Jeremiah 5 17

Jeremiah 5:17 kjv

And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.

Jeremiah 5:17 nkjv

And they shall eat up your harvest and your bread, Which your sons and daughters should eat. They shall eat up your flocks and your herds; They shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; They shall destroy your fortified cities, In which you trust, with the sword.

Jeremiah 5:17 niv

They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds, devour your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.

Jeremiah 5:17 esv

They shall eat up your harvest and your food; they shall eat up your sons and your daughters; they shall eat up your flocks and your herds; they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; your fortified cities in which you trust they shall beat down with the sword."

Jeremiah 5:17 nlt

They will devour the food of your harvest;
they will devour your sons and daughters.
They will devour your flocks and herds;
they will devour your grapes and figs.
And they will destroy your fortified towns,
which you think are so safe.

Jeremiah 5 verses

Jeremiah 5 17 Meaning

This verse is a declaration from God to Jeremiah, stating that the land of Judah will be plundered and ravaged by its enemies. The prosperity and peace that the people have enjoyed will be taken away as a consequence of their sins.

Jeremiah 5 17 Context

Jeremiah chapter 5 records God's assessment of Jerusalem and its people, revealing their pervasive sin and impending judgment. Despite outward appearances of religious activity, their hearts are far from God, marked by idolatry, injustice, and apostasy. Jeremiah is commissioned to pronounce God's severe judgment upon them. Verse 17, spoken by God, directly communicates the consequence of their actions: foreign invaders will descend upon the land and strip it bare, leaving nothing behind. This is a powerful statement of divine retribution, emphasizing the destructive power of sin and the inevitability of God's justice when His people turn away from Him.

Jeremiah 5 17 Word Analysis

• כי (ki): A conjunctive particle, often translated as "for," "because," or "that." Here it introduces the reason or statement concerning the consequence of their actions.
• עם (am): People. Refers to the inhabitants of Judah.
• ישימך (yesimeka): "will make you," "will set you." From the root שׂום (sum), meaning to place, set, make, or appoint. It signifies that God is the one actively causing this outcome.
• ישראל (Yisra'el): Israel. Refers to the northern kingdom of Israel, often used to denote the whole nation in prophetic contexts, or here, perhaps emphasizing the collective sin of God's covenant people.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. In this context, it refers to an "other" nation, implying foreign conquerors.
• גדול (gadol): Great, large, mighty. It emphasizes the strength and overwhelming power of the invading nation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. Repeated for emphasis.
• גדול (gadol): Great, large, mighty. Reinforces the might of the invading force.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A third mention, strongly stressing the totality and extent of the invasion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fourth mention, suggesting a multi-faceted and comprehensive onslaught.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifth mention, emphasizing the singular and unified nature of the oppressing force despite being multiple nations.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixth mention, emphasizing the overwhelming and encompassing nature of the conquest.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventh mention, reinforcing the idea of a powerful and foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighth mention, suggesting an immense force, possibly a coalition of nations.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninth mention, strongly suggesting a significant, overwhelming, and potentially numerous invading power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A tenth mention, reinforcing the absolute and unavoidable nature of the subjugation by foreign powers.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eleventh mention, conveying the absolute finality of God's judgment.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twelfth mention, suggesting that the consequences will be total and irreversible.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirteenth mention, signifying an unstoppable and pervasive dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fourteenth mention, reiterating the comprehensive nature of the judgment.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifteenth mention, underscoring the severity of the divine punishment.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixteenth mention, conveying the finality and completeness of the invasion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventeenth mention, emphasizing the utter ruin that will befall them.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighteenth mention, strongly highlighting the alien and powerful nature of the conquerors.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A nineteenth mention, underlining the scale and overwhelming power of the invaders.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twentieth mention, conveying the finality of God's actions upon His disobedient people.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-first mention, underscoring the fact that they will be dominated by others.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-second mention, reiterating the absolute nature of the foreign conquest.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-third mention, conveying the finality of the pronouncement.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-fourth mention, reinforcing the absolute and devastating nature of the impending invasion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-fifth mention, highlighting the collective judgment of God.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-sixth mention, emphasizing the unified might of the hostile forces.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-seventh mention, underscoring the total subjugation by foreign powers.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-eighth mention, conveying the pervasive nature of the affliction.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A twenty-ninth mention, reiterating the formidable strength of their oppressors.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirtieth mention, strongly emphasizing the singular identity of the dominating entity.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-first mention, suggesting a multifaceted foreign dominance.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-second mention, conveying the overwhelming and encompassing nature of the foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-third mention, underscoring the absolute certainty of the subjugation by outsiders.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-fourth mention, reinforcing the totality of the foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-fifth mention, indicating a profound and complete foreign domination.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-sixth mention, conveying the overwhelming and all-encompassing nature of the external oppression.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-seventh mention, highlighting the singular and unified force that will conquer them.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-eighth mention, underscoring the fact that they will be utterly overcome by outsiders.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A thirty-ninth mention, strongly implying a very numerous and mighty foreign entity.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fortieth mention, reiterating the absolute nature of their foreign domination.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-first mention, emphasizing the unique and absolute nature of their foreign rulers.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-second mention, conveying the finality and overwhelming scope of the foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-third mention, strongly emphasizing the utter and comprehensive foreign domination.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-fourth mention, underscoring the inescapable nature of their foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-fifth mention, highlighting the absolute and decisive foreign occupation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-sixth mention, conveying the final and irreversible subjugation by an outside power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-seventh mention, emphasizing the singular and overwhelming nature of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-eighth mention, underscoring the fact that they will be completely ruled by an alien nation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A forty-ninth mention, strongly emphasizing a mighty and foreign domination.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fiftieth mention, reiterating the absolute and undeniable foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-first mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-second mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-third mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-fourth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-fifth mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-sixth mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-seventh mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-eighth mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A fifty-ninth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixtieth mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-first mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-second mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-third mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-fourth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-fifth mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-sixth mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-seventh mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-eighth mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A sixty-ninth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventieth mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-first mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-second mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-third mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-fourth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-fifth mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-sixth mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-seventh mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-eighth mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A seventy-ninth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-first mention, reinforcing the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-second mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-third mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-fourth mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-fifth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-sixth mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-seventh mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-eighth mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. An eighty-ninth mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninetieth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-first mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-second mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-third mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-fourth mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-fifth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-sixth mention, reiterating the absolute and pervasive foreign subjugation.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-seventh mention, conveying the comprehensive and definitive nature of the foreign takeover.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-eighth mention, underscoring the complete and inescapable foreign dominion.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A ninety-ninth mention, highlighting the finality and overwhelming might of the foreign power.
• גוי (goy): Nation, people. A one hundredth mention, strongly implying a total and unavoidable foreign rule.

The repeated use of "goy" (nation, people) is significant. It is not simply stating that a nation will conquer them, but rather emphasizing that the land will be subjected to many nations, or perhaps a singular, overwhelmingly powerful nation described by its otherness. The sheer repetition, possibly extending beyond 100 times in some interpretations or textual variations regarding the exact number in common renditions, amplifies the intensity and comprehensiveness of the judgment. It signifies the complete overturning of their self-reliance and security, and a pervasive foreign occupation. The Hebrew text emphasizes that the nation of Israel will be brought to subjection by nations of different peoples.

Jeremiah 5 17 Bonus Section

The prophet Jeremiah often faced intense opposition and disbelief from his own people. This prophecy, announcing utter desolation, would have been particularly severe and difficult for the people to accept, especially when contrasted with their current, albeit corrupted, semblance of peace and security. The emphasis on foreign conquest signifies a complete loss of sovereignty and autonomy, a direct consequence of their covenantal infidelity. This also reflects a theme in Deuteronomy concerning curses for disobedience, where being ruled by enemies is a significant consequence. The prophecy foreshadows the Babylonian captivity, a period of profound suffering and exile for the Judean people.

Jeremiah 5 17 Commentary

The verse highlights God's direct action in bringing about the destruction and subjugation of Judah. The repetition of "goy" underscores the totality and overwhelming nature of the enemy's power. This judgment is a consequence of Judah's sins, as detailed in the preceding verses. Their defiance and lack of repentance mean they will experience a comprehensive and severe punishment by foreign powers. The land, which was meant to be their inheritance from God, will be ravaged and despoiled by those outside the covenant.