And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them.

JEREMIAH 19:9KJV
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Jeremiah 19:9 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 19:9 mean?

Jeremiah 19:9 describes a coming time of extreme desperation for Jerusalem, when people will be so trapped and starved by their enemies that they will resort to eating the flesh of their own children and friends. This is a warning of the horrifying consequences that will come upon the people because of their persistent rejection of God.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, warning them about the siege that will be brought by their enemies. The language is graphic to show just how severe the suffering will be during the siege, with “straitness” meaning extreme distress or hardship. This prophecy is meant to shock the listeners and make clear the seriousness of turning away from God’s ways.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 19:9

  • The word “eat” (אָכַל, ’akal, H398) is used multiple times, emphasizing the unnatural and desperate actions people will take when starving.
  • “Flesh” (בָּשָׂר, basar, H1320) refers literally to the body, highlighting the horror of cannibalism that will occur.
  • “Siege” (מָצוֹר, matzor, H4692) and “straitness” (מְצוּקָה, metsuqah, H4689) together paint a picture of being trapped and pressed in with no escape or relief.
  • “Friend” (רֵעַ, re‘a, H7453) shows that the desperation will break even the closest human bonds, as people turn against each other for survival.

Why Jeremiah 19:9 matters

  • This verse clears up that the prophecy is not just about military defeat, but about the total collapse of social order and natural affection due to extreme suffering.
  • The graphic warning connects to earlier covenant warnings in the Torah (such as Deuteronomy 28:53), showing that Jeremiah’s message is rooted in longstanding biblical themes.
  • Understanding the severity of this warning helps explain why Jeremiah’s message was so controversial and why the people often rejected him—it was a call to face the consequences of their choices in the starkest terms.

Where else these words appear

“straitness” Hebrew H4689 · used in 6 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
  • Deuteronomy 28:55 So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.
  • 1 Samuel 22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

“straiten” Hebrew H6693 · used in 10 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:
  • Judges 14:17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
  • Isaiah 29:2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.

“siege” Hebrew H4692 · used in 25 verses

  • Deuteronomy 20:19 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down(for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them in the siege:
  • 2 Chronicles 11:5 And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
  • Ezekiel 4:7 Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.