King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 21:7 Mean?

Jeremiah 21:7 in the King James Version says “And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are ... — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

Jeremiah 21:7 · KJV


Context

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.

7

And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

8

And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine—the phrase 'and afterward' (ve'acharei-chen, וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵן) indicates sequential judgment: first pestilence will devastate the population (v. 6), then survivors will face captivity. Those who survive the siege's horrors—sword, famine, pestilence—face an even more specific fate. Into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life—the triple repetition 'into the hand' (beyad, בְּיַד) emphasizes complete subjugation with no escape. The phrase 'those that seek their life' (mevakshei naphsham, מְבַקְשֵׁי נַפְשָׁם) indicates active pursuit to kill, not merely imprison.

And he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy—the Hebrew piles up negatives: lo yachmol (לֹא־יַחְמֹל, no sparing), velo yachus (וְלֹא־יָחוֹס, no pity), velo yerachem (וְלֹא יְרַחֵם, no mercy). Three terms for compassion are systematically denied. This reverses God's self-description as compassionate and merciful (Exodus 34:6-7) by declaring His chosen instrument—pagan Nebuchadnezzar—will show none. This was precisely fulfilled: Zedekiah witnessed his sons' execution before his eyes were gouged out, then was taken in chains to Babylon (2 Kings 25:6-7). Judah's leadership who rejected mercy from God received no mercy from Babylon.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The prophecy's fulfillment is documented in 2 Kings 25:6-21. After Jerusalem's walls were breached in 586 BC, Zedekiah fled but was captured near Jericho. Nebuchadnezzar executed Zedekiah's sons at Riblah (a Babylonian military headquarters in Syria), then blinded Zedekiah and took him to Babylon, where he died in prison (Jeremiah 52:11). The nobility and priests were systematically executed—2 Kings 25:18-21 lists specific officials killed at Riblah. Archaeological evidence from Tel Lachish and other Judean sites shows widespread destruction circa 586 BC, with burn layers, arrowheads, and evidence of violent conquest. The Babylonian policy was harsh toward rebels: Zedekiah had sworn loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar but broke his oath, making his punishment exemplary. The brutality served Babylon's imperial strategy—deterring other vassal states from rebellion. Ezekiel 17:16-20 emphasizes that Zedekiah's oath-breaking, not merely political rebellion, triggered God's judgment: covenant fidelity mattered even in international treaties.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the systematic denial of mercy (no sparing, no pity, no mercy) illustrate the principle that those who reject God's mercy ultimately face judgment without mercy (James 2:13)?
  2. What does the specific fulfillment of Zedekiah's fate teach about the certainty of God's prophetic word, even when it pronounces judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 42 words
וְאַחֲרֵי1 of 42

And afterward

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

כֵ֣ן2 of 42
H3651

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

נְאֻם3 of 42

saith

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֡ה4 of 42

the LORD

H3068

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

אֶתֵּ֣ן5 of 42

I will deliver

H5414

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

אֶת6 of 42
H853

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

צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ7 of 42

Zedekiah

H6667

tsidkijah, the name of six israelites

מֶֽלֶךְ8 of 42

king

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָ֣ה9 of 42

of Judah

H3063

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

וְאֶת10 of 42
H853

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

עֲבָדָ֣יו׀11 of 42

and his servants

H5650

a servant

וְאֶת12 of 42
H853

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

הָעָ֡ם13 of 42

and the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

וְאֶת14 of 42
H853

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

הַנִּשְׁאָרִים֩15 of 42

and such as are left

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

בָּעִ֨יר16 of 42

in this city

H5892

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

הַזֹּ֜את17 of 42
H2063

this (often used adverb)

מִן18 of 42
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַדֶּ֣בֶר׀19 of 42

from the pestilence

H1698

a pestilence

מִן20 of 42
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

חֶ֔רֶב21 of 42

from the sword

H2719

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

וּמִן22 of 42
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הָרָעָ֗ב23 of 42

and from the famine

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

וּבְיַ֖ד24 of 42

and into the hand

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

נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר25 of 42

of Nebuchadrezzar

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ26 of 42

king

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֔ל27 of 42

of Babylon

H894

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

וּבְיַ֖ד28 of 42

and into the hand

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

אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם29 of 42

of their enemies

H341

hating; an adversary

וּבְיַ֖ד30 of 42

and into the hand

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

מְבַקְשֵׁ֣י31 of 42

of those that seek

H1245

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

נַפְשָׁ֑ם32 of 42

their life

H5315

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

וְהִכָּ֣ם33 of 42

and he shall smite

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

לְפִי34 of 42

them with the edge

H6310

the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech); specifically edge, portion or side; adverbially (with prepos

חֶ֔רֶב35 of 42

from the sword

H2719

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

לֹֽא36 of 42
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יָח֣וּס37 of 42

he shall not spare

H2347

properly, to cover, i.e., (figuratively) to compassionate

עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם38 of 42
H5921

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

וְלֹ֥א39 of 42
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יַחְמֹ֖ל40 of 42

them neither have pity

H2550

to commiserate; by implication, to spare

וְלֹ֥א41 of 42
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יְרַחֵֽם׃42 of 42

nor have mercy

H7355

to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate


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 21:7 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 21:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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