King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 19:7 Mean?

Jeremiah 19:7 in the King James Version says “And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

Jeremiah 19:7 · KJV


Context

5

They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind:

6

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that this place shall no more be called Tophet, nor The valley of the son of Hinnom, but The valley of slaughter.

7

And I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hands of them that seek their lives: and their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.

8

And I will make this city desolate, and an hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished and hiss because of all the plagues thereof.

9

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The judgment's specifics: "I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place." To "make void" (baqaqti, בַּקֹּתִי, pour out/empty) their counsel means render their plans ineffective and their wisdom useless. Despite strategic planning, political maneuvering, and military preparation, Judah will fail because God opposes them. "I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies"—comprehensive military defeat awaits.

"Their carcases will I give to be meat for the fowls of the heaven, and for the beasts of the earth"—covenant curse language (Deut 28:26). Proper burial was crucial in ancient culture; leaving corpses unburied for scavengers represented ultimate shame and disgrace. This fate awaited those who violated God's covenant, demonstrating that rebellion brings not only death but dishonor.

This verse warns that human wisdom and strength cannot prevail when God ordains judgment. All earthly planning proves futile when opposed to divine purposes (Ps 33:10-11, Prov 19:21, 21:30, Isa 8:10). The Reformed doctrine of divine sovereignty teaches that God's decrees accomplish their purpose infallibly—human resistance cannot thwart His will. Our only safety lies in submission to His purposes, finding refuge in Christ who bore the judgment we deserved.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Judah attempted various strategies to avoid Babylonian conquest—Egyptian alliance, fortification improvements, diplomatic negotiations. All failed. King Zedekiah's rebellion despite Jeremiah's warnings brought the final, devastating invasion (2 Kgs 24-25, Jer 37-39). The unburied dead after Jerusalem's fall fulfilled this prophecy precisely. Lamentations graphically describes the horror of corpses lying in streets, unburied and consumed by scavengers (Lam 2:21, 4:14).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it mean that God can make void all human counsel and planning when He determines judgment?
  2. How should awareness that no strategy succeeds against God's purposes affect your life planning?
  3. In what ways does trusting human wisdom rather than divine revelation lead to futile plans?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וּ֠בַקֹּתִי1 of 22

And I will make void

H1238

to pour out, i.e., to empty, figuratively, to depopulate; by analogy, to spread out (as a fruitful vine)

אֶת2 of 22
H853

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

עֲצַ֨ת3 of 22

the counsel

H6098

advice; by implication, plan; also prudence

יְהוּדָ֤ה4 of 22

of Judah

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

וִירוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙5 of 22

and Jerusalem

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

בַּמָּק֣וֹם6 of 22

in this place

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

הַזֶּ֔ה7 of 22
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וְהִפַּלְתִּ֤ים8 of 22

and I will cause them to fall

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

בַּחֶ֙רֶב֙9 of 22

by the sword

H2719

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

לִפְנֵ֣י10 of 22

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם11 of 22

their enemies

H341

hating; an adversary

וּבְיַ֖ד12 of 22

and by the hands

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

מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י13 of 22

of them that seek

H1245

to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive after

נַפְשָׁ֑ם14 of 22

their lives

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment

וְנָתַתִּ֤י15 of 22

will I give

H5414

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

אֶת16 of 22
H853

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

נִבְלָתָם֙17 of 22

and their carcases

H5038

a flabby thing, i.e., a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively); figuratively, an idol

לְמַֽאֲכָ֔ל18 of 22

to be meat

H3978

an eatable (including provender, flesh and fruit)

לְע֥וֹף19 of 22

for the fowls

H5775

a bird (as covered with feathers, or rather as covering with wings), often collectively

הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם20 of 22

of the heaven

H8064

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

וּלְבֶהֱמַ֥ת21 of 22

and for the beasts

H929

properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

הָאָֽרֶץ׃22 of 22

of the earth

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)


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 19:7 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 19:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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