King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 21:11 Mean?

Jeremiah 21:11 in the King James Version says “And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;”

Jeremiah 21:11 · KJV

Context

9

He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live , and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

10

For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

11

And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD;

12

O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. Execute: Heb. Judge

13

Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations? inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress

Read Jeremiah 21 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD—this verse introduces a distinct oracle directed at the royal house ('house of the king of Judah,' beyt melech yehudah, בֵּית מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה). The phrase 'touching' (le-, לְ) means 'concerning' or 'regarding.' The imperative 'Hear ye' (shim'u, שִׁמְעוּ) is the covenantal call to obedience found throughout Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:4, 'Hear, O Israel'). 'The word of the LORD' (devar-YHWH, דְּבַר־יְהוָה) emphasizes divine authority—what follows is not Jeremiah's opinion but God's revealed will.

This transitional verse marks a shift from addressing Zedekiah's specific inquiry (vv. 1-10) to general prophetic instruction to the Davidic dynasty. The royal house bore special responsibility because God's covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) promised an eternal throne conditioned on obedience (1 Kings 9:4-7). Jeremiah's ministry consistently called the royal house to 'execute judgment and righteousness' (Jeremiah 22:3) as the primary duty of Davidic kings. The tragedy was that Judah's kings failed this calling, exploiting the poor and shedding innocent blood (Jeremiah 22:17). This passage shows that royal authority derives from divine mandate, not inherent right—kings must submit to God's word or face judgment. Ultimately, only King Jesus perfectly fulfills the Davidic covenant, ruling with perfect justice (Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:32-33).

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Historical & Cultural Context

This oracle comes from the same period as verses 1-10 (circa 588 BC during Jerusalem's siege) but broadens to address the Davidic dynasty's persistent failure. The 'house of the king' includes not just Zedekiah but his officials and the royal court. Historically, Judah's kings from Solomon's later years through the exile increasingly violated covenant justice. Manasseh filled Jerusalem with innocent blood (2 Kings 21:16). Jehoiakim murdered the prophet Uriah (Jeremiah 26:20-23) and exploited laborers (Jeremiah 22:13-17). Zedekiah, though less actively evil, was weak and allowed his officials to persecute Jeremiah (Jeremiah 38:5). The Davidic covenant promised an eternal dynasty but included conditional clauses: obedience brought blessing, disobedience brought exile (1 Kings 9:6-9). The Babylonian exile temporarily ended the Davidic monarchy, fulfilled only ultimately in Christ, David's greater son who reigns forever. The call 'Hear the word of the LORD' echoes throughout Jeremiah's prophecies to Judah's kings, showing that even royal authority must submit to divine revelation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the call for the royal house to 'hear the word of the LORD' establish the principle that all human authority—even divinely appointed leadership—remains under God's word?
  2. In what ways does Judah's royal house's failure to execute justice prepare us to appreciate Christ as the perfect Davidic King?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 6 words
וּלְבֵית֙1 of 6

“And touching the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

מֶ֣לֶךְ2 of 6

“of the king”

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָ֔ה3 of 6

“of Judah”

H3063

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

שִׁמְע֖וּ4 of 6

“say Hear”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

דְּבַר5 of 6

“ye the word”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

יְהוָֽה׃6 of 6

“of the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

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 21:11 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 21:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 17:20Micah 3:1Jeremiah 13:18

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