Jeremiah 8:3 kjv
And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places whither I have driven them, saith the LORD of hosts.
Jeremiah 8:3 nkjv
Then death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of those who remain of this evil family, who remain in all the places where I have driven them," says the LORD of hosts.
Jeremiah 8:3 niv
Wherever I banish them, all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life, declares the LORD Almighty.'
Jeremiah 8:3 esv
Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family in all the places where I have driven them, declares the LORD of hosts.
Jeremiah 8:3 nlt
And the people of this evil nation who survive will wish to die rather than live where I will send them. I, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!
Jeremiah 8 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Job 3:20-21 | Why is light given to him who is in misery... to those who long for death...? | Suffering and longing for death. |
| Job 7:15 | So that I would choose choking; death rather than my pains. | Preferring death over severe pain. |
| Ecc 2:17 | So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me... | Life becoming burdensome and grievous. |
| Ecc 4:2 | And I commended the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive. | Praising death over miserable life. |
| Jonah 4:3 | Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live. | Intense despair leading to a death wish. |
| Rev 9:6 | In those days people will seek death and will not find it... | End-time suffering where death is sought. |
| Deut 28:65-67 | And among these nations you shall find no ease... life shall hang in doubt before you. | Covenant curses: no rest, fearful life in exile. |
| Lev 26:33 | And I will scatter you among the nations... and your land shall be a desolation. | Scattering as a curse for disobedience. |
| Jer 9:16 | I will scatter them among nations... I will send the sword after them... | God scattering and pursuing with judgment. |
| Jer 15:2 | To death, to death! And to the sword, to the sword! And to famine, to famine! And to captivity, to captivity! | Categories of judgment, death among them. |
| Jer 15:7 | I will scatter them with a winnowing fork in the gates of the land... | God's action of scattering the people. |
| Ezek 5:12 | A third part of you shall die of pestilence... and a third part I will scatter to all the winds... | Distribution of judgment through various means. |
| Ezek 6:8 | Yet I will leave a remnant, when you have escaped the sword among the nations... | Remnant surviving judgment, though scattered. |
| Ezek 12:15 | So they shall know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations... | Divine scattering for nations to know God's power. |
| Deut 30:19 | I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life... | Choosing life or death, originally a blessing. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | ...those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed. | Disdain for those who reject God. |
| Zech 7:14 | I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations... | Divine scattering as a consequence of sin. |
| Isa 6:13 | And if there is still a tenth in it, it will again be consumed... like a terebinth or an oak... | Negative remnant, even surviving trees are cut. |
| Jer 7:16 | Do not pray for this people... | God's decision to bring irreversible judgment. |
| Jer 44:2-3 | You yourselves have seen all the disaster... for their evil in burning incense to other gods. | Consequences of past evil leading to judgment. |
| Prov 11:19 | Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. | Link between evil and spiritual/physical death. |
| Rom 1:32 | Though they know God's righteous decree... they do them and give approval... | Those persisting in evil will face judgment. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation... but worldly grief produces death. | Worldly sorrow (like the remnant's) leads to spiritual death. |
| Gal 6:8 | For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption... | Sowing evil reaping destructive consequences. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | God's righteous and severe judgment. |
Jeremiah 8 verses
Jeremiah 8 3 Meaning
Jeremiah 8:3 declares a state of profound despair for the survivors of Judah's judgment. Due to their persistent evil and rebellion against God, those who escape immediate death and are driven into exile will find their continued existence so unbearable that they will wish for death rather than life. This verse highlights the extreme suffering and hopelessness resulting from God's righteous wrath against an unrepentant nation, where life under divine curse becomes a heavier burden than the peace of the grave. It underscores the complete reversal of natural human instinct, signaling the utter devastation brought upon Judah.
Jeremiah 8 3 Context
Jeremiah chapter 8 continues the prophet's scathing critique of Judah's unfaithfulness, acting as an extension of the "Temple Sermon" from chapter 7. The people, especially the leadership, are depicted as stubbornly rebellious and spiritually senseless, failing to discern the imminent divine judgment. Despite God's persistent warnings through Jeremiah, they persist in idolatry, dishonesty, and a false sense of security based on their covenant with God and the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem. Jeremiah 8:1-2 describe the desecration of the bones of Judah's leaders and people, exposed under the very sun, moon, and stars they worshipped. Verse 3 then details the horrifying aftermath for those who survive this initial catastrophe: scattered in exile, they will experience such prolonged misery and torment that death will become a desired escape. This extreme forecast of suffering serves to highlight the severe consequences of their rejection of the Lord and their unceasing evil practices in a land facing invasion and desolation by the Babylonian forces.
Jeremiah 8 3 Word analysis
- And death: (Heb. מָוֶת, mavet) This signifies not just cessation of life, but often represents a state of being devoid of God's blessing, sorrow, separation, or the consequences of sin. Here, it is portrayed as a relief from an unbearable life.
- shall be chosen: (Heb. בָּחַר, bakhar) The verb implies an act of preference or election. Normally, choosing life is seen as the natural, God-ordained preference (Deut 30:19). This verse reverses that, indicating a profound perversion of normal human desire due to severe suffering.
- rather than life: (Heb. חַיִּים, chayyim) Refers to physical existence. In the Bible, life, especially long life and prosperity, is typically a sign of God's blessing and a covenant reward. For it to be rejected in favor of death demonstrates the ultimate depth of their distress and divine curse.
- by all the remnant: (Heb. שְׁאֵרִית, sh'erit) This "remnant" is not the typical positive, faithful remnant concept found elsewhere (e.g., Isa 10:20-22). Here, it specifically refers to the survivors of the impending catastrophe, who endure continued judgment, not those preserved for future blessing.
- of those who remain: This reinforces the concept of a survivor group, but clarifies their tragic destiny – not for renewal but for prolonged agony.
- of this evil family: (Heb. מִשְׁפָּחָה הָרָעָה הַזֹּאת, mishpachah hara'ah hazzot) This directly refers to the people of Judah (and Jerusalem), highlighting their character as defined by persistent wickedness and moral corruption, which necessitated such severe judgment.
- in all the places where I have driven them: (Heb. בְּכָל־הַמְּקֹמוֹת אֲשֶׁר הִדַּחְתִּים, b'chol-hameqomot asher hiddachtim) This phrase attributes the scattering to God's direct agency ("I have driven them"). It emphasizes divine sovereignty over the judgment and their exile, assuring that their suffering is not random but a precise execution of divine justice.
- declares the Lord of hosts: (Heb. נְאֻם יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, ne'um Adonai Tzeva'ot) This is a formal prophetic oracle tag, indicating an authoritative, unalterable word directly from God. "Lord of hosts" (God of armies/powers) underscores His omnipotence and control over all creation and historical events, ensuring the certainty of this dire prediction.
Jeremiah 8 3 Bonus section
The concept of desiring death over life in the Bible usually appears in contexts of extreme individual suffering (Job, Jonah). However, Jeremiah 8:3 applies this despair to an entire national "remnant," signaling a widespread societal collapse of hope and purpose. This is a severe contrast to the typical biblical understanding that life is a blessing to be cherished and protected. The reversal of natural human inclination to survive signifies the deepest level of curse and judgment, an existence so destitute of God's grace and filled with torment that non-existence is preferable. This specific prophecy about the "remnant" stands apart from later Messianic prophecies where a righteous remnant is preserved for salvation and restoration (e.g., Isaiah). Here, the remnant is saved from immediate death only to endure a worse fate, emphasizing the complete spiritual bankruptcy of the nation. It highlights how severe the rejection of God was, making even His most fundamental gift – life – become a source of anguish.
Jeremiah 8 3 Commentary
Jeremiah 8:3 delivers a grim prophecy of utter despair, vividly portraying the severity of God's judgment upon an unrepentant Judah. The profound suffering resulting from their sin will cause survivors of the initial calamity, scattered and dislocated by divine decree, to view death as a desirable escape from a life overwhelmed by hardship, shame, and the constant awareness of God's displeasure. This desire for death is an inversion of natural human instinct and a potent indicator of the ultimate misery that accompanies covenant infidelity and persistent wickedness. The phrase "this evil family" condemns Judah's spiritual and moral decay, confirming that their plight is a direct consequence of their actions. Furthermore, "declares the Lord of hosts" underscores the certainty and divine authority behind this dreadful pronouncement, highlighting God's righteous character and His absolute control over the fate of His people. The verse is a stark reminder that prolonged rebellion against God leads not merely to physical harm but to a profound existential misery, where the very gift of life becomes a curse. This teaches us the deep anguish caused by alienation from God.