And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
JEREMIAH 32:36KJVWhat does Jeremiah 32:36 mean?
Jeremiah 32:36 records God speaking about Jerusalem, the city that people say will be handed over to the king of Babylon through war, famine, and disease. The verse sets the stage for God’s message about the city’s coming hardship and the people’s fears about its future.
In this verse, God (“the LORD, the God of Israel”) is addressing the people of Jerusalem through the prophet Jeremiah. The people are facing a siege by Babylon, and they believe their city will fall because of violence (“the sword”), hunger (“the famine”), and sickness (“the pestilence”). This statement acknowledges their situation and prepares for what God will say next about hope and restoration.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 32:36
- LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God, used here to emphasize God’s authority and faithfulness to Israel.
- God (אֱלֹהִים, Elohim): This word highlights God’s power and sovereignty, reminding the people that He is not only their covenant God but also the Creator.
- city (עִיר, ‘ir): Refers specifically to Jerusalem, grounding the message in a real, historical place that the people care about deeply.
- delivered (נָתַן, nathan): This word means “to give” or “to hand over,” stressing that the city’s fall is not just by Babylon’s might but allowed by God’s decision.
- sword (חֶרֶב, cherev), famine (רָעָב, ra’av), pestilence (דֶּבֶר, dever): These three words describe the main disasters facing Jerusalem, showing the totality of the crisis and the seriousness of the judgment.
Why Jeremiah 32:36 matters
- Jeremiah 32:36 clarifies that the coming destruction of Jerusalem is not just a political or military event but something God Himself is allowing, which would have challenged the people’s assumptions about their security.
- The verse connects the people’s fears (“ye say”) with God’s perspective, setting up the contrast between human despair and God’s plans for restoration in the following verses.
- Understanding the specific disasters mentioned—war, famine, and pestilence—helps readers grasp the depth of suffering Jerusalem faced and the seriousness of the warning Jeremiah delivered.