Jeremiah 29:18
What does Jeremiah 29:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Jeremiah 29:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jeremiah 29:18 means
This verse describes the further extent of God's judgment upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem: "And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them." The judgments would not be confined to Jerusalem but would extend to global scattering. They would become objects of scorn and horror among all nations, a public testament to their disobedience and God's righteous wrath.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I will go after them, attacking them with the sword and with need of food and with disease, and will make them a cause of fear to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse and a wonder and a surprise and a name of shame among all the nations where I have sent them:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I have pursued after them with sword, with famine, and with pestilence, and have given them for a trembling to all kingdoms of the earth, for a curse and for an astonishment, and for a hissing, and for a reproach among all the nations whither I have driven them,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I will persecute them with the sword, and with famine, and with the pestilence: and I will give them up unto affliction to all the kingdoms of the earth: to be a curse, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach to all the nations to which I have driven them out:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I will pursue them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will give them over to be driven hither and thither into all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an execration, and an astonishment, and a hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I will drive them:
Context
Building on the previous verse's description of internal judgment, this verse expands upon the international consequences for the people in Jerusalem. It underscores their coming dispersion and global shaming. This further emphasizes the severe national consequences of their rebellion, illustrating the comprehensive nature of God's judgment beyond just immediate physical suffering.
v.17thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so bad.
v.18This passage
v.19because they have not hearkened to my words, saith Jehovah, wherewith I sent unto them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith Jehovah.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 24:9
I will even give them up to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth for evil; to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
- Leviticus 26:33
And you will I scatter among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you: and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.
- Deuteronomy 28:64
And Jehovah will scatter thee among all peoples, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou nor thy fathers, even wood and stone.
- 2 Chronicles 29:8
Wherefore the wrath of Jehovah was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to be tossed to and fro, to be an astonishment, and a hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
- Ezekiel 12:15
And they shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall disperse them among the nations, and scatter them through the countries.
- Jeremiah 15:4
And I will cause them to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.
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