Jeremiah 27:13

KJV

Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

KJV (with Strong's)

Why will ye die {H4191}, thou and thy people {H5971}, by the sword {H2719}, by the famine {H7458}, and by the pestilence {H1698}, as the LORD {H3068} hath spoken {H1696} against the nation {H1471} that will not serve {H5647} the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Why would you want to die, you and your people, by sword, famine and plague - which is what ADONAI has decreed for the nation that will not serve the king of Bavel?

Berean Standard Bible

Why should you and your people die by sword and famine and plague, as the LORD has decreed against any nation that does not serve the king of Babylon?

American Standard Version

Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as Jehovah hath spoken concerning the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 27:13 delivers a stark and urgent prophetic warning to King Zedekiah and the people of Judah, confronting them with the grave and self-inflicted consequences of defying God's explicit command to submit to the rising power of Babylon. The verse rhetorically asks why they would choose death by "sword, famine, and pestilence," emphasizing that these catastrophic outcomes are not random misfortunes but direct, divinely ordained judgments from the LORD Himself against any nation that stubbornly refuses to serve King Nebuchadnezzar, whom God has raised up as His instrument of discipline.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 27:13 is situated within a pivotal prophetic discourse where the prophet Jeremiah is commanded by God to fashion and wear a wooden yoke, a powerful visual symbol of the servitude God has decreed for Judah and surrounding nations under the dominion of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. The preceding verses, particularly [Jeremiah 27:1-11](/jeremiah/27-1-11 "Jeremiah 27:1-11 - The Yoke of Babylon"), meticulously detail this divine decree, asserting that all nations must willingly submit to Babylon or face severe and inescapable judgment. Specifically, [Jeremiah 27:12](/jeremiah/27-12 "Jeremiah 27:12 - Jeremiah's Counsel to Zedekiah") directly addresses King Zedekiah, urging him and his people to bow to God's will and serve the Babylonian king. Verse 13 then functions as a poignant rhetorical question, a direct challenge, and a final, pointed warning against the suicidal path of resistance, contrasting it sharply with the path of obedience that would lead to their survival. It directly refutes the deceptive promises of false prophets who assured deliverance from Babylonian subjugation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This prophecy unfolds during a deeply tumultuous period in Judah's history, approximately around 594 BC, following the first Babylonian deportation of Judah's elite in 597 BC. The Neo-Babylonian Empire, under the formidable Nebuchadnezzar, had firmly established itself as the preeminent geopolitical power, systematically consolidating its control over the entire Near East. Jerusalem, though a vassal state, harbored strong anti-Babylonian sentiment, fueled by nationalistic pride and the pervasive, comforting but ultimately deceptive prophecies of false prophets who promised miraculous divine intervention and liberation. These false prophets often invoked past deliverances, such as the Exodus or the defeat of Sennacherib, to bolster their claims. Jeremiah's message, however, was radically counter-cultural and profoundly unpopular, demanding submission to an oppressive foreign power. His call to "serve" Babylon was widely perceived as treasonous, yet it was presented as the only path to national survival, a divine mandate to humble themselves under God's chosen instrument of judgment for their persistent idolatry, social injustice, and profound covenant unfaithfulness, themes that permeate the entire book of [Jeremiah](/jeremiah/1 "The Book of Jeremiah - God's Judgment and Restoration").
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 27:13 powerfully underscores several major theological and narrative themes central to the book of Jeremiah. Foremost is **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's absolute and unchallengeable control over world history and the destinies of nations. He orchestrates events and even uses pagan rulers like Nebuchadnezzar as His instruments of judgment, as explicitly stated in [Jeremiah 25:9](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant"). Another critical theme is the **Consequences of Disobedience**, where the verse explicitly links refusal to obey God's command with the severe penalties of "sword, famine, and pestilence"—a recurring triad of covenant curses found throughout Old Testament warnings, notably in [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28-15-68 "Deuteronomy 28:15-68 - Curses for Disobedience") and [Leviticus 26:14-39](/leviticus/26-14-39 "Leviticus 26:14-39 - Consequences of Breaking Covenant"). Finally, the verse highlights the crucial distinction between **True and False Prophecy**, as Jeremiah's unpopular but divinely ordained message of submission stood in stark contrast to the comforting but ultimately destructive words of the false prophets who promised peace and immediate deliverance from Babylon.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **die (Hebrew, _mûwth'_):** (H4191) This primitive root signifies to die, whether literally or figuratively, and causatively, to kill. In Jeremiah 27:13, it highlights the ultimate and unavoidable consequence of Judah's rebellion—a complete cessation of life, both individually and nationally. The rhetorical question "Why will ye die?" underscores that this death is not an arbitrary or inevitable fate but a preventable outcome, a direct result of their choices if they persist in defiance.
* **nation (Hebrew, _gôwy'_):** (H1471) This term, often translated as "nation" or "people," can refer to a foreign nation, a Gentile people, or even a collective unit like a troop of animals. Here, it refers to Judah as a distinct national entity, emphasizing that the impending judgment is not merely on individuals but on the collective body politic that defiantly resists God's will. The use of "nation" universalizes the warning, implying that any people resisting God's decree will face similar devastating consequences.
* **serve (Hebrew, _ʻâbad'_):** (H5647) This primitive root means to work in any sense, and by implication, to serve, till, or even to enslave. In this specific context, it denotes a compelled servitude or forced labor, specifically the required submission to the king of Babylon. God's command to "serve" Babylon was a divine imperative, a call for Judah to acknowledge His sovereign hand in raising up this empire and to humble themselves under His disciplinary judgment, rather than futilely resisting His divine plan.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Why will ye die, thou and thy people,"**: This opening phrase is a potent rhetorical question, not posed to elicit information but to emphasize the profound folly and self-destructive nature of Judah's chosen path. It highlights the avoidable tragedy that awaits both the king ("thou") and the entire populace ("thy people") if they persist in their defiance against God's decree. The question is imbued with a deep sense of lament, urgency, and a final, desperate plea for a change of course.
* **"by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence,"**: This triad represents the comprehensive and utterly devastating instruments of God's judgment. "Sword" refers to the violence of warfare, conquest, and execution; "famine" denotes the widespread starvation and deprivation that inevitably accompany sieges, blockades, and agricultural collapse; and "pestilence" signifies widespread disease, plague, and epidemic. These were common and terrifying consequences of divine wrath in the ancient Near East, signifying a complete breakdown of societal order and a direct manifestation of God's covenant curses for disobedience.
* **"as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?"**: This concluding clause unequivocally attributes the impending doom to the sovereign decree and spoken word of Yahweh. It clarifies that the "sword, famine, and pestilence" are not random misfortunes or mere political outcomes but divinely ordained consequences for a specific act of rebellion: the refusal to "serve" (i.e., submit to) Nebuchadnezzar, whom God had explicitly raised up as His instrument of judgment. This links the specific warning directly to God's revealed will and the broader prophetic message of Jeremiah, emphasizing the certainty of His word being fulfilled.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 27:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and severe message. The most prominent is the **Rhetorical Question**, "Why will ye die, thou and thy people...?" This is not a genuine query seeking an answer, but a powerful means of emphasizing the utter foolishness, irrationality, and self-inflicted nature of Judah's impending destruction. It serves to challenge their flawed reasoning and highlight the obvious, yet ignored, alternative: submission and life. Secondly, the verse utilizes a **Triad** of judgment: "sword, famine, and pestilence." This recurring prophetic motif, also seen frequently in Ezekiel and Revelation, is a form of merism, representing the totality and comprehensiveness of God's wrath, signifying that no aspect of life or society will be untouched by the impending catastrophe. Finally, there is a profound sense of **Divine Fiat**, where the dire consequences are presented as a direct result of "as the LORD hath spoken." This emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty, the unalterable nature of His decree, and the inevitability of His word being fulfilled, transforming the calamities from mere political outcomes into divinely orchestrated judgments.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 27:13 serves as a profound theological statement on divine sovereignty, the nature of judgment, and the imperative of obedience. It affirms that God is not merely a distant observer but an active, sovereign participant in human history, raising up and bringing down nations according to His righteous purposes. The impending destruction of Judah by "sword, famine, and pestilence" is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their persistent idolatry, injustice, and stubborn refusal to heed God's warnings through His prophet. This highlights a fundamental biblical principle: rebellion against God's revealed will, even when that will seems difficult or counter-intuitive, inevitably leads to severe consequences. The verse also underscores the theme of true versus false prophecy, as Jeremiah's unpopular message of submission was the only path to survival, contrasting sharply with the deceptive promises of false hope. Ultimately, it calls for a humble recognition of God's absolute authority and a willingness to submit to His disciplinary hand for the sake of preservation and life.

* [Deuteronomy 28:15](/deuteronomy/28-15 "Deuteronomy 28:15 - Curses for Disobedience")
* [Leviticus 26:25-26](/leviticus/26-25-26 "Leviticus 26:25-26 - Consequences of Breaking Covenant")
* [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5-6 "Isaiah 10:5-5 - Assyria as God's Instrument")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 27:13 offers timeless wisdom for believers today, urging us to consider the profound implications of our choices in light of God's ultimate sovereignty. Just as Judah faced a stark choice between submission and destruction, we too are called to discern and align with God's will, even when it demands humility, sacrifice, or seems contrary to popular opinion or our own desires. This verse powerfully reminds us that genuine faith involves trusting God's wisdom and His sovereign plan, even when His path is difficult or involves enduring hardship. It challenges us to critically evaluate the voices we listen to, distinguishing between comforting lies and uncomfortable truths, and to recognize that true spiritual counsel always aligns with God's revealed Word, even when it requires us to surrender our own agendas. Furthermore, it serves as a powerful reminder that while God is merciful and longs for our flourishing, He is also perfectly just, and there are real, often painful, consequences for persistent rebellion against His divine order. Our spiritual survival and flourishing depend on our willingness to submit to His authority, even when His plans for us involve trials or require us to "serve" in ways we might not initially desire or understand.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be resisting God's revealed will, perhaps listening to "false prophets" of comfort, self-reliance, or worldly wisdom instead of His truth?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty and His wise, although sometimes difficult, plans for me, especially when they involve suffering or require me to relinquish control?**
* **What are the "sword, famine, and pestilence" equivalents in my life, community, or society today that might be consequences of collective or personal disobedience to God's principles and moral order?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command His people to serve a pagan king like Nebuchadnezzar?**

Answer: God commanded His people to serve Nebuchadnezzar because He was using Babylon as His divinely appointed instrument of judgment against Judah for their persistent idolatry, covenant breaking, and pervasive social injustice. This was not an endorsement of Babylon's paganism or cruelty but a profound demonstration of God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His willingness to use even ungodly rulers to accomplish His righteous purposes. As seen in passages like [Jeremiah 25:9](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant"), God explicitly refers to Nebuchadnezzar as "my servant" in this context, indicating that the king was unknowingly fulfilling God's specific will. Submission to Babylon was, therefore, an act of submission to God's disciplinary hand, offering the only path to national survival, albeit under foreign rule and exile.

**What is the significance of "sword, famine, and pestilence" as instruments of judgment?**

Answer: The triad of "sword, famine, and pestilence" is a recurring and highly significant motif in Old Testament prophetic and covenantal literature (e.g., [Leviticus 26:25-26](/leviticus/26-25-26 "Leviticus 26:25-26 - Consequences of Breaking Covenant"), [Deuteronomy 28:21-22](/deuteronomy/28-21-22 "Deuteronomy 28:21-22 - Curses of Disease and Drought"), [Ezekiel 14:21](/zekiel/14-21 "Ezekiel 14:21 - God's Four Severe Judgments")). These three calamities represent the comprehensive, inescapable, and utterly devastating nature of God's judgment against a rebellious people. "Sword" signifies death by warfare, violent conquest, or execution; "famine" indicates widespread starvation, economic collapse, and deprivation; and "pestilence" refers to widespread disease, plague, and epidemic. Together, they symbolize a complete breakdown of societal order and a thorough, inescapable divine punishment that targets life, sustenance, and health, leaving no aspect of existence untouched by God's righteous wrath.

**Was there an alternative to this judgment for Judah?**

Answer: Yes, Jeremiah's entire prophetic ministry, including this specific verse, unequivocally presented a clear alternative: humble submission to God's revealed will by serving the king of Babylon. The rhetorical question "Why will ye die...?" strongly implies that their death was not an inevitable or predetermined fate if they chose obedience. Jeremiah consistently urged King Zedekiah and the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, promising that those who submitted would live, even if it meant enduring exile ([Jeremiah 27:12](/jeremiah/27-12 "Jeremiah 27:12 - Jeremiah's Counsel to Zedekiah"), [Jeremiah 38:17-18](/jeremiah/38-17-18 "Jeremiah 38:17-18 - Jeremiah's Counsel to Zedekiah")). The judgment of "sword, famine, and pestilence" was specifically reserved for those who "will not serve the king of Babylon," highlighting that their dire fate was a direct consequence of their defiant choice, not an unalterable, arbitrary decree from God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 27:13 speaks of physical death and national destruction as a consequence of rebellion against God's appointed earthly authority, its deeper theological currents find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The ultimate "death" from which humanity needs deliverance is not merely physical, but spiritual separation from God due to sin ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")). Just as Judah faced a stark choice between submission to God's will (via Babylon) and certain death, humanity faces an even more critical choice between submission to Jesus Christ and eternal condemnation. Jesus, the true King and the perfect embodiment of God's will, perfectly exemplified submission, even unto the ignominious death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). He, in His sacrificial act, bore the full weight of the "sword, famine, and pestilence" of divine judgment against sin, taking upon Himself the curses of the law ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeems from the Curse")) so that all who believe in Him might not die spiritually but have eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Eternal Life")). Through His atoning sacrifice, the "yoke" of sin and the law is broken, and He lovingly invites us to take His "yoke" upon us, which is "easy" and His "burden is light" ([Matthew 11:29-30](/matthew/11-29-30 "Matthew 11:29-30 - Christ's Easy Yoke")), offering true rest, freedom, and abundant life to all who willingly submit to His loving and gracious reign. Thus, the severe warning to Judah underscores the gravity of God's judgment, which is ultimately satisfied and overcome in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ for all who place their faith in Him.

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

Ezekiel 18:31

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Jeremiah 27:8

And it shall come to pass, [that] the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Proverbs 8:36

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Ezekiel 33:11

Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Jeremiah 38:20

But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver [thee]. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the LORD, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

Ezekiel 18:24

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, [and] doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked [man] doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Ezekiel 14:21

For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?