Jeremiah21

New American Standard

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¹The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying,

²“Please inquire of the Lord in our behalf, because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us; perhaps the Lord will deal with us in accordance with all His wonderful acts, so that the enemy will withdraw from us.”

³But Jeremiah said to them, “You shall say to Zedekiah as follows:

⁴‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I am going to turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you are making war against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall; and I will gather them into the middle of this city.

⁵And I Myself will make war against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, and in anger, wrath, and great indignation.

⁶I will also strike the inhabitants of this city, both the people and the animals; they will die of a great plague.

⁷Then afterward,” declares the Lord, “I will hand Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, that is, those who survive in this city from the plague, the sword, and the famine, over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to their enemies, and to those who seek their lives; and he will strike and kill them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them nor have pity nor compassion.”’

⁸“You shall also say to this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.

⁹Anyone who stays in this city will die by the sword, by famine, or by plague; but anyone who leaves and goes over to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and he will have his own life as plunder.

¹⁰For I have set My face against this city for harm and not for good,” declares the Lord. “It will be handed over to the king of Babylon and he will burn it with fire.”’

¹¹“Then say to the household of the king of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord,

¹²house of David, this is what the Lord says: “Administer justice every morning; And save the person who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor, So that My wrath will not spread like fire And burn, with no one to extinguish it, Because of the evil of their deeds.

¹³“Behold, I am against you, you inhabitant of the valley, You rocky plain,” declares the Lord, “You who say, ‘Who will come down against us? Or who will enter our dwellings?’

¹⁴But I will punish you according to the results of your deeds,” declares the Lord, “And I will kindle a fire in its forest So that it may devour all its surroundings.”’”

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 21.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The only way of deliverance is to be surrendering to the Babylonians. (1-10). The wickedness of the king and his household. (11-14).

vv1-10

When the siege had begun, Zedekiah sent to ask of Jeremiah respecting the event. In times of distress and danger, men often seek those to counsel and pray for them, whom, at other times, they despise and oppose; but they only seek deliverance from punishment. When professors continue in disobedience, presuming upon outward privileges, let them be told that the Lord will prosper his open enemies against them. As the king and his princes would not surrender, the people are exhorted to do so. No sinner on earth is left without a Refuge, who really desires one; but the way of life is humbling, it requires self-denial, and exposes to difficulties.

vv11-14

The wickedness of the king and his family was the worse because of their relation to David. They were urged to act with justice, at once, lest the Lord's anger should be unquenchable. If God be for us, who can be against us? But if he be against us, who can do any thing for us?

Key Words

wordH1697Hebrew

דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

thatH834Hebrew

אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.

JeremiahH3414Hebrew

יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites

fromH4480Hebrew

מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

KingH4428Hebrew

מֶלֶךְ: a king

ZedekiahH6667Hebrew

צִדְקִיָּה: Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites

sentH7971Hebrew

שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

PashhurH6583Hebrew

פַּשְׁחוּר: Pashchur, the name of four Israelites

sonH1121Hebrew

בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

MalchiahH4441Hebrew

מַלְכִּיָּה: Malkijah, the name of ten Israelites