King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 18:21 Mean?

Jeremiah 18:21 in the King James Version says “Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wiv... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle. pour: Heb. pour them out

Jeremiah 18:21 · KJV


Context

19

Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

20

Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.

21

Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle. pour: Heb. pour them out

22

Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

23

Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger. to slay: Heb. for death


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Jeremiah's imprecatory prayer: "Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword." This harsh petition asks God to execute the judgment Jeremiah has prophesied. The comprehensive curse—"let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle"—encompasses all ages and both genders, matching the totality of threatened covenant curses (Deut 28:15-68).

Such imprecatory prayers trouble modern readers but reflect: (1) confidence that God will indeed judge the wicked; (2) alignment with divinely revealed judgment; (3) personal restraint from revenge while committing justice to God; (4) prophetic authority to pronounce covenant curses. Jeremiah doesn't take personal vengeance but asks God to fulfill His own word. These are covenant curses for covenant violation, not personal spite.

Under the new covenant, Christ taught loving enemies and praying for persecutors (Matt 5:44), yet also pronounced woes on hypocrites (Matt 23) and will execute final judgment (Rev 19:11-16). The tension: God's people long for justice while extending mercy, knowing all deserve judgment but some receive grace. Imprecatory psalms can be prayed against spiritual enemies (Satan, demons, sin) while we show mercy to human opponents, recognizing that we too were once enemies whom God reconciled (Rom 5:10).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 included precisely these judgments—famine, sword, bereavement, widowhood. Jeremiah's imprecation aligns with revealed divine will for covenant-breakers. The Babylonian invasion fulfilled these curses literally (Lam 2:20-21, 4:10, 5:3, 11). Ancient Near Eastern treaty curses similarly invoked comprehensive disaster on covenant violators, demonstrating the cultural context of such language.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you balance desire for God's justice with Christ's command to love enemies?
  2. What role do imprecatory prayers have in Christian spirituality when directed against spiritual enemies (sin, Satan)?
  3. How does recognizing that you deserved the judgment Christ bore affect your prayers regarding others' judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
לָכֵן֩1 of 21
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

תֵּ֨ן2 of 21

Therefore deliver up

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֶת3 of 21
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְּנֵיהֶ֜ם4 of 21

their children

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

לָרָעָ֗ב5 of 21

to the famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

וְהַגִּרֵם֮6 of 21

and pour out

H5064

to flow; figuratively, to stretch out; causatively, to pour out or down; figuratively, to deliver over

עַל7 of 21
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יְדֵי8 of 21

their blood by the force

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

חֶ֖רֶב9 of 21

by the sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

וְתִֽהְיֶ֨נָה10 of 21
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

נְשֵׁיהֶ֤ם11 of 21

and let their wives

H802

a woman

שַׁכֻּלוֹת֙12 of 21

be bereaved

H7909

bereaved

וְאַלְמָנ֔וֹת13 of 21

of their children and be widows

H490

a widow; also a desolate place

וְאַ֨נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם14 of 21
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

יִֽהְי֖וּ15 of 21
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

הֲרֻ֣גֵי16 of 21

be put

H2026

to smite with deadly intent

מָ֑וֶת17 of 21

to death

H4194

death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin

בַּח֣וּרֵיהֶ֔ם18 of 21

let their young men

H970

properly, selected, i.e., a youth (often collective)

מֻכֵּי19 of 21

be slain

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

חֶ֖רֶב20 of 21

by the sword

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃21 of 21

in battle

H4421

a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 18:21 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 18:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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