Jeremiah 9 16

Jeremiah 9:16 kjv

I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.

Jeremiah 9:16 nkjv

I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, whom neither they nor their fathers have known. And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them."

Jeremiah 9:16 niv

I will scatter them among nations that neither they nor their ancestors have known, and I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them."

Jeremiah 9:16 esv

I will scatter them among the nations whom neither they nor their fathers have known, and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them."

Jeremiah 9:16 nlt

I will scatter them around the world, in places they and their ancestors never heard of, and even there I will chase them with the sword until I have destroyed them completely."

Jeremiah 9 verses

Jeremiah 9 16 Meaning

Jeremiah 9:16 is a pronouncement of divine judgment on the unfaithful nation of Judah. It foretells a comprehensive scattering of the people among unfamiliar nations, where they will experience a profound sense of alienation and lack of traditional ties. Furthermore, God declares that He will actively pursue them with warfare, leading to their utter destruction and eradication as a cohesive entity, indicating a severe and divinely orchestrated end to their unrighteous behavior.

Jeremiah 9 16 Context

Jeremiah 9:16 is situated within a lengthy lament by Jeremiah (Ch. 8:18-9:1) followed by God's pronouncements of severe judgment upon Judah. The broader chapter condemns the nation's widespread apostasy, persistent idolatry, deceit, unrighteousness, and false leadership, characterizing them as a people who refuse to know the Lord. Jeremiah weeps over the desolation and moral decay. In this specific passage (9:10-16), God details the specific forms His judgment will take due to their abandonment of His law. He threatens to turn their land into a desolate wilderness, punish those living wickedly, and scatter them. Verse 16 emphasizes the comprehensive nature of this scattering and the ensuing relentless destruction, solidifying the idea that their unfaithfulness had crossed a point of no return for this generation, culminating in the impending Babylonian exile and its aftermath. Historically, this prophecy directly points to the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent deportations of its inhabitants by the Neo-Babylonian Empire from the late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE.

Jeremiah 9 16 Word analysis

• I will scatter them: (וַאֲזָרֵם, wa'ăzārēm) This Hebrew verb (from זרה, zārâ) implies an active, intentional dispersal, often like sowing seed or scattering chaff. It signifies God's direct agency in Judah's displacement. This is not accidental but a deliberate act of divine judgment. The imagery of scattering conveys a loss of cohesion, unity, and national identity, contrasting with their past gathering into the land of promise.
• also among the nations: (בַגּוֹיִם, baggôyim) The definite article ("the nations") highlights specific foreign peoples, emphasizing the contrast with their identity as God's chosen nation. Their status is reduced to one of many, indistinguishable from other groups, a humbling demotion.
• whom neither they nor their fathers have known: (אֲשֶׁר לֹא יָדְעוּ הֵמָּה וַאֲבוֹתֵיהֶם, 'ăšĕr lō' yādʿû hēmmâ wa'ăḇôṯêyhem) The verb "known" (יָדַע, yādaʿ) in Hebrew signifies more than intellectual acquaintance; it implies intimate, experiential knowledge, often with a sense of covenant relationship or familiarity. Here, it underscores extreme alienation. These would be entirely foreign lands, cultures, gods, and customs, exacerbating the trauma of exile by depriving them of any cultural or historical connection, severing their rootedness completely. This absence of 'knowing' also highlights the futility of their past alliances with such nations.
• and I will send: (וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי, wĕšillahṭiy) This indicates God's purposeful action and intention, highlighting His sovereign control over their fate. The Piel stem here strengthens the idea of causing to be sent.
• the sword after them: (אַחֲרֵיהֶם אֶת־הַחֶרֶב, 'āḥărēyhem 'ēṯ-haḥereḇ) "The sword" (חֶרֶב, ḥereḇ) is a frequent biblical symbol for war, violence, and divine judgment, a prominent means of executing God's wrath in Old Testament prophecy. "After them" signifies continuous pursuit and relentless devastation, even for those who manage to escape the initial displacement. It underscores the inescapable nature of God's decree. This imagery paints a picture of a persistent, active force of destruction.
• until I have consumed them: (עַד כַּלּוֹתִי אֹתָם, ʿad kallotî 'ôṯām) The verb "consumed" (כָלָה, kālâ) in the Piel stem denotes bringing to completion, utterly finishing, or annihilating. Here, it implies the near total destruction of the disobedient generation or the effective end of their independent national existence. While a remnant is often promised in prophecy, this phrase powerfully conveys the overwhelming extent of the initial judgment and its finality for those directly experiencing it, leading to a state of national eradication for all practical purposes.

• "I will scatter them...among the nations whom neither they nor their fathers have known": This phrase details the geographical and psychological aspects of the impending exile. It represents a profound uprooting not only from their physical homeland but also from their heritage and any sense of security derived from known territories or established relationships. This divine act is a polemic against Judah's reliance on their land or heritage as an automatic source of blessing, irrespective of their behavior. It is a direct fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in Deut 28, where idolatry and disobedience lead to exile among foreign, hostile peoples. The implication is a stark abandonment by the Lord whom they have abandoned.
• "and I will send the sword after them, until I have consumed them": This segment reveals the means and extent of God's judgment. The "sword" represents ongoing warfare and persecution, ensuring that even escape from initial conquest does not guarantee safety. The phrase "until I have consumed them" signifies a decisive and pervasive judgment, ensuring the obliteration of their existing political and religious structure, effectively wiping away the wicked elements. This isn't just dispersion; it's a relentless pursuit ending in a substantial demographic and national collapse, challenging any false hope in their continued existence through ritual observance without genuine repentance.

Jeremiah 9 16 Bonus section

The concept of being scattered "among nations whom neither they nor their fathers have known" has a significant psychological dimension often overlooked. It implies not only physical displacement but also an utter loss of identity, a cultural shock, and spiritual desolation. Without familiar traditions, social structures, or religious practices, the exiles faced immense pressure to assimilate, thereby losing their distinct identity as the people of God. This profound alienation was a direct consequence of their spiritual harlotry—seeking alliances and worshipping deities they "did not know" (cf. Jer 2:28, 5:19). Thus, their punishment mirrored their sin. The severity of "until I have consumed them" needs to be understood within the broader prophetic framework: while an initial generation might be largely destroyed or the national entity brought to an end, God often preserves a remnant, and subsequent prophecies offer hope for return and restoration after the initial period of judgment. This verse, however, focuses on the immediate, crushing impact of their unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 9 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 9:16 stands as a chilling declaration of divine wrath, rooted in God's covenant with Israel which stipulated blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Having persistently rejected the Lord, Judah faced an irreversible judgment. God's scattering was not passive but an active dispersal into unknown pagan lands, symbolizing a complete severance from their sacred homeland and heritage. The unfamiliarity of these nations amplifies the trauma, reflecting the abandonment of Yahweh for foreign gods. Furthermore, the relentless pursuit of the "sword" implies ongoing warfare and extermination, ensuring that even those who survived the initial exile would continue to suffer under God's severe hand "until consumed." This signifies the end of their independent nation and the deep suffering of the generation for their entrenched rebellion. It underscores that God takes the breach of covenant seriously and acts definitively to purge the unholy, even as it paves the way for a future remnant and redemption for the truly repentant.