Jeremiah21
New Living Translation
1The Lord spoke through Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malkijah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to speak with him. They begged Jeremiah,
2“Please speak to the Lord for us and ask him to help us. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking Judah. Perhaps the Lord will be gracious and do a mighty miracle as he has done in the past. Perhaps he will force Nebuchadnezzar to withdraw his armies.”
3Jeremiah replied, “Go back to King Zedekiah and tell him,
4‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will make your weapons useless against the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside your walls attacking you. In fact, I will bring your enemies right into the heart of this city.
5I myself will fight against you with a strong hand and a powerful arm, for I am very angry. You have made me furious!
6I will send a terrible plague upon this city, and both people and animals will die.
7And after all that, says the Lord, I will hand over King Zedekiah, his staff, and everyone else in the city who survives the disease, war, and famine. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their other enemies. He will slaughter them and show them no mercy, pity, or compassion.’
8“Tell all the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: Take your choice of life or death!
9Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who go out and surrender to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life!
10For I have decided to bring disaster and not good upon this city, says the Lord. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will reduce it to ashes.’
11“Say to the royal family of Judah, ‘Listen to this message from the Lord!
12This is what the Lord says to the dynasty of David: “‘Give justice each morning to the people you judge! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Otherwise, my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins.
13I will personally fight against the people in Jerusalem, that mighty fortress— the people who boast, “No one can touch us here. No one can break in here.”
14And I myself will punish you for your sinfulness, says the Lord. I will light a fire in your forests that will burn up everything around you.’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 21.
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
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
מֶלֶךְ: a king
צִדְקִיָּה: Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites
שָׁלַח: to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
פַּשְׁחוּר: Pashchur, the name of four Israelites
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.)
מַלְכִּיָּה: Malkijah, the name of ten Israelites
Cross References
Jeremiah 21Direct parallel on escaping to the Chaldeans to save one's life as a prey.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God's outstretched hand and strong arm are now turned against Israel instead of delivering them.
Supported by JFB
Explicit allusion to Moses setting before the people the way of life and death.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the same messengers sent by King Zedekiah to Jeremiah in a parallel inquiry.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Shows the ultimate fate of Zephaniah the priest and others sent to Jeremiah.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates the exact fulfillment of receiving one's life as a prey.
Supported by JFB
The direct command to the house of David to execute judgment and deliver the spoiled.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels executing judgment 'in the morning' as a standard of royal righteousness.
Supported by JFB
Parallel prophecy that Jerusalem will be given to Babylon and burned with fire.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallel oracle addressing the king of Judah as Gilead and the head of Lebanon.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels the proud boast of those dwelling in secure rock fortresses.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Prophetic parallel of God kindling an unquenchable fire in the forest of the South.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Details the historical context of Zedekiah's hope for an Egyptian alliance.
Supported by JFB
Fulfills the Mosaic covenant curse of a fierce nation showing no favor or mercy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The source of the terrifying phrase of God setting His face against a person.
Supported by JFB