Jeremiah 7 33

Jeremiah 7:33 kjv

And the carcases of this people shall be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth; and none shall fray them away.

Jeremiah 7:33 nkjv

The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the heaven and for the beasts of the earth. And no one will frighten them away.

Jeremiah 7:33 niv

Then the carcasses of this people will become food for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.

Jeremiah 7:33 esv

And the dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the air, and for the beasts of the earth, and none will frighten them away.

Jeremiah 7:33 nlt

The bodies of my people will be food for the vultures and wild animals, and no one will be left to scare them away.

Jeremiah 7 verses

Jeremiah 7 33 Meaning

Jeremiah 7:33 is a pronouncement of severe divine judgment against the people of Judah. It prophesies that due to their egregious sins, particularly the abominable practice of child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom, their unburied dead bodies will become carrion. These desecrated remains will be consumed by scavenger birds and wild animals, and crucially, no one will be present to drive these scavengers away, signifying complete abandonment, utter dishonor, and the irreversible finality of God's wrath and their rejection.

Jeremiah 7 33 Context

Jeremiah 7:33 is part of Jeremiah's "Temple Sermon," delivered at the gate of the Lord's house (Jer 7:2). This powerful address confronts the people of Judah, who held a false sense of security believing that their mere presence at the Temple would protect them from judgment, regardless of their sinful practices (Jer 7:4). Jeremiah exposes their hypocrisy, detailing a long list of covenant violations including idolatry (worship of other gods, queen of heaven), theft, murder, adultery, perjury (Jer 7:9), and, most horrifically, child sacrifice (Jer 7:31). The specific context for verse 33 begins in Jer 7:30-31, where the prophet directly addresses the abomination of building high places in Topheth (within the Valley of Hinnom) to burn their children as offerings to false gods, specifically Baal. Verse 32 prophesies that because of this egregious sin, Topheth will be renamed "the Valley of Slaughter," indicating an overwhelming death toll. Jeremiah 7:33 then elaborates on the utter degradation of these deaths, emphasizing the horrific consequence of having no proper burial and becoming food for scavengers. This judgment highlights a direct consequence of covenant breaking, echoing the curses detailed in the Law (Deut 28:26).

Jeremiah 7 33 Word analysis

• And the carcasses (וְהָיְתָה פֶּגֶר wᵉhāyᵉtâ peger):
  • peger (פֶּגֶר): Refers to a dead body, often specifically a slain or fallen corpse. It carries the connotation of an unburied or desecrated body, something repulsive, not just any deceased person. The use here immediately suggests dishonor and divine abandonment. It is often translated as "carcass" rather than just "body" to convey this sense of revulsion and suitability for scavenging.
  • Significance: Denotes extreme ignominy, stripped of human dignity. In ancient Israelite culture, proper burial was paramount; its denial was a major curse and the ultimate humiliation, symbolizing complete severance from family, land, and God's blessings.
• of this people (הָעָם הַזֶּה hā'ām hazzeh):
  • ha'am hazzeh: "This people," emphasizes the direct indictment of the people of Judah, God's chosen, yet rebellious, covenant people. It highlights the tragic irony and severity of judgment falling upon those who were meant to be faithful.
  • Significance: Pinpoints the specific recipients of judgment, intensifying the pathos by reminding them of their unique identity and their betrayal of it.
• shall be food (לְמַאֲכָל lᵉma'ăḵāl):
  • lᵉma'ăḵāl: "For food." The preposition l (ל) indicates purpose or destiny. Their bodies' ultimate function will be as nourishment for others.
  • Significance: This is an active decree of judgment, not merely a passive consequence. Their remains are not just unburied; they are explicitly designated as sustenance for animals, amplifying the horror and the extent of God's rejection.
• for the fowls of the heaven (עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם 'ôp haššāmayim):
  • 'ôp haššāmayim: "Birds of the heavens/sky." Specifically refers to carrion-eating birds like vultures, ravens, or kites.
  • Significance: A common biblical motif for extreme degradation and divine judgment (e.g., Deut 28:26; 1 Sam 17:44). It vividly paints a picture of a desolate battlefield or an abandoned city, where the dead are left exposed.
• and for the beasts of the earth (וְלִבְהֶמַת הָאָרֶץ wᵉlivhĕmat hā'āreṣ):
  • livhĕmat hā'āreṣ: "And for the wild animals of the land/earth." Refers to carnivorous land predators and scavengers such as jackals, dogs, or wild beasts.
  • Significance: Completes the picture of natural destruction. Between birds and beasts, nothing will be left, indicating a complete and unremitting consumption of the unburied bodies. This twofold image guarantees total despoilment.
• and none shall fray them away (וְאֵין מַחֲרִיד wᵉ'ên maḥărîd):
  • wᵉ'ên maḥărîd: Literally, "and there is no one disturbing/frightening away." The root ḥrd (חרד) means "to tremble, fear," or causatively "to frighten, chase away." Here, it denotes no one present to scare off the scavengers.
  • Significance: This is a profoundly important detail. It means there will be no surviving family, no one left to perform the solemn duty of preventing the desecration, no mourners, no signs of life, and no hope. It signifies utter abandonment by human beings and, implicitly, by God. This underscores the comprehensive nature of the judgment – not only will they die and be dishonored, but their very memory and possibility of rest will be utterly annihilated, representing complete absence of compassion or a future generation.

Words-group by Words-group Analysis

• "The carcasses of this people": This phrase sharply contrasts Judah's privileged status as "this people" – God's chosen nation – with the ignominious end of their bodies. It highlights their failure to live up to their covenant.
• "shall be food for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth": This dual imagery signifies the totality of the consumption and desecration. It indicates that no part of the bodies will escape being consumed by scavengers, portraying an inescapable and horrifying end. The imagery is of a battlefield strewn with unburied corpses.
• "and none shall fray them away": This climactic clause deepens the terror of the judgment. It points to a catastrophic depopulation, where virtually no one remains alive or is able to perform the culturally essential duty of protecting the deceased's dignity. It denotes ultimate solitude in death, devoid of care, grief, or human memory, amplifying the tragedy of the situation beyond mere physical death.

Jeremiah 7 33 Bonus section

• The Significance of Burial: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, and particularly for the Israelites, burial was considered sacred and essential. It connected individuals to their ancestors and implied hope in a future with God (e.g., Abraham's burial of Sarah, Gen 23; Jacob's request to be buried with his fathers, Gen 49:29-32). To be left unburied and exposed was the ultimate curse, signifying profound disrespect, loss of identity, and utter separation from the community and God's blessings. The denial of burial was considered one of the worst calamities that could befall a person or a nation.
• Topheth as a symbol: The Valley of Hinnom, especially Topheth, which literally meant "fireplace" or "burning place," became a literal site of unspeakable abominations (child sacrifice). Jeremiah's prophecy not only renames it the "Valley of Slaughter" (Jer 7:32) but ensures its legacy is one of death and dishonor. Later, this valley would become known as "Gehenna," a significant metaphor in Jewish and Christian theology for a place of eternal punishment and fiery judgment. The imagery of scavengers consuming bodies there carries prophetic weight regarding divine retribution.
• Direct fulfillment: The prophecy in Jer 7:33 and related passages found significant fulfillment during the Babylonian sieges and destruction of Jerusalem (587/586 BCE). Historical accounts and archaeological evidence corroborate the devastation, famine, and loss of life that would have made proper burials impossible, leading to countless bodies being left exposed to elements and animals, just as Jeremiah had foretold.

Jeremiah 7 33 Commentary

Jeremiah 7:33 encapsulates the horrific culmination of God's judgment against Judah for their spiritual adultery, specifically their revolting child sacrifices in Topheth. The prophecy declares that the unburied dead will become carrion, a fate deeply anathema to Israelite sensibilities which prioritized respectful burial as a basic human and religious right. This verse moves beyond mere death to illustrate absolute humiliation and defilement. The very land of Judah will become a vast cemetery where no funeral rites are observed and the dignity of humanity is stripped away, reduced to mere food for the wild. The final phrase, "none shall fray them away," is particularly poignant, emphasizing not just widespread death but also profound desolation and abandonment. It signifies that there will be no survivors to care for the dead, no community left to mourn, and no remaining connection to the covenant. This state of utter abandonment by both God and fellow human beings signifies a total societal collapse, a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness and covenant violation, resonating with the curses warned in Deuteronomy.