Jeremiah 21:5

KJV

And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I myself will fight {H3898} against you with an outstretched {H5186} hand {H3027} and with a strong {H2389} arm {H2220}, even in anger {H639}, and in fury {H2534}, and in great {H1419} wrath {H7110}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and I myself will fight against you with my hand stretched out and with a strong arm, in anger, rage and great fury.

Berean Standard Bible

And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath.

American Standard Version

And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 21:5 delivers a stark divine declaration to King Zedekiah and Judah, revealing God's active opposition to them during the Babylonian siege. Far from offering deliverance, the Lord asserts He will personally wage war against His own people, employing His mighty power and expressing His intense, righteous indignation through anger, fury, and great wrath. This verse shatters any false hopes of rescue, underscoring the severity of divine judgment for persistent covenant infidelity and unrepentant sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 21 opens with King Zedekiah's desperate plea to the prophet Jeremiah, seeking divine intervention against Nebuchadnezzar's formidable Babylonian army besieging Jerusalem. This inquiry, sent through Pashhur and Zephaniah, reflects a final, desperate hope for a miraculous deliverance reminiscent of past interventions (cf. [2 Kings 19](/2-kings/19 "2 Kings 19 - Sennacherib's Defeat")). Jeremiah's response, commencing in [Jeremiah 21:3](/jeremiah/21-3 "Jeremiah 21:3 - God's Response to Zedekiah"), is a direct and devastating oracle from Yahweh. Instead of salvation, God declares that He Himself will fight *against* Jerusalem. Verse 5 is the climactic and most vivid articulation of this divine reversal, setting the grim tone for the pronouncements of judgment and destruction that follow, including the stark choice between the way of life and the way of death for the city's inhabitants ([Jeremiah 21:8-10](/jeremiah/21-8-10 "Jeremiah 21:8-10 - The Choice of Life or Death")). The passage underscores the finality of God's decision and the utter futility of human resistance or false hope.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This prophecy is situated during the final, brutal siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian forces, which culminated in the city's destruction in 586 BC. King Zedekiah, a puppet ruler installed by Babylon, had foolishly rebelled, seeking alliances with Egypt—a move explicitly forbidden by God and consistently warned against by Jeremiah. Culturally, the people, including the king, clung to a dangerous theological error: the belief that Jerusalem, as the city where God's Temple resided, was inviolable and would never fall (a concept often termed "Temple theology," which Jeremiah vehemently challenged in [Jeremiah 7](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon")). They expected God to defend them regardless of their profound and persistent sin. The imagery of God's "outstretched hand and strong arm" would have resonated deeply with the Israelite audience, as it was the quintessential symbol of God's powerful acts of deliverance, most notably the Exodus from Egypt ([Deuteronomy 5:15](/deuteronomy/5-15 "Deuteronomy 5:15 - Remember the Exodus")). The shocking reversal of this imagery in Jeremiah 21:5—from deliverance to destruction—would have been profoundly terrifying, signifying God's direct and personal opposition to His own covenant people.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 21:5 powerfully contributes to several major theological themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative, highlighting the multifaceted nature of God's character and covenant.
* **Divine Judgment:** This verse unequivocally establishes God as the active, sovereign agent behind Jerusalem's impending downfall. It shatters any illusion that their suffering is merely a geopolitical consequence, asserting Yahweh's absolute control over nations and His direct involvement in history as the righteous Judge. This judgment is not arbitrary but a direct and just consequence of Judah's prolonged idolatry, social injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness, as repeatedly warned throughout Jeremiah's prophetic ministry (e.g., [Jeremiah 7:1-15](/jeremiah/7-1-15 "Jeremiah 7:1-15 - The Temple Sermon and Its Warnings")).
* **God's Holy Wrath:** The emphatic repetition of "anger," "fury," and "great wrath" underscores the intensity, certainty, and righteousness of God's indignation. This is not a fleeting human emotion but a holy response to persistent and unrepentant sin, demonstrating that God's patience, while vast, has limits. It is a necessary manifestation of His justice and holiness, attributes that demand a response to unbridled rebellion and wickedness ([Psalm 7:11](/psalm/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a Righteous Judge")).
* **Covenant Consequences:** The passage serves as a stark and terrifying reminder of the covenant curses outlined in the Mosaic Law, which promised severe consequences for disobedience (e.g., [Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14-39 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Covenant Curses for Disobedience")). God's act of fighting *against* His own people is the ultimate expression of these consequences, demonstrating that His covenant is bilateral and that persistent rebellion leads to divinely ordained destruction, even for His chosen nation. This highlights the serious nature of breaking faith with the Lord and the integrity of His promises, both of blessing and of judgment.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **fight (Hebrew, _lâcham'_):** This verb (H3898) signifies not merely a conflict but a destructive, consuming act of warfare. It implies God's active, personal engagement in battle against Judah, leading to their consumption and defeat, rather than their protection. Unlike human warfare, this divine "fighting" is irresistible and definitive, ensuring the outcome.
* **outstretched (Hebrew, _nâṭâh'_):** This verb (H5186) describes a deliberate and powerful extension or spreading out, often used to depict God's hand or arm. While typically associated with acts of deliverance (e.g., stretching out His hand to part the Red Sea), here its application to judgment signifies a purposeful, forceful, and unyielding divine action directed *against* His own people, a stark and terrifying reversal of its usual benevolent connotation.
* **wrath (Hebrew, _qetseph'_):** This noun (H7110) denotes a violent, explosive indignation or rage, akin to something being chipped off or broken apart. It conveys the intensity and destructive nature of God's anger, indicating a complete and devastating outpouring of His righteous judgment, leaving no doubt about the severity of His displeasure and its consequences.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I myself will fight against you":** This clause emphasizes the personal, direct, and active involvement of Yahweh in the impending destruction of Jerusalem. The emphatic "I myself" (Hebrew: _ʼănî wᵉgam-ʼănî_) shatters any illusion that the siege is merely a human conflict or a geopolitical misfortune; instead, it declares that God Himself is the primary antagonist, actively waging war against His own rebellious people. This divine agency makes the judgment inescapable.
* **"with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm":** This is a profoundly significant phrase, as "outstretched hand" (Hebrew: _yadh neṭûyâ_) and "strong arm" (Hebrew: _zᵉrôwaʻ châzâq_) are iconic biblical idioms. Throughout the Pentateuch, they consistently describe God's mighty acts of deliverance, most notably the Exodus from Egypt. Here, these very symbols of His redemptive power are shockingly reversed, signifying that His immense strength, authority, and sovereign power are now directed *against* Judah, not for their salvation, but for their comprehensive and devastating judgment.
* **"even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath":** This climactic phrase employs a powerful accumulation of terms for divine indignation, intensifying the emotional and theological weight. "Anger" (Hebrew: _ʼaph_) refers to a burning displeasure, often associated with the flaring of nostrils; "fury" (Hebrew: _chêmâh_) suggests intense heat and passionate indignation, like a consuming fire; and "great wrath" (Hebrew: _gâdôwl qetseph_) implies a comprehensive, violent, and devastating outpouring of indignation. The repetition underscores the depth, intensity, and certainty of God's righteous displeasure, stemming from Judah's persistent sin, idolatry, and covenant rebellion.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 21:5 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its chilling and profound message. The most striking is **Irony**, specifically a profound **Reversal of Imagery**. The phrase "outstretched hand and strong arm" is an iconic motif throughout the Old Testament, particularly in the Pentateuch, where it consistently denotes God's powerful acts of salvation and deliverance, especially the Exodus. Here, this very imagery is shockingly inverted, signifying God's power directed *against* His people in judgment, not for their rescue. This reversal amplifies the severity of their sin and the certainty of their doom, making the divine pronouncement all the more terrifying. Furthermore, the verse uses **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human-like physical attributes (hand, arm) and intense emotions (anger, fury, wrath) to God. This device makes His active involvement and profound displeasure more relatable and impactful, emphasizing the personal nature of His judgment. Finally, the progression from "anger" to "fury" and culminating in "great wrath" functions as a powerful **Climax** or **Accumulation**, intensifying the emotional weight and underscoring the comprehensive nature and overwhelming force of God's righteous indignation, leaving no doubt about the finality of His decree.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 21:5 profoundly articulates the theological truth that God is not only a God of boundless love, mercy, and patience but also one of perfect justice and unyielding holiness. His active intervention in judgment underscores His absolute sovereignty over history and His unwavering commitment to the integrity of His covenant, even when that commitment necessitates punitive action against His own rebellious people. This verse challenges any simplistic or one-dimensional view of God as solely benevolent, revealing the terrifying reality of His righteous wrath against sin. It demonstrates that God's patience, while vast, is not infinite, and that persistent, unrepentant rebellion against His revealed will inevitably incurs His severe displeasure—a necessary aspect of His character as a just and holy God who cannot tolerate unbridled wickedness indefinitely. This judgment serves to uphold His divine character and the sanctity of His moral law.

* [Exodus 6:6](/exodus/6-6 "Exodus 6:6 - God's Outstretched Arm of Deliverance")
* [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed Against Ungodliness")
* [Hebrews 12:29](/hebrews/12-29 "Hebrews 12:29 - Our God is a Consuming Fire")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 21:5 serves as a sobering reminder of the gravity of sin and the unyielding holiness of God. For contemporary believers, it challenges any complacent assumption of divine favor apart from genuine repentance and sustained obedience. This verse compels us to consider the seriousness with which God views covenant faithfulness and the profound consequences of persistent rebellion against His revealed will. It calls us to cultivate a deep reverence for God, acknowledging His capacity for righteous judgment alongside His boundless grace and mercy. Understanding God's wrath in this context should not lead to despair or fear of an arbitrary deity, but rather to a renewed commitment to walk in humility, seeking His face and aligning our lives with His perfect standards, knowing that His ultimate desire is for reconciliation and life. It underscores the urgency of responding to His call to repentance and living lives that honor His name, recognizing that true peace comes from walking in His ways.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's "anger, fury, and great wrath" in this verse shape your view of His character and attributes?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be taking God's patience or grace for granted, and what specific steps can you take toward deeper obedience and faithfulness?**
* **How does the shocking reversal of God's "outstretched hand and strong arm" from deliverance to judgment impact your understanding of divine sovereignty and justice, particularly in the face of human rebellion?**

### FAQ
**Why would God fight against His own people?**

Answer: God fought against Judah not out of caprice or arbitrary cruelty, but as a righteous and necessary judgment for their persistent, unrepentant sin, widespread idolatry, and profound covenant unfaithfulness. Despite repeated and gracious warnings delivered through prophets like Jeremiah, the people and their leaders stubbornly continued to rebel against His commands, turning to other gods, practicing social injustice, and defiling His Temple. This divine action was a direct fulfillment of the covenant curses outlined in the Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15-68 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience")), demonstrating that God's covenant relationship required faithfulness from both sides. His judgment, though severe and devastating, was an act of holy justice, upholding His character, the integrity of His covenant, and His ultimate authority over His creation.

**Does God still express "anger, fury, and great wrath" today?**

Answer: While the specific form of judgment seen in Jeremiah 21:5 (God directly fighting against a nation with physical warfare) is unique to the Old Covenant context, the underlying principle of God's righteous wrath against sin remains constant and eternal. The New Testament unequivocally affirms that God's wrath is still revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of humanity ([Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed")). This wrath is often expressed through the natural, destructive consequences of sin, the giving over of people to their sinful desires ([Romans 1:24-32](/romans/1-24-32 "Romans 1:24-32 - God Gives Them Over to Their Sins")), and ultimately, in the final, eschatological judgment for those who reject Christ and His atoning work. However, for those who are "in Christ," God's wrath has been appeased and averted through Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross ([Romans 5:9](/romans/5-9 "Romans 5:9 - Justified by His Blood")), offering complete deliverance from future condemnation and the promise of eternal life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 21:5 portrays a terrifying image of God's righteous wrath and judgment against His rebellious people, it ultimately points forward to the ultimate fulfillment of divine justice and mercy found supremely in Jesus Christ. The very "outstretched hand and strong arm" that once brought devastating judgment against Israel in their rebellion now, in Christ, extends an invitation of salvation and reconciliation to all who believe. Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), voluntarily bore the full measure of God's "anger, fury, and great wrath" on the cross. He became the propitiation for our sins ([1 John 2:2](/1-john/2-2 "1 John 2:2 - He is the Propitiation for Our Sins")), absorbing the divine indignation that humanity justly deserved. Through His perfect sacrifice, the righteous demands of God's holiness were fully satisfied, allowing God to be both perfectly just and the gracious justifier of those who place their faith in Jesus ([Romans 3:26](/romans/3-26 "Romans 3:26 - God is Just and Justifier")). Thus, the terrifying judgment of Jeremiah 21:5, while a real historical event, serves as a stark backdrop, highlighting the immeasurable grace and profound love demonstrated by God in sending His Son to deliver humanity from the wrath to come ([1 Thessalonians 1:10](/1-thessalonians/1-10 "1 Thessalonians 1:10 - Deliverance from the Coming Wrath")), offering eternal life and peace instead of deserved condemnation to all who trust in His finished work.

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

Exodus 6:6

Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

Isaiah 63:10

But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them.

Isaiah 5:25

Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases [were] torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, [and] there is nothing too hard for thee:

Jeremiah 6:12

And their houses shall be turned unto others, [with their] fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 9:17

Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

Isaiah 9:21

Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.