And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.

JEREMIAH 15:2KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 15:2 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 15:2 mean?

Jeremiah 15:2 describes God telling Jeremiah that if people ask where they should go, Jeremiah must answer that each person will face the fate assigned to them—some to death, some to the sword, some to famine, and some to captivity. The verse shows that God has determined different judgments for the people because of their persistent disobedience.

In this verse, God is speaking to the prophet Jeremiah during a time of great trouble for Judah. The people are facing the consequences of turning away from God, and Jeremiah is told to deliver a hard message: there is no escape from the coming disasters. The verse lists four specific outcomes—death, sword (war), famine, and captivity—making clear that these are not random events, but judgments that have been decided.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 15:2

  • "Death" (מָוֶת, mavet): This word means physical death, often in the sense of plague or pestilence. Its use here highlights that some will die from disease or natural causes, not just violence.
  • "Sword" (חֶרֶב, cherev): This word refers to death by violence or war. It emphasizes that some will fall in battle or be killed by invading armies.
  • "Famine" (רָעָב, ra'av): This word means hunger or starvation. It shows that some will suffer from a lack of food, likely because of siege or destruction of crops.
  • "Captivity" (שְׁבִי, shevi): This word means being taken away as prisoners. It points to exile, a fate many in Judah would experience when Babylon conquered Jerusalem.

Why Jeremiah 15:2 matters

  • Jeremiah 15:2 clarifies that the coming disasters are not random but are specific judgments from God, each with its own form and purpose.
  • The verse underscores the seriousness of Judah’s situation and the finality of God’s decision—there is no longer an opportunity to avoid these outcomes.
  • By listing the four fates, Jeremiah 15:2 connects to other passages in Jeremiah and the prophets where these same judgments are mentioned, highlighting a pattern of warning and consequence throughout the Bible.

Where else these words appear

“captivity” Hebrew H7628 · used in 47 verses

  • Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
  • Ezra 8:35 Also the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats for a sin offering: all this was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
  • Jeremiah 30:10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.

“famine” Hebrew H7458 · used in 88 verses

  • Genesis 12:10 And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.
  • 2 Kings 25:3 And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
  • Jeremiah 32:24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.