Jeremiah 16:13

Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, [neither] ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.

Therefore will I cast {H2904} you out of this land {H776} into a land {H776} that ye know {H3045} not, neither ye nor your fathers {H1}; and there shall ye serve {H5647} other {H312} gods {H430} day {H3119} and night {H3915}; where I will not shew {H5414} you favour {H2594}.

Therefore I am thrusting you out of this land into a land you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors; and there you will serve other gods day and night; for I will show you no favor.'

So I will cast you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known. There you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’

therefore will I cast you forth out of this land into the land that ye have not known, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; for I will show you no favor.

Jeremiah 16:13 (KJV) is a stark prophecy of judgment delivered by God through the prophet Jeremiah against the people of Judah.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section (Jeremiah 16:1-18) where God instructs Jeremiah not to marry or have children, nor to participate in mourning or feasting, as signs of the severe judgment impending upon Judah. The people had deeply provoked God through widespread idolatry and disobedience (see Jeremiah 16:11-12). This judgment would involve their removal from their homeland, the land promised to their ancestors, due to their persistent sin.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse emphasizes God's active role in casting the people out, a direct consequence of their actions.
  • Exile: It predicts forced removal to a foreign land, unknown and alien to them and their history.
  • Consequences of Idolatry: A key consequence of serving other gods is being sent to a place where they would literally or figuratively be compelled to serve those foreign deities, highlighting the futility and bondage of idolatry.
  • Loss of Favor: God declares He will show them no favor there, signifying a period of divine withdrawal and hardship.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a land that ye know not" emphasizes the alien nature of the destination, highlighting the disruption and fear associated with being uprooted and sent far away from their familiar culture, traditions, and the land tied to God's covenant promises. Serving "other gods day and night" points to the pervasive pagan practices of the foreign land they would inhabit, a cruel irony for a people judged for adopting pagan practices in their own land.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 16:13 serves as a powerful reminder of the serious consequences of turning away from God and pursuing spiritual idolatry – whether it be worship of physical idols, wealth, power, or anything that replaces God as the central object of our devotion. God's judgment is real, and persistent disobedience can lead to being placed in circumstances where the consequences of our choices become painfully clear. While this verse speaks specifically to the Babylonian exile, it contains a timeless principle: choosing to serve things other than the true God ultimately leads to spiritual displacement and a lack of divine favor. It underscores the importance of faithfulness and the exclusive worship of the Lord, reminding us that you cannot serve two masters.

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.

  • Deuteronomy 28:36

    The LORD shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.

  • Deuteronomy 4:26

    I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong [your] days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed.

  • Deuteronomy 4:28

    And there ye shall serve gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.

  • Jeremiah 15:14

    And I will make [thee] to pass with thine enemies into a land [which] thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, [which] shall burn upon you.

  • Jeremiah 17:4

    And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, [which] shall burn for ever.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:20

    Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it [to be] a proverb and a byword among all nations.

  • Deuteronomy 30:17

    But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;

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