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiffnecked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised... | Acts 7:51 (Resisting the Spirit) |
| Isaiah 3:26 | Her gates lament and mourn; she is deserted and sits on the ground. | Isa 3:26 (Desolation) |
| Psalm 50:16 | But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to recite my statutes... | Psa 50:16 (Ignoring commands) |
| Lamentations 2:2 | The Lord has swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob and has not relented... | Lam 2:2 (Divine wrath) |
| Ezekiel 14:17 | Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, 'Let the sword pass through... | Ezek 14:17 (Judgment by sword) |
| Hosea 1:7 | But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD... | Hos 1:7 (Mercy contrasted) |
| Jeremiah 7:33 | And the corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the sky... | Jer 7:33 (Grave pronouncement) |
| 1 Samuel 15:22 | And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices... | 1 Sam 15:22 (Obedience valued) |
| Jeremiah 3:8 | She saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I gave her her discharge... | Jer 3:8 (Disgrace for unfaithfulness) |
| Habakkuk 2:8 | Because you have plundered many nations, all the remaining peoples shall plunder you... | Hab 2:8 (Retribution) |
| Amos 6:10 | And a man's uncle will lift him up, and he who burns him, to bring the bones... | Amos 6:10 (Mass death) |
| Romans 2:25 | For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law... | Rom 2:2 (Circumcision, Obedience) |
| Matthew 12:7 | If you had known what this means, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice," you would not have condemned the guiltless. | Matt 12:7 (Mercy over ritual) |
| John 8:31 | So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples..." | John 8:31 (Abiding in truth) |
| 2 Peter 2:1 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you... | 2 Pet 2:1 (False teachers) |
Jeremiah 34 verses
Jeremiah 34 22 Meaning
This verse is a prophecy of doom upon Jerusalem, indicating its imminent destruction by the Chaldeans (Babylonians). The specific reason given is the broken covenant by the leaders and the people concerning the freeing of their Hebrew slaves. God will bring a sword upon them, resulting in widespread death and desolation. The statement signifies God's judgment against broken promises and disregard for justice and mercy, particularly towards the vulnerable.
Jeremiah 34 22 Context
This verse is situated within Jeremiah's prophecy during the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II. The immediate context (Jeremiah 34:8-22) details King Zedekiah and the people's violation of a covenant they had made to free their Hebrew slaves. This covenant was a response to Jehovah's message through Jeremiah, as a desperate measure to avert Babylonian invasion. However, after the threat seemed to pass temporarily due to a delay in the Babylonian advance, they rescinded their decision, returning the slaves to their former bondage. This verse serves as God's pronouncement of severe judgment upon Judah for their hypocrisy and breaking of a solemn oath sworn before God, specifically concerning justice and freedom for the oppressed. The broader context of Jeremiah is the decline and impending destruction of Judah due to persistent disobedience and idolatry, despite numerous warnings.
Jeremiah 34 22 Word Analysis
"For behold" (וְהִנֵּה - wehinnēh): Introduces a declaration or statement of fact; emphasizes what is about to be said.
"I am bringing" (אֲנִי מֵבִיא - ani mevī'): "Ani" (I) highlights the personal agency of God. "Mevī'" (bringing) denotes active, incoming action of judgment.
"a word of the LORD" (דְּבַר־יְהוָה - dĕvar-YHWH): Refers to God's decree, command, or pronouncement. It signifies divine authority.
"against this city" (עַל־הָעִיר־הַזֹּאת - 'al-ha‘īr-haz-zōth): Specifically targets Jerusalem, emphasizing the concentrated nature of the impending judgment.
"for evil" (לְרָעָה - lĕrā‘āh): Denotes destruction, calamity, or disaster, reflecting the nature of God's judgment.
"and I will give" (וְנָתַתִּי - wenāthathī): Expresses God's active involvement in handing over the city to its enemies.
"it into the hand" (בְּיַד - bĕyad): Signifies complete control and subjugation.
"of the Chaldeans" (הַכַּשְׂדִּים - hak-kaśdîm): Identifies the specific instruments of God's judgment, the Babylonians.
"and you shall become" (וְהָיִיתֶם - wehāyītem): Predicts a transformed state for the inhabitants.
"a desolation" (שְׁמָמָה - shĕmāmāh): Indicates utter ruin, emptiness, and abandonment.
"and a waste" (וּמְשַׁמָּה - umĕshammāh): Reinforces the idea of complete devastation.
Group Analysis:
- "For behold, I am bringing a word of the LORD against this city for evil" emphasizes the direct, divine origin and specific intent of the impending destruction, not as random chance but as a planned retribution.
- "and I will give it into the hand of the Chaldeans, and you shall become a desolation and a waste" details the means of destruction and the resultant state of the city, highlighting the severity of God's judgment resulting from their covenant violation.
Jeremiah 34 22 Bonus Section
The imagery of a "desolation and a waste" for Jerusalem was a recurring theme in Jeremiah's prophecies (e.g., Jer 17:27; 33:10-11). It represents the ultimate consequence of forsaking God and His commands, a tangible manifestation of divine judgment. The breaking of the covenant concerning Hebrew slaves is a significant example of how internal societal injustice invited external divine judgment. This event reflects a broader pattern where God's covenant relationship with Israel was conditional upon their obedience, including their commitment to justice for the poor and oppressed. The prophecy's fulfillment was realized with the Babylonian conquest and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, confirming God's word through His prophet. This highlights the unwavering certainty of God's judgment against sin and covenant-breaking, even when His people seem to find temporary relief.
Jeremiah 34 22 Commentary
Jeremiah 34:22 is a stark pronouncement of divine retribution. God declares His intention to bring evil upon Jerusalem and to deliver it into the hands of the Chaldeans. This is not a capricious act but a direct consequence of Jerusalem's rulers and people breaking a solemn covenant. They had agreed to proclaim liberty for their enslaved Hebrew brothers, a clear step towards righteous societal practice reflecting the Year of Jubilee principles. However, when the immediate threat of Babylonian invasion seemed to recede, they cynically reneged on their promise, forcing the slaves back into servitude. This act of faithlessness, injustice, and betrayal of an oath taken before God (signified by cutting the calf in two, Jer 34:18-19) invited God's judgment. The verse vividly paints the future state of Jerusalem as a "desolation and a waste," signifying total ruin. This speaks to a fundamental principle: God holds those who are in covenant with Him accountable, especially when they violate principles of justice and mercy, treating the vulnerable oppressively. It underscores that outward religious acts or declarations are meaningless if not accompanied by righteous action and faithfulness to commitments made. The severity of the punishment, depicted through imagery of utter destruction, is proportional to the depth of their covenant betrayal.