Jeremiah 29:22
What does Jeremiah 29:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Jeremiah 29:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Jeremiah 29:22 means
This verse describes the lasting legacy of Ahab and Zedekiah's punishment: "and of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captives of Judah that are in Babylon, saying, Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire." Their gruesome deaths would become a proverbial curse, used by the exiles to invoke divine wrath upon others. The mention of being "roasted in the fire" emphasizes the horrific nature of their execution, which would serve as a permanent, terrifying reminder of the cost of speaking falsely in God's name.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captives of Judah that are in Babylon, saying, Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
KJV
King James Version · 1611And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captives of Judah that are in Babylon, saying, Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And their fate will be used as a curse by all the prisoners of Judah who are in Babylon, who will say, May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, who were burned in the fire by the king of Babylon;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And taken from them hath been a reviling by all the removed of Judah that <FI>are<Fi> in Babylon, saying, Jehovah doth set thee as Zedekiah, and as Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted with fire;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Juda, that are in Babylon, saying: The Lord make thee like Sedecias, and like Achab, whom the king of Babylon fried in the fire:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah that are in Babylon, saying, Jehovah make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
Context
Building on the previous verse's pronouncement of judgment, this verse elaborates on the lasting impact of Ahab and Zedekiah's fate. It explains how their horrific execution would become a proverbial curse. This detail further amplifies the severity of God's wrath against false prophecy, providing a concrete example of divine retribution for deceiving His people.
v.21Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie unto you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
v.22This passage
v.23because they have wrought folly in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I commanded them not; and I am he that knoweth, and am witness, saith Jehovah.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Daniel 3:21
Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22
If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.
- Daniel 3:6
and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
- Isaiah 65:15
And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and he will call his servants by another name:
- Genesis 48:20
And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee will Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
- Ruth 4:11
And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Jehovah make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Beth-lehem:
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