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
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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.