Jeremiah 13:21

What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them [to be] captains, [and] as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?

What wilt thou say {H559} when he shall punish {H6485} thee? for thou hast taught {H3925} them to be captains {H441}, and as chief {H7218} over thee: shall not sorrows {H2256} take {H270} thee, as a woman {H802} in travail {H3205}?

When he sets over you as rulers those you trained to be allies, what will you say? Won't pains seize you like those of a woman in labor?

What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?

What wilt thou say, when he shall set over thee as head those whom thou hast thyself taught to be friends to thee? shall not sorrows take hold of thee, as of a woman in travail?

Jeremiah 13:21 delivers a powerful and poignant warning from the prophet Jeremiah to the unfaithful kingdom of Judah. It underscores the inevitable consequences of their spiritual rebellion and political missteps, portraying God's impending judgment.

Context of Jeremiah 13:21

This verse is situated within a section of Jeremiah's prophecies (chapters 13-20) that detail Judah's impending doom and the reasons for it. Jeremiah had already used symbolic actions, like the ruined linen belt (Jeremiah 13:1-11) and the wine jars (Jeremiah 13:12-14), to illustrate the nation's pride, corruption, and coming destruction. The focus here is on Judah's misplaced trust and idolatry, which led them to seek alliances with foreign nations rather than relying on the Lord. This act of seeking help from others effectively elevated these nations to a position of power over Judah, making them "captains" and "chief." The imminent threat of the Babylonian invasion looms large over these prophecies, representing the instrument of God's corrective judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Accountability: The rhetorical question, "What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee?", highlights Judah's defenselessness and lack of an excuse before God's righteous judgment. It emphasizes that the punishment is a direct consequence of their actions, not arbitrary. This theme of divine accountability is prevalent throughout prophetic literature; for instance, see Amos 3:2.
  • Consequences of Misplaced Trust: Judah's sin was not merely idolatry but also its reliance on foreign powers and their gods, making these nations "captains" and "chief" over them. This act of seeking help from ungodly sources ultimately led to their subjugation. By turning away from the Lord, they effectively invited their enemies to become their masters. This echoes warnings found in Isaiah 30:1-3 against seeking help from Egypt.
  • Inevitable and Intense Suffering: The metaphor "shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?" vividly portrays the inescapable, sudden, and agonizing pain that will befall Judah. This imagery is commonly used in the Bible to describe intense distress and the onset of divine judgment, signifying a pain that cannot be avoided or lessened, much like the labor pains of childbirth. For a similar use of this metaphor, consider 1 Thessalonians 5:3.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms used for "captains" (קְצִנִים, qetzinim) and "chief" (רֹאשׁ, rosh) both denote positions of authority, leadership, and headship. Their application here is deeply ironic: Judah, meant to be God's chosen and sovereign nation, had through its own apostasy and reliance on foreign alliances, effectively handed over its authority and destiny to those who would become its oppressors. The phrase "taught them to be captains" powerfully conveys that Judah's own actions empowered their future conquerors.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 13:21 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual compromise and misplaced trust. For believers today, it highlights several critical lessons:

  • Trust in God Alone: We are reminded of the danger of relying on worldly systems, human power, or ungodly alliances instead of placing our full trust in God. When we lean on sources other than the Lord, we risk empowering things that may ultimately bring us sorrow or lead us away from His will.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The verse underscores that sin and disobedience have real, often painful, consequences. God's judgment is not arbitrary but a just response to rebellion and a call to repentance.
  • Self-Inflicted Trouble: Sometimes, our greatest troubles are those we "teach" or invite upon ourselves through poor choices, neglecting God's commands, or seeking solutions outside of His divine plan. This verse prompts self-reflection on who or what we have allowed to become "chief" in our lives apart from God.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 13:8

    And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames.

  • Jeremiah 4:31

    For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, [and] the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, [that] bewaileth herself, [that] spreadeth her hands, [saying], Woe [is] me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

  • Isaiah 39:2

    And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

  • Isaiah 39:4

    Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that [is] in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

  • Isaiah 10:3

    And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

  • Jeremiah 5:31

    The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

  • Jeremiah 38:22

    And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house [shall be] brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those [women] shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, [and] they are turned away back.

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