Jeremiah 21:2

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.

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.

"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."

“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.”

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.

Jeremiah 21:2 captures a pivotal moment during the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army under King Nebuchadnezzar. Here, King Zedekiah of Judah, through his messengers, desperately appeals to the prophet Jeremiah.

Context of Jeremiah 21:2

This verse opens a significant chapter in Jeremiah's prophecy, marking the beginning of a series of messages delivered directly to King Zedekiah concerning the imminent fall of Jerusalem. The request made by Zedekiah's envoys, Pashur and Zephaniah, reflects the king's deep distress as Nebuchadnezzar's forces were actively besieging the city. Despite Jeremiah's consistent warnings of impending judgment due to Judah's idolatry and disobedience, Zedekiah still holds onto a sliver of hope that God might miraculously intervene and cause the Babylonian army to withdraw, just as He had done for Israel in past crises.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Desperate Plea for Divine Intervention: Zedekiah’s request, "Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us," highlights his desperate situation. He seeks Jeremiah's prophetic intercession, hoping for a miraculous deliverance from the overwhelming Babylonian threat. This reflects a common human tendency to turn to God in crisis, sometimes after neglecting Him during times of peace.
  • Recalling God's "Wondrous Works": The phrase "according to all his wondrous works" (Hebrew: pele') refers to God's powerful, miraculous acts of deliverance, such as the Exodus from Egypt or victories over enemies. Zedekiah hopes for a repeat of these historical interventions, believing God might yet fight for Judah.
  • The Reality of Impending Judgment: Unbeknownst to Zedekiah, or perhaps unacknowledged by him, God's "wondrous works" in this instance would be the fulfillment of His long-declared judgment against Judah for its unfaithfulness. The subsequent verses in Jeremiah 21 reveal God's firm decision to fight against Judah, delivering them into Babylon's hands.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "enquire" (darash) implies a diligent seeking or inquiring of the Lord, often for divine guidance or revelation. Zedekiah's use of "wondrous works" (pele') shows an awareness of God's historical power, yet he fails to grasp that God's power can also be demonstrated through righteous judgment when His people refuse to repent.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 21:2 serves as a powerful reminder that while we should always seek God in prayer, especially in times of distress, our prayers must align with His will and purposes. It challenges us to consider whether we seek God merely for our desired outcomes or if we are genuinely open to His sovereign plan, even when it involves difficult truths or consequences for past actions. This verse underscores the importance of heeding God's warnings and pursuing genuine repentance before crisis forces a reckoning.

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.

  • 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.

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