Jeremiah 11:22

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:

Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of hosts {H6635}, Behold, I will punish {H6485} them: the young men {H970} shall die {H4191} by the sword {H2719}; their sons {H1121} and their daughters {H1323} shall die {H4191} by famine {H7458}:

this is what ADONAI-Tzva'ot says: "I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine.

So this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine.

therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 11:22

Jeremiah 11:22 is part of a significant section in the Book of Jeremiah (chapters 11-12) where the prophet Jeremiah delivers a message of judgment against the people of Judah for breaking their covenant with God. More specifically, this particular verse pronounces a severe divine judgment upon the men of Anathoth, Jeremiah's hometown. These individuals had conspired against Jeremiah, threatening his life if he continued to prophesy in the Lord's name, as detailed in Jeremiah 11:21. God's response here is a direct vindication of His prophet and a stern warning against those who oppose His word.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The verse vividly portrays God's unwavering justice against those who rebel against Him and His appointed messengers. The phrase "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them" underscores God's absolute authority and His commitment to upholding righteousness.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The specific punishments—death by "sword" for young men and "famine" for sons and daughters—illustrate the devastating and comprehensive nature of God's judgment. These are common instruments of divine wrath in the Old Testament, signifying a complete societal collapse and loss of future generations. This echoes the curses outlined in the covenant, such as those found in Deuteronomy 28.
  • Vindication of God's Prophets: This passage serves as a powerful testament to God's protection over His servants. Despite the threats and plots against him, Jeremiah is assured that God Himself will deal with his adversaries, demonstrating that to touch God's prophet is to touch God's own eye.
  • Broken Covenant: The broader context of Jeremiah 11 emphasizes the people's failure to uphold the covenant made at Sinai. Their plotting against Jeremiah is symptomatic of their deeper spiritual rebellion and rejection of God's law and grace, which is a recurring theme throughout Jeremiah, starting from verses like Jeremiah 11:3.

Linguistic Insights

The title "LORD of hosts" (Hebrew: Yahweh Sabaoth) is highly significant here. It emphasizes God's supreme power and authority as the commander of heavenly armies and all creation. This title reinforces the certainty and inevitability of the judgment being pronounced. It assures Jeremiah, and the reader, that the one making this declaration has the power to execute it fully.

The terms "sword" and "famine" are not merely descriptive but are frequently used in prophetic literature to denote severe and comprehensive destruction, often hand-in-hand with pestilence, representing the complete breakdown of civil order and life support.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 11:22 serves as a timeless reminder of several critical truths:

  • The Seriousness of Rejecting God's Word: This verse underscores the grave consequences of ignoring or actively opposing the divine message. It highlights that God does not take lightly the rejection of His truth or harm against His messengers.
  • God's Protection of His Servants: For those who faithfully proclaim God's word, this passage offers immense comfort and assurance. God Himself is the defender of His prophets and His people, even when they face severe opposition. This resonates with God's promise to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:19.
  • Accountability for Actions: Every action, especially those taken against God's will or His people, has consequences. This verse powerfully illustrates that there will be a reckoning for wickedness and rebellion.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 18:21

    Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their [blood] by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and [be] widows; and let their men be put to death; [let] their young men [be] slain by the sword in battle.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:17

    Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave [them] all into his hand.

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:15

    Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:16

    Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

  • Lamentations 2:21

    The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; thou hast slain [them] in the day of thine anger; thou hast killed, [and] not pitied.

  • Jeremiah 9:21

    For death is come up into our windows, [and] is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, [and] the young men from the streets.
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