Jeremiah 15:4

And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for [that] which he did in Jerusalem.

And I will cause {H5414} them to be removed {H2189}{H2113} into all kingdoms {H4467} of the earth {H776}, because {H1558} of Manasseh {H4519} the son {H1121} of Hezekiah {H3169} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, for that which he did {H6213} in Jerusalem {H3389}.

I will make them an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of M'nasheh the son of Hizkiyahu king of Y'hudah, because of what he did in Yerushalayim.

I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

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.

Commentary

Jeremiah 15:4 delivers a sobering declaration of God's judgment against the kingdom of Judah, explicitly linking their impending exile and scattering to the profound wickedness of one of their former kings, Manasseh.

Context of Jeremiah 15:4

The prophet Jeremiah ministered during the final, tumultuous decades of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, a period marked by spiritual decline and political instability. God had repeatedly warned His people through prophets about the consequences of their idolatry and disobedience to the Mosaic Covenant. This particular verse comes after Jeremiah has already faced significant opposition and discouragement, reiterating the divine resolve for punishment. The "removal into all kingdoms of the earth" refers to the coming Babylonian exile and the subsequent dispersion of the Jewish people.

Historical Background of Manasseh

Manasseh was the son of the righteous King Hezekiah, yet his reign (697-642 BC) was notoriously wicked, lasting an astonishing 55 years. According to 2 Kings 21 and 2 Chronicles 33, he rebuilt the idolatrous high places his father had destroyed, erected altars to Baal and Asherah, worshipped the host of heaven, practiced child sacrifice, divination, and sorcery, and shed much innocent blood in Jerusalem. His actions led Judah into deeper apostasy than the nations God had driven out before them. While 2 Chronicles records Manasseh's personal repentance late in his life, the deep-seated spiritual corruption he introduced had irreversible national consequences that permeated society long after his death, sealing Judah's fate for judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Justice and Consequences: The verse powerfully illustrates God's unwavering justice. Persistent, egregious sin, especially from leadership, incurs severe divine judgment. The "removal" signifies a forceful, widespread scattering as a direct consequence.
  • Intergenerational Impact of Sin: Manasseh's actions, though committed decades earlier, are explicitly cited as the primary cause for the contemporary generation's punishment. This highlights how the corrupting influence of sin can have long-lasting, devastating effects, even if individuals later repent.
  • God's Sovereignty: Despite the human actions, it is God who declares, "I will cause them to be removed." This emphasizes God's ultimate control over historical events and the destinies of nations, executing His righteous will.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "removed" (from the root za'av, Strong's H2186) conveys a sense of being agitated, abhorred, or made an object of dread. It implies not merely a simple relocation but a violent, unsettling expulsion that would cause them to be seen with aversion or vexation by the nations among whom they were scattered. The phrase "into all kingdoms of the earth" underscores the extensive and inescapable nature of this dispersion.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 15:4 serves as a stark reminder of several timeless truths. Firstly, sin has profound and often far-reaching consequences, not just for the individual but for communities and nations. Secondly, leadership carries immense responsibility, as their actions can either lead people towards righteousness or deeper into apostasy. Finally, God's patience has limits; while He is merciful and slow to anger, He is also just and will ultimately bring judgment upon unrepentant sin. This calls believers today to consider the ripple effects of their choices and to strive for righteousness, not only for personal well-being but for the spiritual health of their families, communities, and nations.

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

  • 2 Kings 24:3

    Surely at the commandment of the LORD came [this] upon Judah, to remove [them] out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did;

  • 2 Kings 24:4

    And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon.

  • Jeremiah 24:9

    And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for [their] hurt, [to be] a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

  • Jeremiah 29:18

    And 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:

  • 2 Kings 21:11

    Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, [and] hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which [were] before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:

  • 2 Kings 21:13

    And I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria, and the plummet of the house of Ahab: and I will wipe Jerusalem as [a man] wipeth a dish, wiping [it], and turning [it] upside down.

  • 2 Kings 21:16

    Moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD.
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