Jeremiah 21:5

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.

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}.

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

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

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.

Jeremiah 21:5 delivers a powerful and terrifying message from God to King Zedekiah and the people of Judah, who were under siege by the Babylonians. This verse shatters any hope they might have had for divine intervention on their behalf, instead revealing God's active role in their impending destruction.

Context

This verse is part of a direct prophecy given by Jeremiah during the final siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army. King Zedekiah had sent officials to Jeremiah, asking him to "inquire of the Lord" (Jeremiah 21:2), hoping that God would perform a miracle, as He had in the past, and force the Babylonians to withdraw. However, God's response through Jeremiah was the opposite of what they desired. Instead of fighting *for* Judah, God declared He would fight *against* them, indicating that the siege was a direct act of divine judgment for their persistent idolatry and rebellion against His covenant.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The verse unequivocally states that God Himself is the primary force behind Jerusalem's downfall. His "outstretched hand and strong arm" are not for deliverance, but for punishment, emphasizing His sovereignty over nations and His direct involvement in history.
  • God's Holy Wrath: The repetition of "anger," "fury," and "great wrath" underscores the intensity and certainty of God's displeasure. This is not a fleeting emotion but a righteous indignation against prolonged sin and disobedience to His commands.
  • Consequences of Rebellion: This passage serves as a stark reminder that God's patience has limits and that there are severe, divinely ordained consequences for persistent rebellion against His will. It reflects the warnings given in the Mosaic Law regarding covenant disobedience.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "outstretched hand and strong arm" (Hebrew: yadh neṭûyâ and zerôa' chazâqâ) is highly significant. In many Old Testament passages, particularly in Exodus, this imagery describes God's powerful deliverance of Israel from Egypt. Here, the very same terms of divine power are turned *against* His own people, signifying the severity and certainty of His judgment. The terms "anger" ('aph), "fury" (chemah), and "great wrath" (qetseph gadol) are strong Hebrew words, cumulatively expressing the depth and intensity of God's righteous indignation.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 21:5 serves as a powerful warning and a profound theological statement. It reminds us that God is not only a God of love and mercy but also a God of justice and holiness. Sin has consequences, and while God is incredibly patient, His justice will ultimately prevail. For believers today, this verse emphasizes the importance of repentance, obedience, and taking God's commands seriously. It also highlights that God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, urging us to live in reverence and submission to His perfect will.

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.

  • 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.

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