Jeremiah 21:2

KJV

Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

KJV (with Strong's)

Enquire {H1875}, I pray thee, of the LORD {H3068} for us {H1157}; for Nebuchadrezzar {H5019} king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} maketh war {H3898} against us; if so be that the LORD {H3068} will deal {H6213} with us according to all his wondrous works {H6381}, that he may go up {H5927} from us.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Please consult ADONAI for us, because N'vukhadretzar king of Bavel is making war on us. Maybe ADONAI will perform a miracle for us and cause him to withdraw."

Berean Standard Bible

“Please inquire of the LORD on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Perhaps the LORD will perform for us something like all His past wonders, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”

American Standard Version

Inquire, I pray thee, of Jehovah for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us: peradventure Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 21:2 records King Zedekiah's desperate plea to the prophet Jeremiah during the final Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. Facing overwhelming military force from Nebuchadrezzar, Zedekiah implores Jeremiah to inquire of the LORD on Judah's behalf, hoping for a miraculous divine intervention that would replicate God's past "wondrous works" of deliverance and compel the Babylonian army to withdraw. This verse encapsulates the king's last-ditch effort to avert the impending catastrophe, revealing a glimmer of hope rooted in God's historical power, yet tragically misaligned with God's present purpose of judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 21:2 initiates a pivotal section of the book, marking the beginning of a series of direct prophetic oracles from Jeremiah to King Zedekiah regarding Jerusalem's imminent destruction. This chapter serves as a stark divine response to Zedekiah's final, desperate attempt to seek God's favor. The king's inquiry, delivered through Pashur and Zephaniah (Jeremiah 21:1), sets the stage for Jeremiah's unwavering declaration of God's judgment, revealing that the LORD Himself would fight *against* Judah, not for them, delivering the city into the hands of Nebuchadrezzar (Jeremiah 21:4-7). This oracle directly contradicts Zedekiah's hope for deliverance, emphasizing the unalterable nature of God's decree due to Judah's persistent sin and rebellion, a theme echoed throughout Jeremiah's prophecies, particularly concerning the [fate of Jerusalem](/jeremiah/32 "Jeremiah 32 - Jeremiah Buys a Field During the Siege").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the final siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon, which commenced around 588 BCE and culminated in the city's destruction in 586 BCE. King Zedekiah, installed as a vassal king by Nebuchadrezzar after the first deportation in 597 BCE, had rebelled against Babylonian rule, aligning with Egypt, despite Jeremiah's repeated warnings against such alliances (e.g., [Jeremiah 37:7](/jeremiah/37-7 "Jeremiah 37:7 - God's Word Against Egyptian Help")). In this desperate hour, facing starvation and military defeat, it was a common practice for kings and nations in the ancient Near East to consult prophets or diviners to ascertain the will of their gods and seek miraculous intervention. Zedekiah's appeal to Jeremiah reflects this cultural norm, coupled with a lingering, albeit misplaced, hope in the LORD's historical pattern of delivering His people from insurmountable odds, as seen in the [Exodus narrative](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Crossing of the Red Sea").
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Divine Judgment** as the inevitable consequence of persistent national apostasy and rebellion against God's covenant. Zedekiah's plea, while seemingly pious, is a desperate attempt to avoid the judgment that Jeremiah had long prophesied (e.g., [Jeremiah 7:1-15](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon")). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **False Hope and Delusion**, as Zedekiah clings to a past pattern of divine intervention without acknowledging the current reality of God's righteous wrath. His hope for "wondrous works" of deliverance fails to grasp that God's "wondrous works" can also manifest as devastating judgment to uphold His justice and holiness. Finally, the verse implicitly touches upon the **Role of the Prophet** as God's mouthpiece, even when the message is unwelcome and contrary to the desires of those in power. Jeremiah's unwavering faithfulness in delivering God's hard truth, despite personal suffering and opposition, is a central motif throughout his prophetic ministry (e.g., [Jeremiah 20:7-18](/jeremiah/20 "Jeremiah 20 - Jeremiah's Complaint")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Enquire (Hebrew, _dârash'_):** This primitive root means "to tread or frequent," and by implication, "to seek or ask" or "to worship." In this context, it signifies a diligent, earnest seeking of the LORD, often for divine guidance, revelation, or intervention. Zedekiah's request is not merely a casual question but an urgent appeal for Jeremiah to perform a prophetic inquiry, hoping to discern God's will and, more specifically, to secure His favor for deliverance. It implies a recognition of Jeremiah's unique access to the divine word.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, covenantal name of God, often transliterated as Yahweh. It signifies the "Self-Existent" or "Eternal One," emphasizing God's unchanging, sovereign nature and His covenant faithfulness to Israel. Zedekiah appeals to the God who has historically demonstrated His power and commitment to His people, implying a reliance on His past character, even as Judah's actions have violated the covenant with this very God. The use of this name highlights the profound irony of the situation: Judah is facing judgment from the very God who has been faithful to them.
* **wondrous works (Hebrew, _pâlâʼ'_):** This root properly means "to separate," "distinguish," or "to be great, difficult, wonderful." It refers to acts that are extraordinary, miraculous, or beyond human comprehension, often associated with divine intervention that demonstrates God's unique power and majesty. In the Old Testament, "wondrous works" frequently describe God's acts of deliverance, such as the [Exodus from Egypt](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Crossing of the Red Sea") or victories over enemies. Zedekiah's plea specifically invokes these past acts, hoping for a similar, awe-inspiring display of God's power to save Judah from Babylon.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us;":** This clause reveals King Zedekiah's desperate and humble request to Jeremiah. He recognizes Jeremiah's unique role as a prophet with direct access to God's will and seeks his intercession. The phrase "I pray thee" underscores the urgency and personal nature of the appeal, indicating a moment of profound crisis where human solutions have failed.
* **"for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us;":** This provides the immediate and dire context for Zedekiah's plea. The Babylonian siege is a present, overwhelming reality. Nebuchadrezzar, identified by his full title, signifies the formidable and relentless enemy that has brought Judah to the brink of destruction. This statement highlights the military and existential threat facing Jerusalem, justifying the king's desperate outreach.
* **"if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.":** This final clause articulates Zedekiah's specific hope and the desired outcome of Jeremiah's inquiry. He wishes for God to act in a manner consistent with His historical, miraculous interventions of deliverance (His "wondrous works"), which would result in the Babylonian army withdrawing ("go up from us"). This reveals a faith in God's power, yet a profound misunderstanding or denial of God's current purpose of judgment, which was also a "wondrous work" in its own right—the fulfillment of His prophetic warnings.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 21:2 employs several potent literary devices. **Supplication** is evident in Zedekiah's direct appeal to Jeremiah, conveying the king's desperate state and his recognition of Jeremiah's prophetic authority. The phrase "I pray thee" emphasizes the earnestness of this plea. **Irony** is powerfully present in Zedekiah's invocation of God's "wondrous works." While he anticipates a miraculous deliverance, the subsequent verses in [Jeremiah 21](/jeremiah/21 "Jeremiah 21 - God's Judgment Against Jerusalem") reveal that God's "wondrous work" in this instance will be the fulfillment of His long-declared judgment, fighting *against* Judah and delivering them into Babylonian hands. This creates a tragic contrast between human expectation and divine reality. Furthermore, the verse serves as a form of **Foreshadowing**, setting the stage for the grim pronouncements of judgment that follow, indicating that the king's hope for a reprieve will be utterly dashed.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 21:2 profoundly illustrates the tension between human desperation and divine sovereignty, particularly when a people have strayed from God's covenant. Zedekiah's plea, while an act of seeking the LORD, is rooted in a desire for a specific outcome—deliverance from temporal suffering—rather than a repentant submission to God's will. It highlights a common human tendency to appeal to God's power for rescue in crisis, often after neglecting His commands in times of peace. The "wondrous works" God performs are not solely acts of salvation but also acts of righteous judgment, demonstrating His justice and holiness. God's consistency means He will fulfill His promises of blessing for obedience and His warnings of judgment for disobedience.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience") – This passage details the curses that would befall Israel for disobedience, including siege and destruction by foreign nations, directly fulfilling the judgment Zedekiah faced.
* [Isaiah 55:8-9](/isaiah/55-8 "Isaiah 55:8-9 - God's Thoughts and Ways are Higher") – This passage reminds us that God's thoughts and ways are far above human understanding, illustrating why Zedekiah's expectation of God's "wondrous works" diverged so sharply from God's actual plan.
* [Lamentations 2:17](/lamentations/2-17 "Lamentations 2:17 - The LORD Has Done What He Purposed") – This verse explicitly states that the LORD "hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old," confirming that the destruction of Jerusalem was the fulfillment of God's righteous judgment.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 21:2 serves as a poignant mirror for contemporary believers, challenging us to examine the nature of our prayers and our relationship with God, especially in times of distress. When we face overwhelming challenges, do we, like Zedekiah, seek God primarily for a desired outcome that aligns with our comfort, or are we genuinely open to His sovereign will, even when it involves difficult truths, consequences for past actions, or a path we did not anticipate? This verse underscores the critical importance of heeding God's warnings and cultivating a lifestyle of repentance and obedience *before* crisis compels a reckoning. True faith seeks God's will above all else, trusting that His "wondrous works" encompass both His mercy and His righteous judgment, always for His ultimate glory and our good. It calls us to move beyond a transactional view of prayer to a relational one, rooted in humble submission and trust in God's perfect plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be seeking God's intervention for my desired outcome, rather than His sovereign will?**
* **How does my understanding of God's "wondrous works" encompass both His acts of deliverance and His acts of righteous judgment?**
* **What warnings or promptings from God might I be neglecting in my life, potentially setting the stage for future consequences?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper posture of repentance and obedience that aligns my desires more fully with God's purposes?**

### FAQ
**Who was Zedekiah and why did he send messengers to Jeremiah?**

Answer: Zedekiah was the last king of Judah, installed by Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon after the first deportation of Judeans, including King Jehoiachin, in 597 BCE. Despite being a vassal king, Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon, trusting in an alliance with Egypt, contrary to Jeremiah's prophetic warnings. When Nebuchadrezzar's army besieged Jerusalem, Zedekiah found himself in a desperate and hopeless situation. He sent messengers, Pashur and Zephaniah, to Jeremiah in [Jeremiah 21:1](/jeremiah/21-1 "Jeremiah 21:1 - Zedekiah Sends to Jeremiah"), not out of genuine repentance or faith, but out of a desperate hope that God might miraculously intervene and cause the Babylonians to withdraw, as He had done in past national crises. It was a last-ditch effort to avert the catastrophic destruction that Jeremiah had long prophesied for Judah's unfaithfulness.

**What does "wondrous works" refer to in this context?**

Answer: In Jeremiah 21:2, "wondrous works" (Hebrew: *pâlâʼ*) refers to God's past, extraordinary acts of miraculous intervention and deliverance on behalf of His people. Historically, this would include events like the [Exodus from Egypt](/exodus/14 "Exodus 14 - The Crossing of the Red Sea"), the parting of the Red Sea, the provision of manna in the wilderness, or victories over powerful enemies (e.g., [Joshua 10:12-14](/joshua/10-12 "Joshua 10:12-14 - The Sun Stands Still at Gibeon")). Zedekiah was hoping for a similar, awe-inspiring display of God's power to save Jerusalem from the Babylonians. However, the profound irony, revealed in Jeremiah's subsequent prophecy (e.g., [Jeremiah 21:4-7](/jeremiah/21-4 "Jeremiah 21:4-7 - God Will Fight Against Judah")), is that God's "wondrous work" in this instance would be the fulfillment of His righteous judgment against Judah for its persistent sin and rebellion, delivering them into the hands of Babylon. Thus, God's "wondrous works" encompass both His saving acts and His just judgments.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 21:2, with Zedekiah's desperate plea for deliverance from a temporal enemy, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the ultimate "wondrous work" of God: the salvation wrought through Jesus Christ. While Zedekiah sought rescue from physical siege, humanity's deepest need is deliverance from the spiritual siege of sin and death, a battle we could never win on our own. The "wondrous works" of God, which Zedekiah invoked, ultimately culminate in the person and work of Christ. It is through Christ that God truly "dealt with us according to all his wondrous works," not by averting judgment, but by bearing it Himself on the cross. The [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") became the one who "takes away the sin of the world," fulfilling the righteous demands of God's law and offering true freedom.

Unlike Zedekiah's misaligned hope for a temporary reprieve, Christ's work provides eternal deliverance and reconciliation with God. The "wondrous work" of the Incarnation (e.g., [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), the miraculous life, the atoning death (e.g., [Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")), and the glorious resurrection of Jesus (e.g., [1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel of Christ's Death and Resurrection")) represent the pinnacle of God's powerful and redemptive acts. Through faith in Him, we are delivered from the ultimate enemy—sin and its condemnation—and are granted eternal life (e.g., [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")). Thus, Zedekiah's desperate, misplaced hope for a physical withdrawal of an army foreshadows the far greater spiritual deliverance offered by Christ, the true King who conquers sin and death, allowing us to "go up" from the bondage of our spiritual enemies into the glorious freedom of God's children (e.g., [Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Freedom in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 37:3

And Zedekiah the king sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest to the prophet Jeremiah, saying, Pray now unto the LORD our God for us.

Jeremiah 37:7

Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say to the king of Judah, that sent you unto me to enquire of me; Behold, Pharaoh's army, which is come forth to help you, shall return to Egypt into their own land.

Ezekiel 20:1

¶ And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, [that] certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

Ezekiel 20:3

Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

1 Samuel 28:15

¶ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

Psalms 44:1

¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, [what] work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.

Psalms 44:4

Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.