Jeremiah 21:2 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 21:2 mean?

Jeremiah 21:2 records a request for Jeremiah to ask the LORD for help, as Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, is attacking Jerusalem; the people hope God might do something miraculous, as He has in the past, to make the enemy withdraw. The verse shows the leaders turning to God through the prophet in a desperate situation, seeking divine intervention.

King Zedekiah sends messengers to Jeremiah, asking him to "enquire" of the LORD because Babylon's army threatens Jerusalem. The people remember God's "wondrous works"—His past miracles—and hope He might act again to save them from Nebuchadrezzar. This moment highlights their fear and their hope that God will rescue them as He once did for their ancestors.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 21:2

• "Enquire" (דָּרַשׁ, darash) means to seek or ask diligently; here, it shows the leaders are not just asking casually but are urgently seeking a word from God through Jeremiah.
• "Deal" (עָשָׂה, asah) is a general word for "do" or "act," but in this context, it points to the hope that God will act in a powerful, saving way, as He has before.
• "Wondrous works" (פֶּלֶא, pele) refers to extraordinary or miraculous deeds; the people are specifically recalling times when God intervened in history with signs and wonders.

Why Jeremiah 21:2 matters

• Jeremiah 21:2 clarifies that even leaders who have ignored God's warnings in the past may turn to Him in crisis, but their motives may be more about escaping trouble than true repentance.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by setting up God's response, which will challenge the people's assumptions about automatic deliverance.
• It shows the people's memory of God's power, but also their misunderstanding: they expect God to act for them simply because He has done so before, without considering their own faithfulness or obedience.