Jeremiah21

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¹The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said:

²“Inquire now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

³But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah,

⁴‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city.

⁵I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath.

⁶I will strike down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.

⁷After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’

⁸“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.

⁹Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.

¹⁰I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’

¹¹“Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord.

¹²This is what the Lord says to you, house of David: “‘Administer justice every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done— burn with no one to quench it.

¹³I am against you, Jerusalem, you who live above this valley on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord— you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge?”

¹⁴I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the Lord. I will kindle a fire in your forests that will consume everything around you.’”

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