King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 21:4 Mean?

Jeremiah 21:4 in the King James Version says “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye figh... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.

Jeremiah 21:4 · KJV


Context

2

Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

3

Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:

4

Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.

5

And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

6

And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands—God's answer begins with the covenant formula identifying Yahweh as 'the LORD God of Israel,' emphasizing His covenant relationship even as He pronounces judgment. The phrase hineni mesev (הִנְנִי מֵסֵב, 'Behold, I will turn back') uses savav (סָבַב), meaning to turn around, reverse direction, or cause to return. God declares He will make Jerusalem's weapons turn against them—their own military equipment will become useless or counterproductive.

Wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls—the description 'without the walls' (michutz lechomah, מִחוּץ לְחוֹמָה) indicates Babylon's army surrounds Jerusalem completely. And I will assemble them into the midst of this cityasaphti otam (אָסַפְתִּי אֹתָם, 'I will gather them') reveals God's active role: He will drive Jerusalem's defenders back from the walls, collapsing their defensive perimeter until the enemy occupies Jerusalem's heart. This reverses holy war theology where God fought for Israel. Now God fights against His own city, making defense impossible. This fulfills covenant curses of Leviticus 26:17, 25: 'I will set my face against you... I will bring a sword upon you.' The tragedy is complete: Israel's covenant God becomes their enemy because they broke covenant.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy was fulfilled precisely during Jerusalem's fall in 586 BC. Despite having fortified walls, Jerusalem's defenders were gradually pushed back by relentless Babylonian siege tactics including siege towers, battering rams, and earthworks. Second Kings 25:4 records that when the city wall was breached, 'all the men of war fled by night'—showing complete military collapse. Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem's City of David reveal arrowheads, burnt layers, and destroyed buildings from this period, confirming the intensity of the fighting and Jerusalem's conquest. The prophecy's shocking element was God's declaration that He personally engineered Jerusalem's defeat. Ancient Near Eastern peoples expected their gods to defend their cities; Israel had experienced this in the past (2 Kings 19:35). Jeremiah's prophecy declared that Israel's God would instead fight for the enemy—a concept nearly unthinkable in ancient religious thought but consistent with covenant theology where God's blessing depended on obedience, not national loyalty.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's declaration that He would turn Israel's weapons against them illustrate the principle that covenant blessings become covenant curses through disobedience?
  2. What does it mean for God to become His own people's enemy, and how should this warn us about presuming upon relationship with God while living in rebellion?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 31 words
כֹּֽה1 of 31
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֨ר2 of 31

Thus saith

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֜ה3 of 31

the LORD

H3068

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

אֱלֹהֵ֣י4 of 31

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל5 of 31

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

הִנְנִ֣י6 of 31
H2005

lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if

מֵסֵב֮7 of 31

Behold I will turn back

H5437

to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively

אֶת8 of 31
H853

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

כְּלֵ֣י9 of 31

the weapons

H3627

something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

הַמִּלְחָמָה֮10 of 31

of war

H4421

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

אֲשֶׁ֣ר11 of 31
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בְּיֶדְכֶם֒12 of 31

that are in your 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

אֲשֶׁ֨ר13 of 31
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אַתֶּ֜ם14 of 31
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

נִלְחָמִ֣ים15 of 31

wherewith ye fight

H3898

to feed on; figuratively, to consume

בָּ֗ם16 of 31
H0
אֶת17 of 31
H853

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

מֶ֤לֶךְ18 of 31

against the king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶל֙19 of 31

of Babylon

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וְאֶת20 of 31
H853

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

הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים21 of 31

and against the Chaldeans

H3778

a kasdite, or descendant of kesed; by implication, a chaldaean (as if so descended); also an astrologer (as if proverbial of that people

הַצָּרִ֣ים22 of 31

which besiege

H6696

to cramp, i.e., confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or hostile)

עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם23 of 31
H5921

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

מִח֖וּץ24 of 31

you without

H2351

properly, separate by a wall, i.e., outside, outdoors

לַֽחוֹמָ֑ה25 of 31

the walls

H2346

a wall of protection

וְאָסַפְתִּ֣י26 of 31

and I will assemble

H622

to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)

אוֹתָ֔ם27 of 31
H853

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

אֶל28 of 31
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

תּ֖וֹךְ29 of 31

them into the midst

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

הָעִ֥יר30 of 31

of this city

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

הַזֹּֽאת׃31 of 31
H2063

this (often used adverb)


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 21:4 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 21:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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