And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

JEREMIAH 21:7KJV
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Jeremiah 21:7 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 21:7 mean?

Jeremiah 21:7 means that after a time of suffering from disease, war, and hunger, God will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the remaining people in Jerusalem to Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, and their enemies, who will show them no mercy or compassion. The verse describes a coming judgment where those left alive will face harsh treatment and death at the hands of their conquerors.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to warn King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem about what will happen because they have not listened to God’s warnings. The setting is during the siege of Jerusalem by Babylon. The verse emphasizes that even survivors of earlier disasters (plague, sword, famine) will not escape, as they will be delivered into the hands of their enemies, who will be ruthless.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 21:7

  • The word “deliver” (נָתַן, natan) means to hand over or give into someone’s power. Here, it highlights that God is actively allowing Zedekiah and the people to fall into enemy hands, not just letting events unfold by chance.
  • “Pestilence” (דֶּבֶר, dever), “sword” (חֶרֶב, cherev), and “famine” (רָעָב, ra’av) are listed as the disasters that have already struck the city, showing the completeness of the suffering before the final defeat.
  • “Edge” (פֶּה, peh) of the sword literally means “mouth” of the sword, a Hebrew way of describing the sharp, devouring aspect of the weapon, stressing the violence of what is coming.
  • The repeated use of “hand” (יָד, yad) for Nebuchadrezzar and the enemies underlines the idea of power and control—those captured will be completely at the mercy of their captors.

Why Jeremiah 21:7 matters

  • This verse clears up any hope that survivors in Jerusalem might have had about escaping Babylon’s attack; it shows that even those who survive the initial disasters will still face judgment.
  • The verse emphasizes the seriousness of ignoring God’s warnings, as the consequences are not just natural disasters but also defeat and cruelty at the hands of enemies.
  • Jeremiah 21:7 connects to the wider message of Jeremiah, where the prophet repeatedly warns that trusting in political alliances or last-minute repentance will not prevent the consequences of long-standing disobedience.